Fixing NFL Overtime
Anybody who watches NFL football knows that overtime sucks. Now, the idea of overtime is awesome, but the execution is what sucks. The simple fact that a game is even going into overtime inherently means that it’s a close game. It automatically becomes more exciting, regardless of who’s playing. But when it’s a game you’re invested in, seats empty, heart rates quicken, and war paint smears with the sweat of nervous anticipation. But before overtime can even begin, it all goes away with the flip of a coin.
Current Format
10 minute period.
Partial sudden death: If Team A scores a Touchdown on the opening possession, Team A wins.
If Team A’s opening possession ends with a Field Goal or no score, then Team B will have an opportunity to score.
Sudden death: After each team has had a possession, next score wins, regardless.
Proposed Format
Keep overtime at 10 minutes.
Each team gets at least 1 possession in a shootout scenario. After Team A drives down the field and scores, Team B is given the opportunity to match or exceed that score.
If Team B exceeds Team A’s score, Team B wins.
If Team B is unable to at least match Team A’s score, Team A wins.
If Team B matches Team A’s score, then another round of possessions begins.
The game ends on a defensive Touchdown, as Team A has already had a possession and Team B has already scored and no longer needs one.
*Shoutout to Pat McAfee for this next part.*
If the score is still tied at the end of 10 minutes, the game then goes into a Field Goal shootout.
Starting at Extra Point distance, the ball is moved back 10 yards after each kick. First team to miss losses.
Defensive minded people may say there’s nothing wrong with current format, and the Defense just needs to do their job and get a stop. But with both teams getting a possession, that means that both sides of the ball need to do their job, and if it’s still tied at the end, then Special Teams needs to do their job. You can no longer be reliant on a high-flying offense or ball-hawking defense, you need to have a well rounded team. And even though both teams would get a possession, this does not diminish the importance of winning the coin toss or clock management. Getting the ball first gives you more control over the clock.
FOR EXAMPLE: Team A could have a long 6-8 minute drive, leaving Team B with only a couple minutes to score. Also hypothetically, lets say both teams complete their first drive and the game is still tied with around 2-3 minutes remaining. We then go into a second round of possessions allowing Team A the opportunity to score as time runs out, not giving Team B a chance to respond. (This could also be done on the first drive, assuming Team A uses all 10 minutes to drive down the field)
When all the anticipation going into overtime is focused on who’s going to win the coin toss, then you’re doing it wrong. The focus should be on the game and which team can outdo the other. You should be crossing your fingers in hopes that your teams kicker can summon their inner Adam Vinatieri; not praying for heads or tails. This gives both teams a fair chance, shines an even brighter light on the importance of having a clutch kicker, removes tie games, and is more exciting for the fans.
BONUS: Addressing the onside kick issue from the 2019 Pro Bowl.
More specifically, the idea of running a 4th and 12 play in lieu of an onside kick to retain possession. I still think it’s a great idea and that only one change needs to be made for this to actually have a place in the NFL.
The main problem was that if the defense makes a stop, that team gets possession at the spot of the ball, meaning the offense is already in Field Goal range without even doing anything. Instead of getting the ball at the spot of the initial play, the ball should be placed at the teams own 40-yard line, making it equivalent to the ball being kicked out of bounds.
Deciding where to spot the ball is something that can be experimented with, but should be somewhere that works best in terms of rewarding the team for making the stop while not giving them field position that’s too good to the point of giving them free points.
