I don’t often post on sports, but this weekend I watched all four NFL playoff games. Every one of them was great. Three of the four were decided by a field goal in the last few seconds. The fourth was tied up by a field goal in the last few seconds and went into overtime.
After an epic back and forth battle between the Bills and the Chiefs — where each team was scoring on most of their drives, and a record 25 points were scored in the last two minutes! — the overtime rules didn’t seem fair.
Here’s how it works. The team that gets the ball first in overtime is decided by a coin toss, and if that team scores a touchdown on their first posession, that’s it. They win.
It didn’t seem right for this super-charged, offense-dominated game.
When I was a kid I’m pretty sure overtime was an additional 15 minutes of play, and whoever scored the most in those 15 minutes won. That would have seemed more reasonable.
Yeah, it’s a joke.
I’m on record two years ago: https://twitter.com/smitemouth/status/1213931846079258624
Also, a month ago: https://twitter.com/smitemouth/status/1471921884551958533
And… 3 years ago: https://twitter.com/smitemouth/status/1087131656190873600
Play a whole quarter during playoffs. During regular season, I’m ok with a tie after 60 minutes, but if still a tie after 75 minutes, call it a tie.
For playoffs, you have to have a decision. Keep adding 15 minute quarters until there’s a winner at the end of a quarter.
It’s BS that the game was basically determined by a coin toss.
What do you think of having one set of rules for the regular season and another for the playoffs, where the result is more consequential?
(Ah — nevermind. I see you answered that in your first link.)
Yes, and I’d actually prefer a tie after 60 minutes. Less risk to players getting injured. Hockey has ties. No shame in a tie. Of course, for the playoffs you have to come to a conclusion.