Why the NFL overtime rules need to update
The NFL is the only sport of the major professional sports to still carry a tie possibility
There has been a lot of discussion in relation to the current NFL overtime rules. Most can agree on that it needs updating. Another agreement by most fans is that the NFL needs to abandon the “tie”. The NFL is the only sport, of the four major sports (NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA), that is able to have a game that can end in a tie. The rules were changed in the NHL thirteen years ago to eliminate the tie and initiate a five minute overtime followed by a shootout for regular season games. In the 2018 NFL season at this point, there has been two ties (Steelers/Browns and Vikings/Packers), and there has been four ties in the past three seasons. The NFL initiated some rule changes the past few years. First, in 2012, the rule was changed so that an OT win could not occur after an opening possession field goal. If a field goal occurs on the opening drive, than the opposition gets a possession and it becomes sudden death. Last season, the overtime period changed from fifteen minutes to ten minutes with the same rules intact, and I would argue it makes things worse. How do we fix it?
First thing is simple, eliminate the ties. The Colts last week against Houston proved that they’d rather lose risking it all, than end up in a draw. Fans are urging to adopt the college football overtime rules. Each team would start from the 25 yard line, and the coin toss determines offense or defense. Honestly in my opinion, the college football overtime lacks success for the defense, and creates a somewhat more boring sudden death period than what the NFL has now. The NFL is more balanced in regards to offense and defense (I said more, didn’t say it was balanced), so starting at the 35 yard line in overtime sounds silly. The solution is simple, just play sudden death overtime like the NFL postseason rules states. Obviously in postseason, a game cannot end in a tie, so just develop the regular season rules to match the postseason. The league could initiate fifteen minute quarters with a two minute warning each quarter. It would be fine too if the league kept the rule stating a first possession field goal cannot end the game.
There needs to be changes this off season, I understand the league changing the time to ten minutes to save the time of game, but what it is doing is creating more havoc in regards to the playoff chases. It’s not like the NFL needs to develop a whole new phenomenon for overtimes, all the league would need to do is extend the game and there you go. Though with the reduction of time rule added just last year, I have a feeling it’s going to be a while until a new change happens.
