The NFL's overtime system blows

Last weekend, I was hanging with my buddy PedroiaTheDestroyah, and we were bitching about the current overtime rule in the NFL. I know we’re not exactly the first people to complain about this, but with the Saints losing last night in overtime without ever getting the ball, it seems kind of relevant for me today. I mean, in a league that prides itself on fairness and parity, with the hard salary cap, roster limits, and the way they run the draft, I can’t believe the NFL has let their overtime rules stay this way for this long.

It’s pretty well established that the team that wins the toss in overtime wins the game like 60% of the time. And in about 30% of overtime games, the losing team never touches the ball in the OT period, just like in last night’s game. Doesn't really gel with the whole fairness and parity thing. I don’t know, maybe the NFL likes being the only sport that doesn’t give both teams a chance to win in overtime. But I doubt it. This seems like the kind of thing that stays this way because it’s always been this way. Well, if the NCAA can change their rules to implement an overtime period (I think they started their overtime system back in 1996), I don’t see why the NFL can’t make a similar change.

PtD and I aren’t really fans of the college system, where both teams get a possession from the other team’s 25 yard line. We think the best thing to do would be to go with the NFL system with a few tweaks. It’s not like this would be a difficult fix. Just keep the system like it is now, only add a rule that the game can’t end until both teams have had at least one possession in the overtime period. So, last night, once the Bears scored their go-ahead field goal, they would have had to kickoff to the Saints. If the Saints turn the ball over, they lose and the game’s over. If they score a TD, they win and the game’s over. If they kick a field goal to tie it, then it’s sudden death, and the next team to score wins the game. Pretty simple, I think. Maybe the Bears go down and win the game on their next drive, but at least both teams have had a chance to win at this point.

Now, this would totally change the strategy teams use in overtime. Under these rules, teams would probably rather be on defense first, so they’d know exactly what they needed to win the game when they had possession. Also, this would prevent situations like last night, where the Bears got a 38 yard pass interference penalty to get down to the Saints 15 yard line. And instead of trying to move the ball forward from there, they just took a knee in the middle of the field to set up a field goal. Lame.

Again, I may be a little more biased than usual given the results of last night’s game, but I’d have to say that this is probably the greatest overtime plan ever. Now somebody just needs to tell the Commish.

On a scale of one to Gus Johnson, I’d have to give this a Michael Chiklis.