When Darren Sproles scampered for a 22-yard walk-off touchdown to propel San Diego past Indianapolis in Saturday night's wild-card playoff -- without NFL MVP Peyton Manning so much as touching the football in the extra frame -- you could see the overtime rules debate coming from miles away.
Today, two of SI.com's most respected NFL writers took opposite sides of the argument.
Taking the traditionalist stance, Don Banks says the league should maintain the status quo. "I've come around to the viewpoint that the current sudden-death OT format isn’t broken, and doesn’t need fixing," Banks writes. "Mostly because there is no perfect fix."
One possession each in overtime sounds completely equitable. But no overtime format I’ve heard of would ever be completely equitable. There’s always going to be an inherent advantage to the team that has the ball first, because it doesn’t have the pressure of trying to match a score to keep the game alive.
Then, on the flip side, how is it completely equitable when if you do give up a score first in overtime, you get the ball knowing that you have all four downs to keep the chains moving, rather than having to punt on fourth down, like the situation that the first-possession team faced? The second-possession team has 25 percent more downs to work with in trying to match or beat the other team’s score, because a punt is never going to be part of the equation for a team trailing in overtime.
On the other side, Peter King argues for reform. King's reasoning boils down to a single salient point: The outcome of an NFL game should never depend on a coin flip -- and sometimes it does.
Forget all the stuff about extrapolating what happens when Team B has to forget about punting, or the pressure that Team B would feel if Team A put a touchdown on the board. There’s nothing in football – except for an 8-8 team playing host to a 12-4 team in a playoff game, which I still can’t believe hasn’t been fixed by the league – as unfair as the overtime rule.
Just to state my reasons: In the 35 years since the NFL has had the current overtime system in place, 141 regular-season games have gone to overtime and ended with only one team having possession. So, on average, four times per year, a coin flip plays an inordinately major role in the outcome of an NFL game.
My fix is simple. I think that a coin should be flipped at the start of overtime, with the winning team having the choice of whether to take the ball first. But then, if neither team has the lead after the second possession of overtime, the game enters sudden death. That’s it. Each team is guaranteed one offensive possession, unless the defensive team on the first possession scores.
What's your take? Do you side with Banks or King? Or do you have an alternative solution neither writer touched on?
Debate: Should NFL alter OT rules? [SI.com]
Damaris Lewis
Brooklyn Decker
Did You See That?
Back in Time: July 3
Comments (1188) Add A Comment
Keep it the way it is....Indy had its chances to keep the game from going in OT and if they had stepped up in OT, they could've forced a punt (i know 3 penalties helped the Chargers out but regardless).
King is just upset that the 2nd love of his life, Peyton (right after Brett) is not in the playoffs.
PackBrew42 is…
Miller Brewery, WI
Total Comments (4133)
Abolish overtime. Allow ties.
If not that, then add an extra quarter. None of this sudden death business. Definitely don't do the college method...
Nonyabizz
Baton Rouge , LA
Total Comments (66)
It's not that DIFFICULT.....ALL that is required is to say that each team gets at least one CHANCE with the ball.....
CRIMSONandCREAM
Orlando, FL
Total Comments (7436)
I think it's ironic that the TRADITIONALIST is for overtime......If he truly was one, he'd say, no overtime at all......
CRIMSONandCREAM
Orlando, FL
Total Comments (7436)
Correct about the college "method".....It's stops being football.....
CRIMSONandCREAM
Orlando, FL
Total Comments (7436)
This isn't about the Colts game, it is about the messed up OT system in general. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, play another 10 minute quarter. If it is tied after that keep going. Regardless, sudden death is weak because if you have the wind and a decent kicker you can end it with one pass or run without the other team even getting a chance. Play a whole new quarter and let the chips fall where they may.
THE Cereal Killer
Yer Sisters Bedroom, TX
Total Comments (2191)
Collinsworth said it best during the broadcast in quoting Dungy. If you lose the coin flip, your Defense has to step up. That's the bottom line
SensuousLettuce
Charlotte, NC
Total Comments (2)
Coin flip still determines who gets the ball first. Play one additional full quarter and whoever is ahead after that quarter wins. If still tied, THEN sudden death. Why is that so hard?
TSSSMS
Total Comments (160)
Remember when Hochuli blew that call and people said that the Chargers still could have stopped them from scoring the TD, and had another chance to stop the 2-point? It was the same play. You can't change rules because somebody's GUY loses. I'm surprised King doesn't ask that we kick field goals like soccer. Maybe the Oklahoma drill?
Turc
90210, CA
Total Comments (71)
Peter, there is no crying in Footbal either. Peyton isnt going on because his team couldnt get the job done. I am so tired of hearing this arguement. You must be getting soft and liberal in your old age Peter! :)
Webba
Scarborough , ME
Total Comments (1)
Play one complete 15 minute quarter, if still tied then play sudden death.
fansince70
Total Comments (3)
Please no more changes... it is fine with what it is.. Indy never stopped him and deserved the loss.
drj0514
Total Comments (4375)
how about a 10 minute final quarter-no sudden death which makes it unfair even soccer has gone away from the golden goal
rst8
Total Comments (2)
College method is not football, don't consider. Play one complete 15 minute quarter for post season games. If still tied after 5 quarters, then play sudden death. Regular season play sudden death or tie.
fansince70
Total Comments (3)
Do it like they do it in college ball. It's more exciting and won't be determined by a coin toss!
roman777
Total Comments (34)
how about a 10 min extra period-no sudden death which is unfair even soccer has gone away from golden goal for international tournaments
rst8
Total Comments (2)
They should play an additional quarter without sudden death, similar to overtime in soccer. Keep playing additional quarters until one team has more points at the end of the additional quarter. No ties.
Il gladiatore
Scottsdale , AZ
Total Comments (2)
Make a hybrid system that would allow for a team to win in sudden death format if they score a touchdown but allows the game to continue if the first team to score only gets a field goal. That way if a defense can't prevent a TD the game ends but if they stop the other team from getting a TD they are rewarded with the chance to at least try to tie the game. To often in overtime a team gets a first and 10 within the 30 yard line the runs inside handoffs with the attitude of "if we break it and score good for us, and if we don't we kick a field goal on 3rd down, if we botch the snap we fall on it and try it again on 4th." That isn't real football either.
Shaun822
Dracut , MA
Total Comments (127)
Put the ball at the 50yd line, line up 11 guys on each goal line and blow the whistle, whoever recovers the ball at the 50 first gets possession, no more coin flip. What a great way to determine who gets the ball first.
Eric from S. Florida
Hollywood , FL
Total Comments (1)
Leave it alone. They had their chance in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th quarters. This would not be a discussion if Indianapolis had not been involved.
TheRealKG
Olmsted Township, OH
Total Comments (8)
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