I don't know much about the NFL but I have a question

[MaineDem]

Isn't the OT rule a little unfair? It seems whichever team wins the coin toss has the win pretty much locked up. (Barring a missed FG kick or an interception, etc.)

[trumad]

1. Totally in mho.

you'd be surprised though that it's about 50-50 on peoples opinions about it.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Defense is also part of a team.

Not to mention, don't make it an issue by scoring/defending better in regulation.

:shrug:

[Redbear]

3. Since 2000, the winner of the coin flip wins OT 60% of the time (nt)

[TZ]

4. I still prefer it to the lame college OT system.

[Forkboy]

5. Not me. At least both teams get a chance.

[MaineDem]

6. What's the college rule?

An OT of a certain time?

[JonLP24]

8. In college both teams start at the 25 or 30 yardline from the endzone you score

You get 4 downs to get a first down and the rest of the rules are the same. After that series of plays the other team starts at the 25-30 and must tie or take the lead. If tied it forces another overtime but it switches over on who begins their series of plays first. I think after the third overtime teams are forced to go for two instead of an extra point after they score a touchdown.

--------------------------------
Edit/In case I confused you here's an 'expert'.

Sure no problem. First, there is no limit to the number of overtime periods in a game.

When the game ends in a tie in regulation (following 4th qtr) there will be an over time period until a team is declared the winner. First, following the 4th qtr. there shall be a 3 minute intermission. Then the captains and head coaches shall come to the middle of the field for a coin toss. The visitors shall have the first choice of the coin toss. Each team is given 1 time out with no carry over time outs.

The winner of the toss shall choose: 1, to be on offense, 2. defense or 3. the goal they wish to defend. The play shall be untimed. Each team gets one opportunity to score or execute their series of downs.

The ball will be put into play at the 25 yardline barring any carry over penalties. It will be regular football from that point forward with four downs to get a first down or score.

Once the offensive team scores or the defensive team gains possession the offensive team's Opportunity ends and the defensive team then gains possession and becomes the offensive team and gets their opportunity to score. Beginning the 3rd OT period each team must attempt a 2 point conversion follow a touch down if they want the extra points. A "field goal for PAT" in the 3rd OT or Subsequent OT periods will not count as points by rule.
http://en.allexperts.com/q/College-Football-2792/Overtime-rules.htm

[JonLP24]

7. I don't think it's unfair

If you lose the toss you can stop them on defense deep in their own territory so therefore you get great field position off the punt.

I prefer College overtime but Pro-overtime isn't unfair because you can stop them on defense.

[trotsky]

9. I'm not crazy about it, but pretty much every solution has its drawbacks.

Current system, the chance that one team won't even touch the ball.
College system - just doesn't seem right that a 17-17 defensive game can end with a score of 39-37.

Maybe a variation on the college system - but each team starts at their own 40, so you at least have to move the ball somewhat to get a score, and a touchdown is a lot harder to come by.

Or perhaps playing one more full quarter, under normal rules?

[madinmaryland]

10. You make some good points.

I don't like the idea of a 17-17 game going to 39-37. Scratch that one.

Not sure about lengthening the field with each team starting at their 40. Doesn't that make it like a shoot out in soccer? Move it five yards and start kicking field goals?

One more full quarter? No way the players will go for that. It's rough enough playing 60 minutes, but add 15 more minutes?

This brings us back to the Sudden Death, which was a compromise to end tie games.

I am kind of leaning for keeping the way it is.

[MaineDem]

11. Or they could leave it a tie

I wonder why they don't? But, like I said, I don't know much about football.

[4lbs]

12. Here's a fairer way to me and doesn't take a bunch of OTs like the college way could.

Play it the normal NFL way, with coin flip and kickoffs and such.

The team that wins the toss chooses as normal whether they want the the ball first or to defend a certain goalpost. Kickoff happens as normal, from the 30. You have punts and such.

Now, whichever team scores first, the other team MUST score and score BETTER the very next possession.

What that means that if one team kicks a FG as the first score in overtime, the other team MUST score a TD on their next possession to win.

If one team scores a TD and PAT kick in OT, the other team must score a TD on the next possession, but must also go for the two-point conversion, to one-up the other team.

Now, if the first team that scores the TD misses the PAT kick, then the other team just needs to score a TD and a successful PAT kick on the next possession.

This way, each team gets at least one possession on offense.

[litlady]

13. Yeah, I prefer college. Should just be one possession each. nt

[Yavin4]

14. Here's The Best Solution -- Keep the Current Format But Force The Teams To Score A TD

instead of a FG. Make the winning team score a TD. I think that being able to kick a FG to win makes it a little too easy for the team who gets the ball first, and given the lax rules on defense, it's not that difficult for most competent offenses to move about 45 yards or so into FG range.

[MaineDem]

15. That makes sense to me. n/t

[Awsi Dooger]

16. There's only one problem with NFL overtimes

They need a longer break between the end of regulation and the start of overtime. That's part of the reason the offenses have the advantage at that point in the game, sheer exhaustion by the defenses. They'll never do it due to TV purposes but if the league allowed the same break as halftime, or close to that amount, the first possession wouldn't be worth nearly as much.

Regardless, it would be absurd to give both teams the ball. I'd turn off the set immediately and never consider it a just result. There's nothing more asinine in sports than college football overtimes.