NFL's new overtime is a mess; here's how to fix it

[LVVikingsfan]

I like the new format much better than the old. The old way was totally unfair to the loser of the coin toss. Besides the Vikings could have won that game if they wanted it, but they chose to try to run out the clock and play for a tie.

[NDVikeFan]

LOL! I forgot about that!

Don't forget the overhead Camera the NFL uses (the one on cables) was stolen from the XFL.

As for overtime I like it now. I just hated the way teams use to just get to the 30 yard line and sit on the ball for a FG and a win. The way it is now is way more exciting IMO.

[Reignman]

I like the new rule, it's fair.

The only thing I'd change is they should play the entire 15 minutes regardless of who scores what. It would be like a 2nd 4th quarter. I would do away with the coin toss as well. I like the idea of allowing the home team to always choose if they want to kick/receive, before the game and OT. Home team always bats last in baseball and it works fine.

And hell no to some of these gimmicky idea's. I hate hockey and their stupid shootout. Hey lets play an entire game by one set of rules and if it's tied, lets decide the winner by playing a completely different game with a different set of rules. Why even play hockey, why not just have the entire game be a shootout if that's better? And your sport is broken when it has too many ties. Yeah I'm talking about you soccer.

And double hell no to the college OT system. That's almost a bigger joke than the shootouts in hockey/soccer. I'm against anything that requires you to play by a completely different set of rules to decide a winner. I'd rather see more ties than gimmicks. The XFL was all about gimmicks and it only lasted 1 season.

I don't have a problem with the occasional tie anyway. It's a rare and unique thing in the NFL. The last Viking tie was in 1978 so this is the first one I've experienced and it felt weird. Well we tied Dallas a few years ago in preseason but that doesn't count. I didn't know what to think or how to feel. Although it kinda felt like a loss considering the huge lead we blew.

It was only the 19th tie since OT was implemented back in 1974. 19 ties in 9149 regular season games is not a problem looking for a solution. They happen about once in every 482 games, or about once every 2 seasons. The Packers have the most ties with 5, the Vikings have 3. And the Vikings/Packers are now the first teams to tie each other twice (in the OT era).

[NDVikeFan]

You want them to play all 15 minutes? So if someone would go up by 10 in overtime they would just keep going? That makes no sense. That and if you played all 15 minutes you would have more chances for a tie which is what overtime is trying to avoid in the first place.

[Reignman]

You want them to play all 15 minutes? So if someone would go up by 10 in overtime they would just keep going? That makes no sense. That and if you played all 15 minutes you would have more chances for a tie which is what overtime is trying to avoid in the first place.

I have no problem with ties, they don't happen very often. 0.2% of the time. And yes, going up by 10 doesn't guarantee victory (although that could be where they draw the line). But the Vikings trailed the Eagles 23-0 with just under 9 minutes to go once (on the road), then scored 28 points and still left a 1:30 on the clock for Ron Jaworski, who drove down the field and nearly ruined the greatest comeback ever.

Do you know what would really make it interesting though? Make them play the entire game over if they're tied at the end of regulation.

[Funkytown]

Do you know what would really make it interesting though? Make them play the entire game over if they're tied at the end of regulation.

Oh, now you're just being redonkulous.

[Reignman]

Oh, now you're just being redonkulous.

Am I? They make them replay the down when there's offsetting penalties.

[Demi]

I have no problem with ties

Boo!

You play to win the game. Ties are the most pointless waste of time ever! Have a field goal off, a race, ANYTHING other than a damn tie.

[Just Me]

Why can't the teams just play the "sudden death" like high school football: Each team gets the ball a like amount of times on the 10 yard line and has 4 downs to get a TD. They can settle for a FG but they run the risk of the other team getting a TD and winning the game. They keep this format (each side alternating) until one team is ahead after both teams have had their equal "chance".

[Reignman]

Boo!

You play to win the game. Ties are the most pointless waste of time ever! Have a field goal off, a race, ANYTHING other than a damn tie.

Nah, ties are cool. They're unique in football. Yeah you don't want them to happen as often as they do in soccer, or hockey back in the day. I was secretly hoping for another tie vs Chicago. Back to back ties!?

A FG off? That would be dumber than a hockey shootout. Hey lets decide the winner with a completely different game after a certain amount of time. Why not have a home run derby to decide the end of all ties in all sports?

Why can't the teams just play the "sudden death" like high school football: Each team gets the ball a like amount of times on the 10 yard line and has 4 downs to get a TD. They can settle for a FG but they run the risk of the other team getting a TD and winning the game. They keep this format (each side alternating) until one team is ahead after both teams have had their equal "chance".

Nooooooo, that's worse than the college format where they start at the 35. Here's a novel idea, if we can't have ties, then why not just play normal football until someone wins? How many baseball games go 20+ innings and last 5+ hours? They just keep playing even if the 2nd baseman has to come in and pitch. No home run derby after 12 innings.