We’ve just started the NFL year and it’s Owner’s Meeting Week. In the 2021 playoffs, the coinflip at the Kansas City versus Buffalo game may have been the deciding factor. Thus, the controversy of NFL Overtime Rules rose to the top of media discussions. Many options have been proposed. I have a couple of my own.
In both my options, regular-season games would have a 10 minute overtime period and may end in a tie, and playoff games would have 15 minute periods, flipping the field at the end of each period.
Run for Ball Control
Rather than allowing a coin flip determines who has the option, we could set up a procedure that will enable a physical activity to choose which team has the option.
The procedure would set up 11 balls on the 50-yard line, four yards apart.
Each team would line up 11 players at opposite ends of the field on the 10-yard line between the hash marks.
On a signal from the referee, the players will run toward the balls on the 50-yard line. They would toss the balls back behind their 40-yard line or secure them on the ground.
A player may not cross the other team’s 40-yard line.
The team that has six or more balls in their possession would be able to decide to receive, kick, or which end of the field to defend.
The first score of any type would win.
Battle to the Death
Ok, this would not be a real battle to the death. But it could be.
There would be a coinflip with the winner deciding to receive, kick, or which end of the field to defend.
If the receiving team scores, the other team would be given a possession to tie or win. If the receiving team turnovers the ball, the first score wins.
If the score is still tied after the initial possession scores, both teams would be given another possession to win the game. This procedure would repeat until there is a winner.
The reason for this change is in the case that neither team can prevent the other team from scoring in the first possession. I want both teams to have equal opportunities to score.