How many times have we seen it ó the overtime games in the National Football League, the team that wins the coin toss gets the ball and kicks a game winning field goal by just getting into field goal range? It has happened way too many times for my liking, and serious rule changes should be made to this sudden death overtime system the NFL has. Not only does it promote guessing a coin toss right, but it allows a team to just get into field goal range and win the game by kicking a cheap field goal.
In this NFL season alone, there have already been seven games decided in overtime. Three of the seven were decided by a field goal in the end.
This past weekend, the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers had a very dull outcome to their game. Both teams played for a field goal in the overtime session, and took away the excitement and big play making situations that make the game so fun to watch. No one wants to see a team kick a field goal on second down to win a game. At least play out till fourth down before kicking a field goal.
In the college and high school overtime sessions, the rules are much different and a lot more interesting. First of all, both offenses are guaranteed a shot on the field from the 25-yard line and are forced to get as many points as they possibly can. This allows for more interesting finishes and makes both teams have to come up with big plays to win the game. A simple field goal wonít work since the teams are already within field goal range at the 25, so it forces teams to work for touchdowns. The field goals only work if your defense can come up with a big stop or cause a turnover.
If there is no winner after the second overtime, teams have to start going for two point conversions after a score. Once again you bring into play the need to make big plays at the most crucial times.
One team may get a touchdown, and then make the two-point conversion to make it an eight-point lead. This forces the other team to concentrate on getting a touchdown and then keeping focus to get the two-point conversion to tie it up again. If a team loses focus in between the touchdown and the conversion, it can cost them the game.
The current overtime system makes your defense have to come up with a big stop. A teamís defense should be made to make the other team punt the ball away and try their chances with the coin toss. However, when itís their team that loses the coin toss and allows the other team a field goal on a third down play, they are the ones complaining.
Anyway you look at this overtime issue, there will be supporters and opposers to the current sudden death system. It has been rumored that the NFL is looking into going to the college and high school system, but nothing formally has been announced. If the system were to change though, Iím positive that both sides would be happier with the outcome of the game. It would be decided in a way that makes both teams have to work for the win, instead of just driving into field goal range and kicking a cheap field goal on third down.
Had this system been in play on Sunday, you wouldnít have seen a cheap finish like the Browns and Steelers had. Pittsburgh was allowed to kick the cheap winning field goal twice, even after they screwed up the first one and had it blocked by the Browns. Winning games in that kind of fashion can not make a team like Pittsburgh proud.
