Overtime Rules - U.S. Football - 2010

The NFL has come out with new overtime rules, the so-called Modified Sudden Death.

Note: These rules only apply during the postseason.

The modified sudden death rule goes as follows.

During overtime, the team to receive the ball gets an opportunity to score. If the score is a touchdown, then the game is over. If the score is a field goal, then the opposing team gets one chance to score a tying field goal or a go ahead touchdown.

A go ahead touchdown ends the game. A tying field goal gives the ball back to the opposing team to try to score an additional time. Both teams will play until another score occurs (real sudden death)

If the first team to possess the ball fails to do so, then the first score dictates the end of game per the rules above.

If the defense scores via either a touchdown or safety, then the game is over.

My Reaction:

I like this seemingly compromising decision. I'm all for more touchdowns, and no longer can a single field goal end the game. If the opening team can score a TD, game over, and good for them. If the first team kicks a field goal, then the opposing team can come back with an exciting TD to win. This is good for football.

This format also allows teams to use the whole field, taking advantage of superior special teams, and adding another layer of strategy. Taking advantage of the weather and getting last picks are now effective tactics where before giving the ball away on the coinflip was potentially suicidal.

Since 1974, the current overtime rules state that after regulation, when the score is tied, a coin flip will determine who gets the ball first. The first team to score by any means is the winner.

This is sudden death overtime.

The teams have one quarter (15 minutes) to score and end the game. If no team scores in 15 minutes, the game is a (rare) tie.

During the playoffs, teams will continue to play multiple overtime periods until one team or the other scores.

This is usually accomplished by a field goal.

(Photo by Derick E. Hingle/US Presswire)

The new overtime rules would have the teams flip a coin for possession, and then when one team scores, the other team would get an opportunity to score. If the second team fails to score, the game is over. If the second team ties the game again, then the game would continue until either team scores (essentially a secondary sudden death). If the second team's answering score is greater, (a touchdown instead of a field goal, say) then the second team wins.

If the first score is a touchdown, game over.

This is similar to the way the NCAA overtime rules, except that NCAA teams start at an arbitrary point on the field (defenders' 25-yard line), whereas the pros will kickoff.

These overtime rules will be considered in March, and 2/3 of the NFL teams must agree to put them into effect.

There are other possible options to Sudden Death and the New Proposed Option:

Play an additional quarter regardless of possessions and declare the winner after a 5th, 6th or more overtime periods by points (old style).
Continue sudden death, but only end the game after 6 points are scored (requiring 2 field goals or a touchdown, a simplified, version of the proposed method).
Continue sudden death, but only end the game after a touchdown (so eliminate the desire to get field position just to kick field goals, encourages touchdown scoring).
Simply end games after 4 quarters. If the game is a tie, log it as a tie and move on (UNLESS it's a playoff game in which case an overtime mode is necessary).
Some other option.

My Suggestion

Personally, although ending long and costly football games quickly has its benefits, I think it's a bit of a cheat to boil down 60 minutes of football to a kick.

My suggestion is that we should keep sudden death for the first team that can score a touchdown. During the regular season, if no team can score a touchdown in 15 minutes of extra play, it's a tie. In the playoffs, if no team can score a touchdown after a quarter, then return to the original sudden death rules. A field goal would be sufficient. It might be overly complicated, but it ties together two useful concepts - forcing teams to get off their butts and score a TD, while keeping the game from going on forever if they aren't capable.