Tim Benz: There’s no perfect NFL overtime fix. So stop complaining.
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Another round of NFL postseason games.
Another round of overtime results.
Another round of whining from people who think the tiebreaking system is unfair.
In other words, whining from New Orleans.
Or people who bet on New Orleans.
OK, maybe Buffalo, too.
This is becoming an annual event, much like the debates over whether pass interference should be reviewed.
Let’s stick with one unsolvable problem at a time, though. In this case, “fixing” NFL overtime.
Something important to consider here. “Fixing” the NFL overtime system is impossible. Because “fixing it” suggests you are going to make everyone happy.
That will never happen.
No one is going to be totally happy with any tweak that comes as a result of this latest round of caterwauling over what is fair with the NFL’s overtime setup.
It cropped up again because the Saints lost to the Vikings on Sunday in the wild-card round because Minnesota won the coin toss and scored a touchdown on its first possession.
.@KirkCousins8 to @KyleRudolph82 for the @Vikings walkoff win in OT. pic.twitter.com/aXSJllOqpB
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2020
That’s what the New England Patriots did to eliminate the Kansas City Chiefs during last season’s playoffs, too.
Scoring an overtime touchdown instead of getting a quick field goal after winning the coin toss was supposed to erase these complaints. That was the goal when that stipulation was put on the books before the 2010 season. Obviously, it hasn’t fully worked.
As I wrote back in March — when overtime rules changes were being proposed by the Chiefs — I’m content with leaving the system the way it is. But since the status quo doesn’t seem to be making anyone happy, I’ll play along and look at other options.
Here’s what’s funny to me. There barely has been any complaining about the Bills losing on a field goal in overtime to the Houston Texans on Saturday. Houston got two possessions. Buffalo got one. How is that any more or less fair than Minnesota getting one possession and New Orleans none?
In each case, the losing team had one less crack at winning with the ball than the victorious club. That’s like stopping a baseball game in the top of the 11th because the visiting team scored.
So I don’t understand the intellectual disconnect there. For those griping about fairness, OK. Let’s be fair.
Having an equal chance to win doesn’t mean both teams get at least one chance with the ball. It means both teams get the same amount of chances with the ball.
That means doing one of two things.
1. Play a normal game but turn off the game clock for overtime. And just swap possessions until one team has more points than the other.
One thing to keep in mind about this plan, unfortunately, is it might lead to more ties in the regular season. Personally, I would prefer to keep regular season and overtime rules as uniform as possible.
2. Adopt a tougher version of the college format. Again, each offense alternates possessions with no game clock. But don’t start with the ball at the 25-yard line. That’s too easy for NFL kickers. Move back. At least to the offensive 40-yard line. Maybe midfield.
Of course, traditionalists will complain about that. Because, the greatest tradition of being a traditionalist is complaining.
About everything.
They’ll say that’s too gimmicky. Too hokey.
College fans seems to like it. But another part of being a traditionalist oftentimes means, “Traditionally, I bet on games. And sometimes, I bet the under.” That overtime format will screw up a lot of over-under lines.
If we want to strive for fairness, and you want to make traditionalists happy, just play a “fifth quarter.” Flip the coin. Put 10 or 15 minutes on the clock. Play out the clock like basketball.
Equal possessions wouldn’t be guaranteed. But they aren’t in regulation either, are they? It’d just be a simple extension of the game. There’s nothing fairer than that.
However, both of those options come with consequences. And they have nothing to do with fairness.
The players union would hate either idea for player safety reasons, especially in the regular season. The networks would hate either idea because games would bleed into later windows.
My choice? If there absolutely has to be a change? Here we go.
Treat it like baseball extra innings. Turn off the game clock and just play football until one team can’t match the other. If Team A gets the ball first and kicks a field goal, then Team B turns around and gets a touchdown, Team B wins. If Team B gets a field goal, keep going.
If Team A scores a touchdown after winning the coin flip, and Team B can’t answer, Team A wins.
That’s the fairest way to do it. My second choice would be to adopt the college rule but start way back. Midfield at least. Maybe your own 45 or 40.
No more regulation ties in either case. But who cares? When is the last time a tie made anyone happy?
Again, though, there’s not a perfect solution and, eventually, someone is going to get ticked off when they lose anyway.
So stop complaining. We can’t do this every year.
Especially you, New Orleans.