NFL OT for Playoffs Only

By a 28-4 margin, a modified playoff only overtime format has been approved. Here's a quick recap of what the new rule entails:

1. Both teams must have the opportunity to possess the ball once during the extra period, unless the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown on its initial possession, in which case it is the winner.
2. If the team that possesses the ball first scores a field goal on its initial possession, the other team shall have the opportunity to possess the ball. If [that team] scores a touchdown on its possession, it is the winner. If the score is tied after [both teams have a] possession, the team next scoring by any method shall be the winner.
3. If the score is tied at the end of a 15-minute overtime period, or if [the overtime period's] initial possession has not ended, another overtime period will begin, and play will continue until a score is made, regardless of how many 15-minute periods are necessary.

One of many reasons the new rule was even considered is due to the fact that on almost 60% of the time, the team winning the OT coin toss goes on to win by either a field goal or TD. The four teams voting down the measure were Buffalo, Cincinnati, Baltimore and, oddly enough, Minnesota. It was a Brett Favre led Vikings squad that suffered an NFC Championship game loss due to New Orleans winning the toss and driving for a game winning filed goal.

For those that are opposed to the now former system of OT, one debate raised was the team having the ball first merely had to complete a couple of passes and connect on a field goal. I simply have this to say on that: stop them. If your defense holds, you get the ball with your chance. Remember the old saying: great defenses wins championships.

Not so sure I like this idea though. Not because it doesn't apply to the regular season, but because it has just the slightest touch of the NCAA's version of OT. The NCAA version of OT is a pure joke.

What I would have liked to see was a way to put a certain amount of time on the clock, maybe ten minutes instead of the fifteen currently played in an NFL quarter. Play until the clock reads 0:00. Isn't that what football is? A timed contest?

The next move? Approve the same for regular season games.