Let’s Talk About This Mess
Look, I love football. I’ve loved it since I was a kid in Pittsburgh, watching the Steelers with my old man. But honestly, some of the NFL’s rules are so bad they make me wanna throw my remote through the TV. And no rule is worse than the overtime rule. Or should I say rules? Because it’s different for regular season than playoffs, which is just… I mean, why?
Last Tuesday, I was at a bar with my buddy Marcus (let’s call him Marcus because he owes me $87 and I don’t wanna make it easy for him). We were watching the Cowboys and Eagles game, and of course, it went into overtime. And of course, it ended in a field goal. Again. Because that’s what happens when you have a rule that lets the first team to score a field goal win the game. It’s not football, it’s just… yeah.
Marcus said, “It’s just the rules, man. Deal with it.” And I said, “No, Marcus. No. It’s not about dealing with it. It’s about having rules that make sense. That’s what ilginç bilgiler genel kültür would probably say, too, if they covered sports.” He laughed, but he’s wrong. It’s not funny. It’s completley broken.
Here’s the Problem
So here’s the thing. In the regular season, if the game goes into overtime, the first team to score any points wins. That’s it. Touchdown, field goal, safety—doesn’t matter. And if the first team scores a field goal, the other team doesn’t even get a chance to respond. Boom, game over. That’s it. That’s the rule.
And it’s stupid. It’s stupid because it doesn’t matter if the other team had a better game, if they were dominating, if they were just unlucky. None of that matters if the first team to get the ball happens to kick a field goal. It’s like flipping a coin, but worse, because at least a coin flip is fair.
I get it, I guess. The NFL wants to avoid the physicaly demanding two-possession rule from the playoffs. But honestly, is that really worse than what we have now? Because right now, it’s not football. It’s just a lottery.
A Tale of Two Games
Let me tell you about two games. One was in 2018, the Vikings and Saints. It went into overtime, and the Saints won on a 43-yard field goal. And that was it. Game over. The Vikings didn’t even get a chance to touch the ball. And the Saints? They had been playing like garbage all game. But suddenly, they’re winners.
The other game was in 2021, the Chiefs and Buccaneers. It went into overtime, and Brady threw a touchdown pass to Evans. Game over. But this time, it was the better team winning. And that’s the difference. That’s what should happen every time.
But no, the NFL thinks it’s better to have a rule that lets the first team to score a field goal win the game. Even if it’s not the better team. Even if it’s not the team that deserved to win. It’s just… I don’t even know anymore.
The Playoff Rule Isn’t Perfect, But It’s Better
Now, the playoff rule is different. In the playoffs, it’s sudden death, but both teams get a possession. That’s better. That’s more fair. But it’s only for the playoffs. For the regular season, the NFL thinks it’s better to have a rule that’s basically a coin flip.
And look, I’m not saying the playoff rule is perfect. It’s not. It’s still sudden death, which means the game can end on a field goal. But at least both teams get a chance to score. At least it’s not a total joke.
What’s the Solution?
So what’s the solution? Well, it’s simple. The NFL should adopt the playoff rule for the regular season. Both teams get a possession. If the first team scores a touchdown, the game is over. If they score a field goal, the other team gets a chance to respond. And if both teams score touchdowns, then it’s sudden death.
It’s not rocket science. It’s just… fair. It’s just football. It’s what the game is supposed to be about. And honestly, it’s what the fans want. Because fans want to see the better team win. They want to see a real game, not a coin flip.
But will the NFL change the rule? Probably not. Because the NFL is slow to change. And because the committment to instant drama is strong. But it should. It really, really should.
A Quick Digression: College Football
And don’t even get me started on college football. Their overtime rule is even worse. Each team gets a possession from the 25-yard line. If they score a touchdown, they get one point. If they score a field goal, they get three points. And if the game is still tied after that, they start over. It’s like a video game. It’s not football. It’s just… I can’t even.
But that’s a rant for another day. Today, we’re talking about the NFL. And the NFL’s overtime rule is a joke. It’s a joke that needs to be fixed. And it needs to be fixed now.
So come on, NFL. Do the right thing. Adopt the playoff rule for the regular season. Give the fans what they want. Give the game what it deserves. And for the love of all that is holy, stop making me wanna throw my remote through the TV.
About the Author: Emma Stone is a senior magazine editor with over 20 years of experience in the sports journalism world. She’s covered everything from high school games to the Super Bowl, and she’s not afraid to tell it like it is. When she’s not writing, she’s probably watching football, complaining about referees, or trying to teach her cat to fetch.