OT Coin Flip Debate

[Favpack]

Ok, it's that time of year when all the talking heads start debating the OT method. Costas is against it, Dungy is for it.

What say you.. and vote.

I honestly don't have any problem at all with the coin flip - it is what it is. You probably either screwed up or got lucky to be in OT, so, just live with the rule and move forward - make a play whether it's offense or defense.

[TEXREB]

I prefer sudden death OT with the coin flip. It makes both teams play with more urgency and it is more exciting I think.

If they did change the rule to allow both teams to have the ball I hope they don't do it the same way as the NCAA. After a team scores, have them kick off regularly, none of this put the ball on the 25 nonsense for the NFL.

[tayb]

Play an extra quarter of football. If you think an exrta quarter is too long, have them play a 10 minute "quarter." Holding the opposing team to a field goal would be considered a positive in my book, you kept them out of the end zone, but in NFL over time first team to kick a field goal wins. Dumb.

[Dawg Fan]

Both teams are tired and whoever wins the flip most likely wins the game. I would like to seed both teams get the ball on their own twenty and see how far they go with one drive. Whoever has the best drive wins. If both teams score a TD or field goal then whoever does it is the least amount of plays wins. If there is a fumble or int that doesn't produce a score, the ball is dead and the other team starts at the 20.

[Favpack]

I prefer sudden death OT with the coin flip. It makes both teams play with more urgency and it is more exciting I think.

If they did change the rule to allow both teams to have the ball I hope they don't do it the same way as the NCAA. After a team scores, have them kick off regularly, none of this put the ball on the 25 nonsense for the NFL.


Agreed. I would not have a real problem with both teams getting a touch, but it is sudden death - you sometimes wonder if both teams treat it as such.

[mad_fan]

Play an extra quarter of football.

This. But with commercial breaks, replay, etc, the games have gotten too long as it is...

[fgoodwin]

Both teams are tired and whoever wins the flip most likely wins the game.

That's not true -- I don't have a link, but I've seen reports that state teh coin-toss winner wins in OT only 50% of the time, so winning the toss is really of no advantage.

Of course, if I won the toss, I'd want the ball, but the point is, the winner of the toss isn't anymore "likely" to win the game than is the loser of the toss.

[tayb]

That's not true -- I don't have a link, but I've seen reports that state teh coin-toss winner wins in OT only 50% of the time, so winning the toss is really of no advantage.

Of course, if I won the toss, I'd want the ball, but the point is, the winner of the toss isn't anymore "likely" to win the game than is the loser of the toss.

Between 1974 and 2003 (can't find any more recent statistics) the team that lost the coin flip only won the game 44% of the time whereas the team that won the coin flip won it 52% of the time. Since 1994, however, those numbers change drastically and the team that wins the coin flip and receives the ball has won the games 60% of the time.

http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/15/in-overtime-play-the-percentages/

http://www.maa.org/mathland/mathtrek_11_08_04.html

[goscots]

Why not just sudden death, but you have to win by at least 4?

[Firebird]

The NFL has the worst OT in pro sports. It really is terrible. I would go with an NCAA format, but after the 3rd OT you have to go for the TD instead of the FG.

[BDB]

start them at the 20/30 of their own side. both teams get a turn.

with kickers booting it 50+, it's pretty hard NOT to win the game when you win the flip.