Why Can't the NFL Make Overtime Fair?

The NFL’s overtime rules don’t make complete sense. But is there a better alternative?

[MeneerBobRoos]

I don't care about NFL, but I do care about mathematically fair rulings. So, I have to like the vid;)

[harryli]

Bro u should have so many more subs. Your vids are so good

[aidanisalright]

i love the NFL, and this does seem like a much better overtime system. Thank you for the input.

[oppenheimerfaaaaaan]

I don't think ur system works cuz think about it. the Patriots win the coin toss and do a touchdown and 2 point conversion, the Chiefs tie the game with a touchdown and 2 point conversion, same thing happens in the second possession, then it becomes sudden death and the Patriots kick a walk off field goal. Were in the same situation with the current format. However, I have a unique format no one has never really talked about. Take extra innings in baseball but make it extra possessions in football. The coin toss would decide who receives the kickoff, and each team gets equal possessions. Each team will either have to score or punt. If the first team scores a touchdown, the second team is required to match or exceed the score made by the first team just like in baseball. If they match the score, they will tie it, if they exceed they win the game. If a team couldn't score on it's possesion and was forced to turnover, was intercepted, or had to punt the next team could win with just a field goal. If, after two possessions by both teams if there isn't a victor, than teams are required to do a two point conversion if they score a touchdown, only exception being a walkoff touchdown. If the game is still tied after the end of overtime, both teams will get one play to score at the other teams 3 yard line, and will end until one team scores, and the other doesn't.

[Christoph]

Just play a full 5th quarter for the playoffs. The game doesn’t end until the Extra Quarter’s time expires and one team has a lead. That way both teams get to use every element of football, including time management to determine a winner. If still tied after OT, you do another extra quarter until the quarter ends with 1 team with a lead

[JoshVA]

You also could do that the team that that receives the ball must scores eight to wins the game. Making the team who gets the ball first have to go for a two point conversion definitely adds to the intensity.
After the first drive you no longer have to score 8 but in a score would be sufficient.

[alexderevin]

First of all, I'd like to agree with other commenters that your channel is fabulous. That said, I have such a problem with overtime formats in most sports. :(

Regular time football (whether American or not) is denominated in time, in a fixed amount of minutes and seconds. Therefore, overtime should also be denominated in minutes and seconds, not in scoring. I can't think of a more fair way to do it than setting the OT period to 15 minutes, or 2x the length of either team's longest (in time) drive this season, whichever is less, to make it as likely as possible that both teams get possessions, and manage the clock the same way they regularly do. If it's still a tie, play another quarter, there's 53 people on the roster, put out your backups if need be. I wouldn't be against expanding the rosters a bit to accommodate the change.

Basketball is denominated in time, and basketball overtime is denominated in time. Imagine how silly basketball would be if the first team to score a 3-pointer, or score two baskets in a row won!

Baseball is NOT denominated in time, but in possessions. So, it makes sense if 9 offensive possessions by each team don't determine the winner, you play another whole "unit" of baseball -- another inning. And another, and another, and if you need to have your backup shortstop pitch 6 hours into the game, them's the breaks.

So, first touchdown, or one possession each, or golden goal, or penalty shootout, anything that changes the structure of the game for overtime changes the game. Football without clock management is not football. :)

[bowlchamps]

How math works:

At the current pace, the NFL would need to play for another 164, 562 years (to collect enough OT games for data, aka samplesize) to be completely sure if the system is fair.

[felipeme]

Don't even watch football, but this was great!

[KovalchukSnipe]

This is exactly the same opinion I had, the second team has the advantage of knowing but the first team has the advantage too of an extra possession if it happens.
Your wish came true with the NFL Playoffs implementing it.

[kevinmoynihan]

2:46 I think you made a mistake here as a looked this up and the team that plays defense second in the first overtime period (which would be the team that won the coin toss) only wins about 50.5% of the time while the team that goes second in the final OT played (they alternate in between overtime periods) wins about 55% of the time.

[PileOfHobbies]

I don't know a lot (or really anything) about American Football, but would it be possible to have a system where both teams get one run and the team that travels the furthest before being stopped wins? The second team would still have a slight advantage, since they know the distance to beat, but it seems fairer to me. Alternatively you could have two runs each, with one team both starting and finishing (or some other system, similar to the drafting orders in competitive moba's like dota 2).

[tabor]

That’s actually a really good system, I’ve never thought of that

[FroggyalwaysTCG]

This video definitely needs the stats updated. It hasn't even been close to 50/50 now

[thegman]

I’m watching this after the bills and chiefs game. I’m with you. Change the rules in the post season.

[bhcardmagic]

How about soccer overtime rules? Let's say two "halfs" or just one period of 10-15 minutes, the team with the most points wins. If it's still tied, then it goes into a "penalty shootout" with field goals. What do you guys think? Do you think it would be plausible and possible to be applied?

[bowlchamps]

Your proposal: It would not change much but increase injuries, prolong recovery time and actually even be unfair for the team that advances (if they play a team that had no OT the week before).

The current system is best in different areas.
- it has the highest % of a short OT.
- it reduces injuries and recovery because of shorter OT
- it gives the advancing team a smaller disadvantage for the following week
- it emphasises not only offense but also defense
- it gives teams more controversial decisions early on

[gullyg]

Can I use ur video for my post on my sports page on Ig

[bowlchamps]

Fun fact: The fairest thing would be to toss a coin, a coin pre-made with the symbols of the team and flip the coin. We know that over any large enough samplesize, the chances will be for each team.

[thataboytrevor]

What about the CFL overtime there field is bigger so the ball is place 35 not close to the one team but oppose 55 yard line they get no time 20 sec clock each team get two chance to score and or field or say if team A get the ball one 35 yard line they goes down the field score the a touchdown 6 but instead of kick a extra point they have to goes for two and the other team get the ball and get a touchdown miss a two point it repeat say if the first team A get a field goal and the other team move down and score a touchdown went for two and win the Team A 8 + 3 = 11 Team B 6 miss 2 point 6 + 2 14 so the team B but during the 2nd round if the wining team score two touchdown down =+ two point during the overtime the game is over. But most people don’t like the Canadian football game but they still have it mix with rube rules there referee don’t blow dead play they have the 3 different rules set
1 i like how if the ball fumble and goes out of bounds the last on touch get it.
2 i like how they can kick back and forth which what got me in love to beginning with
3 the catching rule is 99.99% much more under stand than the nfl rule set they allow the ball to touch the ground depend on how still it is.
4 trick played where on punt it a couple of wR or CB or HB( is on defense in cfl) behind the punt they are all eligible to get the ball during the play a flag come out and the play continues to play is dead the the do a fast review during the trick play the five yard bubble does not come up because the center the linemen was all offside
5 i think the CFL have a better rule set to make the game they have flag for face-mask tackle as we see may nil player do it.
6. League created with the cfl rule set
7 the only way the five yard is only with Live Ball on kick off and fumble rule as well in-place like how if the flag for pass interference but can figure out who was first they call it accident contact ball will be move 10 yard and a new 4 down is give i think this might be a great rule to put in the game which i think they took away the review of the pass interference.
I am American and i know more rules about the CFL then the No FUN League. LOL
1 point system if a punt does not touch the Endzone no point is give
I also like this rule anytime if coach agree to allow a team to place the ball 35 yard line depend on how blow out the game and i will not injury your kicker union there is also more safety because of great field position for other team.and you do not want that, If you real thing about if American went to meter system before the born league of NFL and AFL the main league would be the capital of Toronto. LOL just a joke.