NFL Overtime Rules Should be Changed

The Postseason overtime rule could change

The NFL’s overtime rules are very unfair, and one cited all the time. As the rule was put into place in 1974, in 2010 they put into play, one team would be able to get a shot to score after the other team hit a field goal with their first possession. As recently as 2022, There was a survey taken to see if people wanted the overtime rule in the playoffs and in the regular season to change next year. There will be discussions and they have to have a vote on this new rule for overtime and regular season. 

Florio, P. by M. (2022, February 13). Postseason overtime rules could change, guaranteeing one possession for each team. ProFootballTalk. Retrieved February 20, 2022, from https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/02/13/postseason-overtime-rules-could-change-guaranteeing-one-possession-for-each-team/?partner=MSN

The NfL fans react to the game

The NFL fan base reacted to the Chiefs vs Bills game, and they weren’t happy at all. They weren’t happy with the result because they wanted to see the Bills get another opportunity in that close game. The fans really want a rule change because they think that it would be really interesting to see what would happen if the Overtime rule was applied in the playoffs and in the regular season. In the Bills Chiefs game, the end of the game was very intense, at the end when the Chiefs won the coin toss in overtime and drove down the field and scored on their first possession. But it was weird when the Bills didn’t get another chance.

NFL world reacts to overtime rules preventing Josh Allen, bills from responding vs. chiefs. MSN. (n.d.). Retrieved February 20, 2022, from https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/nfl-world-reacts-to-overtime-rules-preventing-josh-allen-bills-from-responding-vs-chiefs/ar-AAT4Gqw

The Overtime rule Should be changed

In people’s opinion they believe that the overtime rules should change. This is because everyone believes that the NFL needs to immediately put this rule into play so we can see some fairness for both teams because as of right now it’s very one cited, it’s very annoying to watch an overtime and not get to see someone else get a second chance to try to tie the game. Since the rule was added, it has always helped the team that won the coin toss. I believe that if there was a rule change, we would be able to see what would happen if the opposing team had an opportunity to score.

Firle, B. M. (2022, February 7). Opinion: Should the NFL change overtime rules? The Hilltop. Retrieved February 20, 2022, from https://thehilltoponline.com/2022/02/07/opinion-piece-should-the-nfl-change-overtime-rules/

The Overtime Rules Have to be Changed

In the Chiefs vs Bills game, late fourth quarter, Patrick Mahomes drove down the field with 13 seconds left to tie the game just after the Bills came down and Gabriel Davis scored for them. They went into overtime and the Chiefs won the coin toss. Then the Bills didn’t get an opportunity to come back because the Chiefs scored first but, in my opinion, I believe that the Bills were cheated out of that overtime because if they had an opportunity to have a chance to tie the game, I believe that the Bills would have tied the game and it would’ve felt intense.

Papillion, J. (2022, February 10). From the basement: NFL’s overtime rules must change • the Tulane hullabaloo. The Tulane Hullabaloo. Retrieved February 20, 2022, from https://tulanehullabaloo.com/58972/sports/from-the-basement-nfls-overtime-rules-must-change

The fans want a change to the rules

After the Bills-Chiefs game, a bunch of players around the league think that there should be a rule where both teams get the ball in overtime. Players around the world think that the NFL is not being fair with the rules in overtime in the playoffs and in the regular season. In my opinion I wanted to see Josh Allen get an opportunity in Overtime because I think that it would be interesting to see what would happen if the Bills tied the game in overtime in the playoffs. It would be very interesting to see what would happen if the Chiefs didn’t win the coin toss.

Morse, B. (2022, January 24). The NFL’s overtime rule explained and why fans want to see it changed. CNN. Retrieved February 20, 2022, from https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/24/sport/nfl-overtime-rules-chiefs-bills-spt-intl/index.html

Academic Sources:

1. Florio, P. by M. (2022, February 13). Postseason overtime rules could change, guaranteeing one possession for each team. ProFootballTalk. Retrieved February 20, 2022, from https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/02/13/postseason-overtime-rules-could-change-guaranteeing-one-possession-for-each-team/?partner=MSN

Background: This article discusses the importance of how the postseason rule could be changed, which would be guaranteeing one possession for each team that plays in the overtime. It focuses on how the NFL was going to change the overtime rules because they really needed to be changed. They really need to be changed in my opinion.

2. NFL world reacts to overtime rules preventing Josh Allen, bills from responding vs. chiefs. MSN. (n.d.). Retrieved February 20, 2022, from https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/nfl-world-reacts-to-overtime-rules-preventing-josh-allen-bills-from-responding-vs-chiefs/ar-AAT4Gqw

Background: This article discusses the importance of how the postseason rule could be changed. But it’s because of the Bills and Chiefs game where in Overtime, The Chiefs scored a touchdown to win the game. But The Bills and Josh Allen didn’t really have any opportunity to get a chance to comeback because the rule right now says that if a team scores first, the game is officially over at that point so it’s very pointless.

3. Firle, B. M. (2022, February 7). Opinion: Should the NFL change overtime rules? The Hilltop. Retrieved February 20, 2022, from https://thehilltoponline.com/2022/02/07/opinion-piece-should-the-nfl-change-overtime-rules/

Background: This article discusses the importance of how the postseason rule could be changed. It also talks about if the NFL should change the Overtime rule. In my opinion I think they do but others say that the rule makes no sense because some people think that the defense should be able to stop the offense in Overtime.

4. Morse, B., & Fuente, H. D. la. (2022, March 31). NFL changes playoff overtime rule after Kansas City Chiefs vs buffalo bills thriller. CNN. Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/31/sport/nfl-overtime-playoff-rule-change-spt-intl/index.html

Background: This article discusses the importance of how the postseason rule could be changed. Which would be guaranteeing one possession for each team that plays in the overtime. It focuses on how the NFL was going to change the overtime rules because they really needed to be changed. Also because of the Chiefs Bills game.

5. D’Andrea, C. (2022, M arch 29). How the NFL’s new playoff overtime rules work, explained. USA Today. Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/03/nfl-overtime-rule-change-new-playoffs-format-explained

Background: This article discusses the importance of how the postseason rule could be changed. Which would be guaranteeing one possession for each team that plays in the overtime. It focuses on how the NFL was going to change the overtime rules because they really needed to be changed.  the NFL is flirting with another overtime rule-change that has always haunted the NFL Postseason.

6. Yahoo! (n.d.). The NFL is flirting with another overtime rule-change that would fix a problem that has haunted the NFL postseason. Yahoo! Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/nfl-flirting-another-overtime-rule

Background: This article discusses the importance of how the postseason rule could be changed. Which would be guaranteeing one possession for each team that plays in the overtime. It focuses on how the NFL was going to change the overtime rules because they really needed to be changed. The NFL is flirting with another overtime rule-change that has always haunted the NFL Postseason.

7. Young, J. (2022, March 30). National Football League owners vote to change playoff overtime rule to allow possessions for both teams. CNBC. Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/29/nfl-changes-playoff-overtime-rule-to-allow-possessions-for-both-teams.html

Background: This article discusses the importance of how the postseason rule could be changed. Which would be guaranteeing one possession for each team that plays in the overtime. It focuses on how the NFL was going to change the overtime rules because they really needed to be changed.  the owners already voted to change playoff overtime rules to allow possessions for both teams.

8. NFL changes overtime format for postseason games only. MSN. (n.d.). Retrieved April 3, 2022, from https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/nfl-changes-overtime-format-for-postseason-games-only/ar-AAVBXEB

Background: This article discusses the importance of how the postseason rule could be changed. Which would be guaranteeing one possession for each team that plays in the overtime. It focuses on how the NFL was going to change the overtime rules because they really needed to be changed. But the format is postseason only.

9. Young, J. (2022, March 25). There’s momentum to change the NFL’s overtime rule as owners prepare for Annual meetings. CNBC. Retrieved April 3, 2022, from https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/25/nfl-overtime-rule-chan

Background: This article discusses the importance of how the postseason rule could be changed. Which would be guaranteeing one possession for each team that plays in the overtime. It focuses on how the NFL was going to change the overtime rules because they really needed to be changed.            

10. Knox, K. (2022 March 31). With overtime rules changed, what other NFL rules should be examined next? Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2954904-with-overtime-rules-changed-what-other-nfl-rules-should-be-examined-next

Background: This article discusses the importance of how the postseason rule could be changed. Which would be guaranteeing one possession for each team that plays in the overtime. It focuses on how the NFL was going to change the overtime rules because they really needed to be changed. but maybe there are other rules that could also be discussed to change the rules around.

My current state of my research is that I’m feeling great about the progress that I have made with the research. My opinion has been solidified because I believe that every team should have an opportunity to come back in overtime. I anticipate that my outcome will be that I explained why I think that the teams should always have opportunities to try to help them come back in the overtime in the playoffs and in the regular season. The progress that I have made is that I found other sources that say that they want the NFL to change their rule.

My topics for my small paper are:

Benefits of Overtime Changes in the NFL

NFL affecting the interest of the fans during overtime

The NFL and Fans having an intense in the Playoffs

Working Hypothesis 1: Changing the overtime rules in the NFL would basically get rid of the unfairness the league has had for years.

Working Hypothesis 2: Changing overtime rules in the NFL would help give both teams a fair chance to score and to make the game more interesting.