Jan 7th, 2009 – Heads or Fail
One day after Peyton Manning was named the NFL’s MVP, the league let him down with a toss of a coin.
It has been a long-time rule that tied NFL playoff games end in overtime with the first score. After Saturday, that rule has got a lotta folks all upset like.
San Diego took the ball after regulation and then proceeded to march down the field and score on their first possession of overtime allowing the Chargers to move on. The Colts were sent home without the league’s MVP having the opportunity to touch the football.
Fair?
Well, no – speaking strictly from the “that woulda been cool to see” point of view.
But as far as fair play goes – sure. Combined, defense and special-teams have more to do with winning games that an offense does – even one led by Peyton Manning.
The Colts had plenty of chances to stop San Diego from scoring – they just couldn’t do it. They could have forced a punt on third and 11 from San Diego’s 24 but instead allowed a pass to Darren Sproles for 13 yards. They also committed three penalties on defense, setting up Sproles’ game ending run.
Game over – but not the complaining.
The thing is, the NFL is supposedly in the entertainment business.
Considering that, shouldn’t the NFL change the way OT works? Let’s face it; Saturday night would have been one hell of a more exciting game had Manning been able to have a shot.
There are two separate cases to consider: the regular and the post-season. For the regular season, stats say things are just fine the way they are. There were 15 overtime games this year and 10 were won by teams who flipped the right way. Only seven of those teams actually scored on the first possession, so there is no real argument there for change.
In the post-season however, the stakes are considerably higher therefore having even a modicum of pure chance come into it cheapens the thing somehow. Perhaps more importantly, there is the increased chance of an instant classic being born by letting the players play.
There are several options – some of which have already been tried.
The NCAA’s version, which gives each team the ball on the 25-yard line for alternating possessions is far too gimmicky for the big time. It’s like the NHL having a shootout to decide the Stanley Cup. The Canadian Football League goes even further over the top. Because a point can be scored on a punt, the teams get the ball on the 35 – and each team gets not one but two possessions.
That’s so complicated that during one game last season the umps had to confer at midfield to discuss the rules before play could underway.
Why not, and I know this is going to sound radical, just play on?
As in just keep the game going quarter by quarter?
For the coin tossing purists, that will still be in there. If nobody scores in the extra quarter, or both scored and it’s still tied, just have the other team kick off the sixth quarter, and the seventh – and so on.
Can you think of anything in sports that would be more exciting?
Sometimes the best solutions are the easiest and making it about the play on the field, instead of heads or tails is just that.
Now – for what it’s worth – predictions:
The Titans did win by three points on the road against the Ravens in October and they are the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC. But do you believe it? Me either.
Baltimore 17 – Tennessee Titans 12
The Cardinals are on the road where they managed only a 3-5 record this season. What’s worse for them is Carolina is a perfect 8-0 at home. The 10-point spread might be light.
Carolina 32 – Arizona 10
It was only on the 7th of December that the Giants lost to the Eagles 20-14. It can happen again.
Philadelphia 20 – New York 14
Saturday was the Chargers Super Bowl. Now they have to face the Steelers on the road where they were just 3-5 and probably without LaDainian Tomlinson.
Pittsburgh 22 – San Diego 10
Cheers – Gavin McDougald – AKA Couch
