1- The spot-and-choose rule
This was actually proposed by the Ravens last year and if the NFL wants to spice up overtime, it should implement the change. Under this rule, one team would choose the yard line where the overtime drive starts and the other team would choose whether they want to play offense or defense.
For instance, if Team A and Team B were playing in overtime and Team A won the coin toss, it would pick any spot on the field where the first drive of OT would start. If it picked the 10-yard line (90 yards away from the end zone), then Team B would get to choose whether it wanted to play offense or defense. The overtime in this proposal would be a 10-minute sudden-death period and the other rules would be the same as they are now (If a team scores a TD on its first drive, then they win, but if they kick a field goal, the game continues). This rule would take the coin flip out of overtime.
If this rule had been in place on Sunday night, Chiefs coach Andy Reid would have picked a spot on the field. Let's say he chose the 5-yard line. At that point, Sean McDermott would have to decide whether his team wants the ball, knowing that he's 95 yards away from a possible touchdown. The risk of taking the ball at the 5-yard line is that if you go three-and-out, then the other team will likely be near field goal range after you punt out of your own end zone.
2- The field goal gamble
If the NFL wants to get rid of the coin toss and replace it with an actual football skill to determine who gets the ball first in overtime, then they could go with the field goal gamble. Under this rule, the home team would pick a distance for a field goal that would decide who gets the ball first. The away team would then decide which team has to attempt the field goal.
If this rule had been in place on Sunday night, Andy Reid would have picked a distance for a field goal. Let's say he decided to go with 59 yards. At that point, Sean McDermott would get to decide whether the Chiefs or Bills have to attempt the kick. If he decides that the Chiefs should attempt the kick and they make it, then Kansas City gets the ball first (the Bills would have to kick off to them). On the other hand, if the Chiefs miss the field goal, then the Bills would get the ball first. This would take the coin toss out and put all the pressure on the kicker.
After the field goal gamble is over, then the actual overtime period would be sudden death -- the first team that scores wins -- putting even more pressure on the kicker who's attempting the field goal to start overtime.
3- The simple proposal: Both teams get the ball
Although the Chiefs won on Sunday night, they've definitely been on the losing side in an overtime game before. As a matter of fact, they had a high-profile loss to the Patriots in the 2018 AFC Championship Game where Patrick Mahomes never got to touch the ball in overtime. In the offseason following the loss, the Chiefs proposed a simple rule change that would require each team to get at least one possession in overtime.
Basically, if this rule had been in place on Sunday, the touchdown scored by Kelce in overtime wouldn't have ended the game. Instead, the Chiefs would have had to kick off to the Bills and Buffalo's offense would have also had a chance to score. Once both teams have had one possession, then the game would turn into sudden death.
4- MY Proposal
Have a regular coin flip just like at the beginning of the game. Then play a FULL quarter of OT. If that ends in a tie then repeat.
This was actually proposed by the Ravens last year and if the NFL wants to spice up overtime, it should implement the change. Under this rule, one team would choose the yard line where the overtime drive starts and the other team would choose whether they want to play offense or defense.
For instance, if Team A and Team B were playing in overtime and Team A won the coin toss, it would pick any spot on the field where the first drive of OT would start. If it picked the 10-yard line (90 yards away from the end zone), then Team B would get to choose whether it wanted to play offense or defense. The overtime in this proposal would be a 10-minute sudden-death period and the other rules would be the same as they are now (If a team scores a TD on its first drive, then they win, but if they kick a field goal, the game continues). This rule would take the coin flip out of overtime.
If this rule had been in place on Sunday night, Chiefs coach Andy Reid would have picked a spot on the field. Let's say he chose the 5-yard line. At that point, Sean McDermott would have to decide whether his team wants the ball, knowing that he's 95 yards away from a possible touchdown. The risk of taking the ball at the 5-yard line is that if you go three-and-out, then the other team will likely be near field goal range after you punt out of your own end zone.
2- The field goal gamble
If the NFL wants to get rid of the coin toss and replace it with an actual football skill to determine who gets the ball first in overtime, then they could go with the field goal gamble. Under this rule, the home team would pick a distance for a field goal that would decide who gets the ball first. The away team would then decide which team has to attempt the field goal.
If this rule had been in place on Sunday night, Andy Reid would have picked a distance for a field goal. Let's say he decided to go with 59 yards. At that point, Sean McDermott would get to decide whether the Chiefs or Bills have to attempt the kick. If he decides that the Chiefs should attempt the kick and they make it, then Kansas City gets the ball first (the Bills would have to kick off to them). On the other hand, if the Chiefs miss the field goal, then the Bills would get the ball first. This would take the coin toss out and put all the pressure on the kicker.
After the field goal gamble is over, then the actual overtime period would be sudden death -- the first team that scores wins -- putting even more pressure on the kicker who's attempting the field goal to start overtime.
3- The simple proposal: Both teams get the ball
Although the Chiefs won on Sunday night, they've definitely been on the losing side in an overtime game before. As a matter of fact, they had a high-profile loss to the Patriots in the 2018 AFC Championship Game where Patrick Mahomes never got to touch the ball in overtime. In the offseason following the loss, the Chiefs proposed a simple rule change that would require each team to get at least one possession in overtime.
Basically, if this rule had been in place on Sunday, the touchdown scored by Kelce in overtime wouldn't have ended the game. Instead, the Chiefs would have had to kick off to the Bills and Buffalo's offense would have also had a chance to score. Once both teams have had one possession, then the game would turn into sudden death.
4- MY Proposal
Have a regular coin flip just like at the beginning of the game. Then play a FULL quarter of OT. If that ends in a tie then repeat.
