Say what you want about this year’s playoff season, but this weekend proved to be filled with exciting finishes in all four games. There were three upsets and a game of evenly matched contenders who played their game into overtime.
The three upsets were not decided until the waning seconds of their games. It made for exciting finishes to a football fan with no skin in the game. Fun to watch, no emotional ties to who won or lost, no money at risk. Just enjoyable football.
But it is the Chiefs-Bills game I want to discuss.
It was clear from the start that both quarterbacks were up to the task and traded touchdowns on their first drives. It was also an exciting game all throughout, right up to final play at the end of regulation.
Game tied, overtime to commence. The last game of an absolutely exciting weekend with more excitement to come, right?
But then, the rules got in the way.
During the regular season, overtime rules state that if the receiving team scores a touchdown on its possession, the game is over and the other team does not get a chance to score. But if the receiving team does not score, then the other team gets the ball. At this point, it now becomes first team to score wins, or ends in a tie if no one scores at the end of overtime.
In college, overtime rules differ slightly, but in an important way. Both teams get a chance at possession and then the team who scores the most points in overtime wins. For example, if the receiving team scores a field goal, the other team must score a touchdown on its possession to win. If, instead, they also score a field goal, the next score by either team wins, or ends in a tie at the end of overtime.
To Roger Goodell: This is something which should be considered for post-season only. While the current rules may make sense during the season, for expediency's sake, TV conflicts and other reasons, for the post-season, it isn't fair to the players of either team, or the fans, if one team gets a chance to score and the other does not.
I understand that this year is done. But there is plenty of time for the rules committee to modify playoff overtime rules for next year and for the years to come.
Let's get it done.
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