Can we please change this rule in the NFL?
I know every Green Bay Packer fan remembers the coin-flip that wasn't, and what came after that in the divisional round last season. After two Hail Mary's to WR Jeff Janis, the Packers ended up tying the game heading into overtime, with all of the momentum. Then, it all changed. The coin was flipped again, and Arizona had won possession of the football. Just a few plays later, Carson Palmer (right) hooked up with Larry Fitzgerald (center) for the game winning (and ending) touchdown. This is the rule that needs to be changed, an offensive or kick return touchdown on the opening drive in overtime should not result in the conclusion of the football game.
Now, I understand that most of the NFL does not really care about this rule and it's mostly Packers' fans that do, but none of you have had this situation happen to you two years in a row. It's silly to have the game end before both teams get the ball for a multitude of reasons. First, the team who gets the ball gets it based off of a COIN FLIP. Don't tell me that if the Packers didn't win the coin flip that they would not have scored a touchdown with all the momentum they had, two Hail Mary's is a HUGE momentum boost. Second, relating to my previous statement, momentum is everything in big football games, and both sides should have a chance to use their momentum to win some games. Finally, every other freaking sport gives both sides a chance to score in overtime, why can't the NFL?
I know, the defense should be able to stop the offense if they are really going to win, blah, blah, blah. But how can you sit there and say that Cardinals' defense would for sure prevent the Packers' offense from winning the game, or tying it on the next drive? You can't, and it should be allowed to happen that way. And you know what, I have a suggestion that I believe works for everybody without switching to the "sudden-death" style of the college football overtime or playing all 15 minutes of overtime (unless necessary).
Here it is, in layman's terms: An overtime in the NFL cannot end on the first drive of overtime, unless a defensive or punt return touchdown happens on the opening drive. Why is this an exception? Because what happens when a team scores a touchdown? They kick-off, meaning the team that committed the fatal turnover would get a second chance. I'm saying both sides should get one chance, not a chance to respond after the first chance has been used up.
For example, using the Arizona-Green Bay game. Say, instead of throwing that long pass to Larry Fitzgerald, Carson Palmer threw an interception to Sam Shields, and he returned it for a touchdown. It would mean game over, Green Bay wins, because otherwise Arizona gets another chance, and Green Bay's offense would not need to play, since the defense did the work for them. Same with a punt return touchdown. Or, say Green Bay just got an interception without a touchdown, then kicked a field goal or scored a touchdown. Green Bay wins, and Arizona does not get a second chance. In other words, the only way that an Arizona opening-drive touchdown wins the game is if Green Bay gets the ball back and does not score a touchdown the next drive.
I hope that makes sense to you common football fans out there, and I hope somebody shows whoever makes the rules in the NFL this idea, because it needs to happen. Yeah, I'm a bit of an upset fan that we lost in the same ridiculous way twice, but I still think this is a better, more fair way to conduct overtime.
