The NFL needs new overtime rules

The coin toss won it all — at least that’s what people are saying after the Chiefs’ overtime loss to the Patriots in Sunday’s AFC title game.

“That’s just the way the coin flips,” Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes characterized the finish.

If you’re unaware, under overtime playoff rules, a touchdown or safety ends the game. The Patriots ended the AFC Championship with Tom Brady marching down the field for a walk-off touchdown handoff.

I truthfully don’t care about any of the teams in the playoffs (We Dem Boyz), but after this weekend, I’ve become a firm believer that both teams should have a chance on offense in overtime.

In my perfect overtime scenario, I want to see each team with the ball on offense, no matter the outcome of the first drive. The Chiefs have the assumed MVP, and he watched overtime on the sidelines. That’s not cool.

If both teams score a touchdown and hit the extra point, then have the game go to sudden death. The argument that a team must trust its defense isn’t one I support, and if it is that important, then make both teams’ defenses take the field in OT. 

Winning teams make winning plays

By Marshall Sunner

It’s somewhat frustrating that Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs’ prized MVP-caliber quarterback, didn’t touch the ball in overtime, despite leading an impressive fourth-quarter comeback.

But it’s also fair that Mahomes didn’t touch the ball in overtime.

It would have been exciting to watch Mahomes work his magic in overtime. But to say a coin toss decided the game is incorrect. Mahomes could have worked his magic, but his defense didn’t give him the chance.

People complaining that the coin toss is too much a factor must not have seen it work earlier that afternoon. In the NFC Championship, the New Orleans Saints won the overtime toss and still lost the game.

The Rams won the game thanks to its defense. With the Super Bowl on the line, the Rams did what they could to put their quarterback on the field. Kansas City didn’t do the same.

Overtime is used when regulation can’t determine a winner. This is sports, not ethics class. The NFL isn’t here to create a utopian society where every rule is fair and balanced. Irregularities will occur, bad calls will be made, but the better team will ultimately figure out how to overcome it all and execute winning plays.