by Jimmy Patrick

Created on: May 18, 2009   Last Updated: May 20, 2009

The biggest argument anyone seems to have for changing the overtime rule in the NFL is that a coin toss should not decide the game, when the truth is a coin toss does not decide the game in the current, sudden-death format. To say that a coin toss decides the game is to assume two very important facts. First, it assumes that the team winning the coin toss will choose to receive, and second, it assumes the team to receive will score on the first possession.

I have seen many games in which the team winning the coin toss has deferred to the other team so they can choose which end zone to defend. This always happens when extreme winds or other weather conditions are in effect, but that is exactly why the choice is important. I have also seen many games in which the first team to get the ball does not win.

People who argue for a change are annoyed with the games that end with one team winning the coin toss, receiving the ball, making a few first downs and kicking a field goal to win the game. They argue that it isn't fair for the other team to be denied a chance to have the ball.

Football is not like bowling or lawn darts. They aren't playing a game of horse. There is defense played in football and it is an extremely important and prominent aspect of the game. If a team is unable to play defense, they don't deserve to win the game anyway. As for having their equal offensive opportunity, they just had 60 minutes of regulation to put their offensive attack into motion. If it wasn't good enough then, why would it be guaranteed to score in overtime?

When proposing an alternative, those in favor of change usually advocate the college format in which both teams get the ball on offense at the opposition's 25-yard line. The full array of scoring is available, including two-point conversions. They think it is more fair and less likely to determine a winner based on luck, for that is the real argument. Nobody wants luck to decide what should be a contest of athletic skill.

The truth is, however, from the opening kickoff of any NFL game, lucky and unlucky plays, depending on your perspective, are happening all over. There are field goals that bounce off the goal post, holding calls that referees don't see or bad calls by referees that may overturn big plays. There are fumbles and trips and slips. There are miscommunication and passes blown off target by the wind. Football is not a game of perfect science. It is a game, and as a game, it inherently will

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