Reply #2: Couldn't disagree more

[Awsi Dooger]

The Vikings did have a chance with the ball. A simple tipped ball interception opportunity in overtime was dropped.

We've had two playoff overtimes this season, both decided on the first series, one by the defense and one by the offense. Why are we determined to remember only the latter?

There's one thing wrong with NFL overtimes: Kicking off from the 30 instead of the 35 or 40. That rule change was designed to promote runbacks and scoring. It does the job. But they neglected to consider impact on overtimes. Last night I posted on a college football site that NFL overtimes are strange in that the kickoff man seldom gets typical depth, and the cover team is spent after 60 minutes. It results in longer runbacks which equates to field position and alters the basic math, providing a greater opportunity to score first. The Saints began at the 39.

The break even position in the NFL is the 15 yard line. That's when both teams have 50/50 opportunity to score next, based on thousands of samples of every starting field position. You could merely stick the ball there, but that would be an absurd deviation from the sport as we know it. I'd move the overtime kickoff back to the 40, like the '70s and earlier, even if it meant boring touchbacks.

Another change would be to extend the delay between end of regulation and overtime. The teams are mentally and physically spent after 4 quarters. But the league will never go that route, due to TV purposes.

College overtimes are inane. I refuse to watch them, in the vast majority of cases. My Las Vegas friends always laugh when I walk away as soon as a game heads to overtime.

Bottom line, it's very simple. If you want a public outcry for a format change, you need the Super Bowl to reach overtime and be decided on the first possession, leaving a star QB on the sidelines. Otherwise the owners and rules committee are properly content to keep things the way they are.