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The Overtime Quandary

After being treated to one of the best weekends of football, it may seem odd to make a complaint. But we do have to.

All four games were very exciting – this was the first occasion that the divisional championships games had been “walkoffs,” determined by score on final play. The final four-game set, Buffalo against Kansas City, was the highlight of the weekend, with a spectacular display from two outstanding teams.   The amazing 25-point score that the two teams achieved in regulation play’s final minute was just one of the highlights.

The game revealed that the NFL’s method of resolving a tie at the end regulation is the most inefficient of any major sport. This includes soccer’s derided penalty shootouts.  The end of regulation is decided by a coin toss. This determines the team that will be given the next kickoff, which begins the overtime period. The game ends if the touchdown team scores.

Kansas City won and drove down the field to score a touchdown. This was the same as nine previous playoff games which went into overtime. the team winning the coin toss won the game.

This is simply unfair and unjustifiable. Any nine-year old playing in a pick-up game on the playground would know that. It should have no bearing on the game’s outcome. Bills supporters are rightfully angry at having lost their chance to win.  There is no other sport that gives one team the chance to win. It is truly bizarre that the NFL allows for infinite pauses in the game for video inspections of the receiver’s left foot and the line.  This should be fixed immediately.