Opinion: Super Bowl 51 proves that the NFL needs to change its overtime rules

Written by Christian Lysek

Let me start by saying that I am no belligerent Atlanta fan or a Brady hater. I have always despised the NFL's overtime rules and last night's game merely affirmed to me that I did. I would have felt the same way if the Falcons had won the game. Disliking the NFL's overtime rules is not about being a sore loser: it is about wanting a more fair game.

The NFL overtime procedure is as follows: there is a coin toss, a kickoff is made, if the receiving team fails to score or scores a field goal, the game continues, and if they score a touchdown the game is over. Obviously, if a team wins the coin flip, they will not defer the kick. They will drive down the field and try to ensure that the opposing offense never has a chance at getting the ball. This is an incredibly unfair setup. The game is essentially being decided by the flip of a coin. One might say that "the defense has a chance to stop the offense," but defensive players exhaust more energy throughout the game than offensive players simply because they must shed blocks and tackle. Whoever wins the coin toss is then essentially facing an exhausted defense faced with the daunting task of stopping an offense filled with more energy than themselves. 

Then there is the matter of the opposing team not getting the ball back if a touchdown is scored. This is by far the most illogical and unfair rule in the NFL. Matt Ryan and the offense have a Super Bowl ring at stake, and these rules prevent them from fighting for it in overtime. Sure, maybe the overtime is shorter because of the sudden death aspect, but are we really sacrificing the fairness of the game we love Roger Goodell wants to be in bed before 10:30? It is time to change these rules. They robbed the Falcons this year and the Packers last year, so has there ever been a better time to initiate a change for them. 

The NFL needs to rip a page out of college football's notebook. Each team should get the ball at the 25-yard line and have to try and score the ball. No matter what happens, the other team gets the ball until the game is won. Let the players play two overtimes, three overtimes, or ten overtimes, but let them play a fair game where each side has a chance to win.