The NFL could learn a thing or two from the drama of penalty kicks in soccer. While ties are a necessary part of the game in the regular season, they can be a real drag, especially in the postseason. But what if there was a way to spice up overtime and make it more exciting? Here are two ideas that could bring the pulse-pounding finish of a penalty shootout to the NFL.
Proposal 1: The Two-Point Shootout
The college football system already has a rule that could be adapted for the NFL. In college, overtime starts with each team getting one possession from their opponent's 25-yard line. If the game is still tied after both teams have had the ball once, they go into a second overtime. If the game is still tied after the second overtime, then they move on to a new phase of overtime where both teams get to attempt a two-point conversion. This is the closest thing the NFL has to penalty kicks.
The two-point shootout would be a thrilling way to end a tied game. Imagine the Packers-Cowboys game from last year, which ended in a 40-40 draw. If the college rule were in place, both teams would have gotten to attempt one two-point conversion after the initial 10-minute overtime period ended. If one team makes it and the other one doesn't, then that team wins. If both teams make it or both teams fail, then you move on to Round 2 of the two-point shootout.
The only downside to this rule is that it could drag on for a while. If both teams continue to score or if both teams keep coming up empty, then you could end up having a two-point shootout that goes on for seven or eight rounds, and that's after both teams just played a 10-minute overtime. But the excitement of a single play deciding the game is worth it.
Proposal 2: The Field Goal Gamble
Another idea is to bring the field goal gamble from soccer to the NFL. If two NFL teams are still tied after the initial 10-minute overtime period, then everything would come down to the field goal gamble. That's right, a kicker would get to decide it.
The team that wins the coin toss gets to choose the distance for a field goal attempt. The team that loses the coin toss would then decide whether to attempt the kick or have the other team attempt it. This rule would add a strategic element to overtime, as the team that gets to choose the distance of the kick isn't going to pick 75 yards, because they know there's a chance that they might have to attempt the kick.
Letting one team pick the distance of the kick and the other team decide who will attempt the field goal serves as its own system of checks and balances. The Packers-Cowboys game would have been decided by a single kick, with the team that won the coin toss choosing the distance. This rule would add the kind of suspense that we usually only get by watching penalty kicks.
In conclusion, the NFL could learn a lot from the drama of penalty kicks in soccer. By adopting these two ideas, the league could make overtime more exciting and eliminate ties once and for all. It's time to bring the pulse-pounding finish of a penalty shootout to the NFL!
