NFL Overtime Rules Need to Change (Sorry, President-Elect Obama)

It's been another wild weekend in the NFL. The Packers, who looked pathetic on offense for the last couple of weeks, beat the living daylights out of a Chicago Bears team that might not have been as good as the 5-4 record it had going in to yesterday's game.

Elsewhere the Giants continued to roll, beating up on what was considered a very good Ravens defense. But, those aren't the games I want tot talk about today.

No, I want to talk about the 13-13 tie that the Eagles and Bengals played to yesterday afternoon. Not that I like either of those teams. Not that Icare whether the Eagles make the playoffs or the Bengals go 1-15, but the final outcome (if you can call it that) just leaves me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Simply, put the NFL Overtime rules need to change. The sooner the better, but they need to change. Games need to be played until there's a winner. And, each team should have at least one chance to touch the ball in the O-T. If you're not going to make them play till there's a winner, go with the system the college game has. Not only does it work, but it is very entertaining.

NFL games should not end in ties. As a member of the sports media, the NFL is the sport where we as talk show hosts and writers, use words that are more connected to war than anything else. Words like battle, or combat. It's weird to use those words and then talk about a game which ended in a tie.

The NHL (yes it's still a major sport) used to have this problem. Games would end in ties left and right. It was one of the reasons the NHL lost the lofty position it once enjoyed as a pro sport in the United States. Then the lockout happened. And when the league came back, it basically eliminated the overtime tie by going to a shootout. It's a gimmick, but at least we're not talking about Colorado and Detroit skating to a 3-3 tie. That's a snoozer. The shootout is anything but. (And playoff hockey, which can go to multiple periods of overtime, is still the best hockey there is).

College football got rid of the ties they used to have. It may have taken ten years too long, but they did it. And, as I mentioned earlier, is there anyone out there who doesn't love the college football overtime system? I don't think I have ever heard someone complain about it.

The point is we should play till there is a winner. The Bengals obviously have no chance at making the playoffs. The Eagles, on the other hand, do. To take it away from them (which could happen) based on rules that are archaic and need to change is just wrong.

The NFL needs change. Change for the better. Change we can all get behind. Change to the Overtime rules.