That's why you kick in OT!

**Boulderraven** · 12-16-2012, 06:53 PM

Just dumb Pittsburgh, better to have ball second.

**MarkS** · 12-16-2012, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by Boulderraven

Just dumb Pittsburgh, better to have ball second.

Not if you opt to kick and the receiving team scores a TD - The NFL rules don't actually guarantee each team an offensive possession.

Each team must possess or have the opportunity to possess the ball unless the team that has the ball first scores a touchdown on its initial possession

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...overtime-rules

**Boulderraven** · 12-16-2012, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by MarkS

Not if you opt to kick and the receiving team scores a TD - The NFL rules don't actually guarantee each team an offensive possession.

Each team must possess or have the opportunity to possess the ball unless the team that has the ball first scores a touchdown on its initial possession

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...overtime-rules

Rarely does the recieiving team in OT score a TD. Maybe a FG, but then if they do score a FG you are in 4 down territory to tie it back up or take the lead. You use college rules for OT basically, better to have ball LAST.

**Corey** · 12-16-2012, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by Boulderraven

Rarely does the recieiving team in OT score a TD. Maybe a FG, but then if they do score a FG you are in 4 down territory to tie it back up or take the lead. You use college rules for OT basically, better to have ball LAST.

Perhaps you missed this:

Given that the Steelers have already been on the receiving end of that exact scenario in a really important game already. I don't blame them for taking the ball. Besides Dallas was on its heels most of the game.

**MarkS** · 12-16-2012, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by Boulderraven

Rarely does the recieiving team in OT score a TD. Maybe a FG, but then if they do score a FG you are in 4 down territory to tie it back up or take the lead. You use college rules for OT basically, better to have ball LAST.

"Rarely"? It's already happened twice this year (so far). As Corey pointed out, the Steelers were eliminated in the playoffs last year in exactly this scenario.

No coach would ever willingly give the opposing team the opportunity to win the game without his own team even having a chance to possess the ball. Nor should they.

**Rosdaman** · 12-16-2012, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by MarkS

"Rarely"? It's already happened twice this year (so far). As Corey pointed out, the Steelers were eliminated in the playoffs last year in exactly this scenario.

No coach would ever willingly give the opposing team the opportunity to win the game without his own team even having a chance to possess the ball. Nor should they.

Don't mean to be deeck ... but the 2000 Ravens, under today's OT rules, certainly would have been better off deferring in OT

**Uli2001** · 12-16-2012, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by Rosdaman

Don't mean to be deeck ... but the 2000 Ravens, under today's OT rules, certainly would have been better off deferring in OT

That's the decider. Good D, defer. Bad D, keep it.

**Ravenblue** · 12-17-2012, 03:49 AM

Exactly it.

A coach will just weigh up the chances of stopping them versus the chances of his offense getting the touchdown.

**KidSampson** · 12-17-2012, 10:31 AM

The possible outcomes of giving the other team the first possession, assuming no turnover:
1) Remained tied
2) Go down by three points
3) Lose
The possible outcomes of having the first possession, assuming no turnover:
1) Remained tied
2) Go up by three points
3) Win

I think every coach would pick the outcomes of having the ball first over not having it.

**Haloti92** · 12-17-2012, 10:47 AM

I definitely think you receive in most situations but there are some advantages to kicking it away.

For example in the above list of possibilities, the categories of "remain tied" are slightly different in that if you receive and it "remains tied" then you can lose to a FG the next possession. If you kick away, and it remains tied you can win with a FG on your first possession.

In addition, if you receive and score 3 points, then the other team will be using 4 downs to get 10 yards (until they at least get into FG range) each set of downs, instead of the 3 downs (and punt) they would use on their opening possession after you kicked away to start the OT.

The decision, I think, is closer than people make it out to be, but I agree that it still leans towards receiving for almost all game situations (other than severe weather or a team that has a massive defense and dubious offense, etc).