My Solution to the NFL's Overtime Rule

Ever since the vaulted Chiefs offense of 2018/19 did not get an opportunity to take the field in overtime of the 2019 AFC Championship game, NFL fans (mostly Chiefs) have clamored for a change to the NFL overtime rules.  They want both teams to have an opportunity to possess the ball.  And I have to admit, I agree.  If two teams meet, and each team has a great offense and sub-par defense, the coin flip really does determine who wins the game.  I know it's been 7 months since that AFC Championship game, but I have just thought of a solution to fix overtime in the NFL.  I want to add that I have modified my original overtime proposal which allowed games to extend beyond two possessions.  This does not (unless it is a playoff game).

Here is my solution: Each team gets one opportunity to possess the ball on offense.  The only exception being if the defense scores on the first possession.  If the first team to possess the ball scores, the opposing team will get one shot to tie or beat them.  After those two possessions, the game is over.  If the game is tied after two scoring possessions, the game becomes a tie (unless it's a playoff game).  If the first team to possess the ball gets a TD and goes for two and succeeds, that means the best the opposing team can do is tie the game.  If it was a playoff game, they'd have to get a touchdown and two point conversion to keep the game going.  I must add that in this version of overtime, there is no game clock, just like in college.  Just possessions and a play clock.

Confused at all?  I wouldn't blame you if you were.  Here are some hypotheticals (and we'll use the Patriots and Chiefs to make it easy).  And we are using regular season overtime rules (unless otherwise specified).

- The Patriots get the ball first in overtime and kick a field goal.  The Chiefs then kick a field goal.  The game would then be a tie.  In the playoffs, the Patriots would get the ball back, now with the game in sudden death mode.

- The Patriots get the ball first in overtime and score a touchdown and get the ensuing PAT.  The Chiefs get the ball themselves and score a touchdown as well.  They kick the PAT as well.  This would result in a tie.  The Chiefs could go for two points, and if they successfully get it, they win the game.  If they fail to get it, they lose.  Talk about drama.

- The Patriots get the ball first in overtime and score a touchdown and get the two point conversion.  The Chiefs would then get an opportunity to match.  If they don't, the game obviously ends with a Patriots victory.  If they do, the game ends in a tie.  In the playoffs, they would continue to play now under sudden death (next score wins).

- The Patriots get the ball first and either punt or turn the ball over.  The Chiefs get the ball.  Any score wins it for them.  If they fail to score at least a field goal (because with the offense on the field, they can't score a safety), the game ends in a tie.  In the playoffs, the game would continue until someone scores.

I hope that clarifies things.  This way, both teams get a chance to possess the football, and the game always ends after two possessions, unless it's the playoffs.  The interesting scenario this creates is for the second team to possess the ball.  Do they go for the tie or the win?  I'd say 90%+ of the time you go for the win; one exception being if a loss knocks you out of the playoffs, but a tie or win and you're in the playoffs.

Here are the pros and cons of this format.

PROS:
- Both teams get a chance to go for the win if they so choose, unless the first team gets a TD and 2 point conversion.  If the first team does get both, then the second team loses the ability to go for the win.
- Would make for exciting and dramatic football as we could see a lot of "Do or Die" plays
- Would make for a lot of interesting and tough coaching decisions (Go for 2?  Go for it on 4th?  Kick or receive?)
- It's about as fair as OT can be to whoever wins the toss, and I could see some teams wanting the ball first while others want it second

CONS:
- Can be a tad confusing
- There could be an increase in the number of ties since any teams that do the same in the overtime period would count as a tie.
- This could increase the amount of time players have to play in overtime if they're always forced to play at least two possessions.

To counter those three cons I listed, for the first one, I came up with a simplified way of explaining these rules and it is this: Each team gets one possession.  Whoever does better wins.  If they do the same, they tie.  That's it. Once people get used to these rules, they become very easy to explain.

Secondly, it's hard to really say if the number of ties would increase.  If just one team scores, the chance that there will be a tie dramatically drops, because the second team to possess the ball more than likely won't go for a tie.  And with defenses that have been on the field for a half hour each (on average) already, it means offenses playing against gassed defenses and more than likely, one of the offensive units would get at least a field goal.  Also, you would not see many teams "going for a tie", such as kicking a field goal when the other team kicked a field goal, because a head coach would instantly and forever be harshly criticized for not having the courage to go for the win.

Thirdly, this could indeed increase on average the amount of time overtime periods go.  Right now, overtime can end on one possession.  It still could now (if there's a defensive score), but most often we'd see two possessions.  My argument is that I think players would be willing to play a bit more for a better chance to win the game.  Think back to the AFC Championship game this past season.  I'd guarantee each of those Chiefs offensive players, from QB Patrick Mahomes to the offensive linemen, they all wanted to go back out there.  They all wanted one more shot.  There are only 16 games a season plus a maximum of 4 playoff games for one team.  Each game is critical, and everyone on the team would love a shot to go out and win a game that goes to overtime.  Let's give them that shot.

Top 10 Favorite TV Characters of All Time

I just got to thinking recently.  I've made my Top TV shows ever, but what about my favorite TV characters?  Most shows I've seen have 1 or 2 characters that really stand out and are well-written, but I'm only going with one per show (and no animated shows... sorry).  Of course, a lot of credit has to go to the wonderful actors who portrayed them.  Here are my Top 10 Favorite TV show characters (That I've seen).  And for fun, I will include my favorite moment from that character, as well as a video clip of that moment.

10. Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), Parks and Recreation
I had to include at least one female character on this list, and it's Leslie from Parks and Rec.  I actually used to find Amy Poehler really annoying, but now after having watched Parks and Rec, I can say she is really fun to watch.  Her character is an inspiration to those at long odds, but with a lot of ambition. 
Favorite moment: Leslie and Ben's first kiss

 
9. Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), The Office
I'm not a huge fan of Michael Scott or Dwight Schrute on The Office, but they are good characters.  To me though, no one can top John Krasinski as Jim Halpert.  He was so good with the dramatic scenes with him and Pam (Jenna Fischer), and he is especially good at the deadpan stares at the camera.  My favorite moments of his though are the numerous pranks he pulls on Dwight. 
Favorite moment: When he dresses up and acts like Dwight to annoy him

8. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), The Big Bang Theory
Sheldon is without a doubt the star of The Big Bang Theory.  He's a part of every funny moment on the show it seems like.  His obsessive-compulsiveness, his intellectual prowess, just everything make him such a unique character. Jim Parsons has won multiple Emmy's for this role, and for good reason.
Favorite moment: "Bazinga!" (In the ball pit)

7. Hank Moody (David Duchovny), Californication
David Duchovny clearly found his best role as Hank Moody.  What I love about Hank is his quick wit, especially with the ladies.  He might not always make the right choices, but he always has the right intentions and he's clearly a good guy deep down.  He makes picking up chicks look effortless. 
Favorite moment: "Boooooo ya!  The baby's black, Karen, the baby's black!"

6. Darryl Dixon (Norman Reedus), The Walking Dead
Darryl is many people's favorite character on TWD and he's mine too.  Rick is a close 2nd, but he often makes choices and decisions I don't agree with.  Darryl is just a badass who will occasionally show his soft side.  For these reasons, Darryl cannot be killed off.  Many fans would protest and probably petition to have him brought back (somehow).  Darryl might put up a tough front, but he's got a soft side deep down. 
Favorite moment: Reacting to his brother becoming a walker

5. Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), Friends
Friends is an ensemble cast, and while they all did really good jobs, no one stood out to me more than Matthew Perry as Chandler.  Most people would agree Chandler is the funniest of the six, and I'm one of them.  What also helps is that he's a very relatable character, dealing with not finding the perfect job to family issues to finding the girl of his dreams. 
Favorite moment: The back and forth game with Phoebe, then telling Monica he loves her in TOW Everyone Finds Out

4. John Locke (Terry O'Quinn), LOST
There aren't many characters on TV that go through the trials and tribulations that John Locke goes through in his life.  From all the flashbacks and the portrayal of The Smoke Monster/Man in Black as him, he was definitely one of the highlights of the show every week.  I really wish he hadn't died, but perhaps he had to in order for him to finally have some peace.
Favorite moment: Admitting he was wrong about not pushing the button in the hatch

3. Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris), How I Met Your Mother
Sure, the show centers around Ted (Josh Radnor) and how he met his kids' mother, but the star is obviously Barney Stinson.  NPH is so good at portraying the womanizing Barney that a couple seasons in the writers just gave up and ended up giving him more screen time than any other character, even Ted.  Not many (if any) TV characters have made me laugh more.
Favorite moment: Going on The Price is Right (best video I could find)

2. Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), Dexter
No one could have portrayed Dexter quite like Michael C. Hall.  Dexter wasn't that complex of a character, which is why he's not #1, but I certainly understood why he was the way he was.  Basically, Dexter was a badass and should have gone out in a bad ass way.  His character certainly made some questionable decisions near the end.
Favorite moment: Mocking a victim of his by yelling "F**********k!"

1. Walter White (Bryan Cranston), Breaking Bad
I think the role of Walter White should go down as the one of the best TV show characters... EVER... from any time period.  Basically, he is a good guy gone bad, but you still feel for him because of his good intentions.  Towards the end, he does pretty much go all the way dark side, but he redeems himself in pretty much the coolest way possible.  Hard to top that. 
Favorite moment: "Say my name." "You're Heisenberg" "You're goddamn right"