The league meetings are underway in Orlando, Fla. and one hotly-contested item owners are scheduled to vote on is a change to playoff overtime rules.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher, co-chairman on the NFL Competition Committee, is one of the key minds behind the proposal aimed at trying to give each team the ball at least once.
Under the proposal, if the team that wins the coin toss proceeds to score a field goal on its first drive, the other team would get the ball. And if that team also scores a field goal, the present sudden-death format would then be in place. However, if the team that wins the toss drives for a touchdown, the game is over, and the opposing offense would never see the field.
"What we don't want to have happen in the playoffs is a kickoff return, and then a penalty and a field goal, and have the game be over," Fisher said. "What we're proposing has sudden-death qualities throughout it, even at the beginning. ... Bottom line is that each team will have an opportunity to possess — doesn't guarantee a possession."
NFL.com's Vic Carucci says the OT format proposal is a step forward, but doesn't go far enough.
Carucci writes that the move toward a potential rule change got legs following the 2009 NFC Championship Game as the Saints won a coin toss "and Brett Favre could only watch as the Minnesota Vikings' Super Bowl dreams ended with one swing of a kicker's leg in overtime."
Andy Reid's club has been involved in only one playoff game that reached overtime. Ironically, that too involved a quarterback named Favre. But in that game, both offenses had opportunities with the football. We reflect below:
More than just an improbable play, Donovan McNabb's famous 4th-and-26 completion to Freddie Mitchell helped set up a game-tying field goal that sent the 2003-04 NFC Divisional Playoff against Green Bay into overtime.
Philadelphia won the coin toss in overtime, but went three-and-out on its first possession. On Green Bay's first play from scrimmage, Favre's pass for Javon Walker was intercepted by Brian Dawkins, who returned it 35 yards from his 31-yard line to the Packers' 34. Six plays later, David Akers' 31-yard field goal lifted the team into the NFC title game against Carolina.
As a franchise, Philadelphia's overall overtime record stands at 12-16-4. Under Reid, the team is 4-7-1 (including playoffs). The team's last overtime contest was a forgettable tie against the Bengals on Nov. 16, 2008.
In addition to overtime, Jeff McLane of *The Philadelphia Inquirer *believes the next few days could be key for the Eagles' brass if they intend on dealing either Donovan McNabb or Michael Vick.
-- Posted by Bob Kent, 4:15 p.m., March 21
