Alright, you guys gotta hear about this wild stat tearing through the NFL right now. We’re only a few weeks into the regular season, and something absolutely bonkers is already happening in overtime: every single team that’s won the coin toss this year has gone on to lose the game. That’s a brutal 0-3 record for the lucky coin toss winners!
The NFL’s Plan Backfires, Big Time
Remember how the league changed those overtime rules? The whole idea was to dial back the insane advantage of winning the coin toss. Back in the day, it felt like sudden death was just a coin flip to see who won, and the NFL wanted an overtime format where that toss just didn’t matter as much. Well, guess what? It’s mattering, alright, just in the exact opposite way everyone expected. It looks like the coin toss is cursed! Three games have hit overtime this season, and every single time, the team that got the initial “advantage” ended up watching the other squad celebrate.
First Possession, First Heartbreak
Let’s look at the pain. In Week 1, the Saints won the toss against the Lions and decided to kick the ball away. What happened next? The Lions marched down the field, punched in a touchdown, and tacked on the extra point. The Saints got their shot, scored a TD too, but then tried for two to win it and missed. Final score: 31-30, Lions win. You gotta wonder if kicking first was really the move. Then came Week 2. The Jets won the toss, and coach Aaron Glenn straight up said he wanted to control the clock. So they chose to receive. And what did they do with that possession? A quick three-and-out! The Packers smelled blood, got the ball, and quickly got into field goal range to seal the 20-17 victory. Control the clock? Not so much when you go three-and-out.
The Curse Continues: Sunday Night Shocker
And it kept happening. Sunday night, Week 2, the Colts won the toss. Get this: apparently their captain didn’t even know the overtime rule! But they eventually got their choice, and coach Shane Steichen decided to kick. And again, the team that won the coin toss lost. It’s a pattern now, not a fluke. The league wanted to de-emphasize the coin toss, and while it’s not giving a clear advantage to the winner, it sure seems to be a serious disadvantage. It almost makes you want to lose the toss and get the ball second now, right? What a twist!
So, if you’re watching an NFL game and it heads into overtime, don’t even bother cheering for your team to win that coin toss. Based on the 0-3 start this season, it might be the worst thing that could happen! Every single overtime game going forward, we’re gonna be watching that coin flip with totally new eyes. Who’s gonna be the first team to break the curse?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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