The AFC Divisional Round saw the Buffalo Bills sent packing after failing to touch the ball during overtime. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs scored a touchdown on the opening drive of overtime, which meant they won the game without having to bring their defense out in OT, per the NFL’s overtime rules. Many fans sounded off after the game with suggestions on how the NFL could tweak its overtime rules. Former New Orleans Saints quarterback turned NBC Sports commentator Drew Brees offered up a trio of suggestions that he hopes the NFL implements for the 2022 season.
Three things @NFL should modify for next year:
1. Roughing the Passer. Let’s evaluate the description of this rule…it’s become a game changer.
2. Protect receivers from the knee down (Chris Godwin)
3. OT – either both sides get a possession or go to college rules
— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) January 24, 2022
Brees took to Twitter to call for a few changes to the NFL’s rulebook, including a tweak to the current overtime bylaws established within the league.
The first change Brees would like to see in the NFL would be an adjustment to the controversial Roughing the Passer penalty. A lack of consistency and the impact of the 15-yard roughing penalty had significant effects on the outcome of games.
The second change proposed by the 43-year-old was to provide added protection for wide receivers on hits below the knees. Brees was referencing the injury to Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin, who suffered a knee injury after taking a low hit from Saints cornerback P.J. Williams.
Finally, Brees addressed the elephant in the room; the overtime rules. Brees’ offered a rather simple fix to the overtime rules, which would simply be to implement a rule that declares both teams will get a chance on offense during OT. Alternatively, Brees suggests the teams adopt college football’s overtime rules. Whether the NFL heeds the advice of Brees on any of his suggestions remains to be seen, but like the rest of us, Brees is hopeful for some change to the NFL’s outdated rules.
