NFL: New OT rules adopted for playoffs

Like I said below, I'm not really opposed to a modification of the OT rules. But what was adopted this week... it's awful. Greg Bedard at JSOnline breaks down some cases.

The new rules are not simple. It's not "first to 6 wins". It's a hideous tangle of cases based on the new (to me, anyway) concept of "opportunity to possess". To get the full flavor of the complexity of the new rules, be sure to read down into the cases involving blocked punts, and which side of the line of scrimmage the ball is touched.

More complex rules means it will be harder for the officials to remember all the different cases. It seems inevitable that mistakes will be made—which means more controversy, and more complaining. I really wonder what it was that made the owners think this was a good idea.

NFL: Coaching Fail

PFT: Favre throws illegal crackback block as nightcap

This brings to mind a couple questions:

• How much practice do you suppose Favre has blocking? And not getting called for holding, or block in the back, or (as in this case), illegal chop block?

• Favre still has a (supposedly minor) tear in his rotator cuff, and a cracked rib. He's going to be 40 years old in just over a month, and all that wear and tear has to add up. Exactly how much more abuse do the coaches want to subject his body to?

Of course, the really gob-smacking thing about this whole incident is that it was done for a meaningless preseason game. The only way this could have gone worse is if Favre or Eugene Wilson had to be carted off the field with season- or career-ending injuries (though in Favre's case, that's likely a difference without distinction).

The Vikings' coaching staff is in desperate need of some adult supervision. The Vikings have enough raw athletic talent on their team that they'll be able to flat-out power their way to wins against some of the weaker teams on their schedule. But they're bound to struggle when they face talented, prepared and well-coached opponents this season.

NFL: The Chargers have a problem, and it's not with the referees

As I alluded to below, the Chargers had 3 good chances to win against the Broncos on Sunday:

1. Down 31-38, the Broncos have 2nd and goal at the Chargers 1 yard line. Cutler fumbles the ball, but Ed Hochuli initially thinks it's a forward pass, and blows the play dead as soon as the ball hits the ground. Broncos retain posession. At fault: Ed Hochuli.

2. After a 6 yard run, the Broncos have 4th and goal at the 4. All the Chargers have to do is keep the Broncos out of the end zone, and they win. Cutler to Royal for 4 yards, Touchdown. At fault: Chargers defense.

3. Still down 37-38, the Broncos elect to go for the two-point conversion. All the Chargers have to do is keep the Broncos out of the end zone, and they win. Cutler to Royal, Attempt succeeds. At fault: Chargers defense.

It's no great shock that Norv Turner is focusing on the first chance, as it can be blamed on someone not associated with the Chargers organization. But the Broncos offense ran 3 plays after that, and the Chargers had two solid chances to deny the Broncos, and couldn't get it done.

Oh, yeah—remember what happened to the Chargers in week 1? Panthers are down 19-24. They have 4th and 1 at the Chargers 14 yard line, with two seconds left. All the Chargers have to do is keep the Panthers out of the end zone, and they win. Delhomme to Rosario for 14 yards, Touchdown. At fault: Chargers defense.

At this point, I will only offer a paraphrase of Auric's rule:

Once is coincidence. Twice is happenstance. Three times is the Chargers sucking.