(02-01-2022, 05:53 PM)mikesez Wrote:

(02-01-2022, 05:43 PM)RicoTx Wrote: Obvious?  You still didn't answer my question.  All you said is something might happen.  What if it doesn't?  Isn't that unfair by your 'logic'?

Considering that each half is 30 minutes long, the difference between having 4 possessions or 5 possessions in the first half is not significant, especially when there's an even chance that such an advantage gets cancelled out in the second half.
But OT is not that long.  A team typically gets 0, 1, or 2 possessions.  The differences at each threshold are significant.

Some fun facts about the KC-CIN playoff:

Cincy won the toss, and received.
Both teams had an even number of possessions in the first half (4-4) and KC ended the half with possession.
KC received the 2nd half kick and had as many possessions in Q3 (4) as they did in the entire first half.
At the end of regulation, KC had more possessions (11) than Cincy (10) in spite of losing the opening toss. Again, KC ended the half with possession.
In OT, we all know both teams had one possession each.

OT is 15 minutes, just like a regular quarter.
the possession breakdown by quarter? Glad you asked. CIN 2, 2, 3, 2, 1 KC 2, 2, 4, 2, 1 One of Cincy's drives was a one-and-done INT on first down.
So they were at a disadvantage by not gaining an extra possession in the first half when they received, and also when they lost the OT toss to give KC initial possession.

As KC proved in both regulation and OT, a possession guarantees nothing.
Winning the toss gives you only one advantage - the option to choose your fate. You still have to produce to benefit from the advantage. That's the beauty of football. Sometimes it works, sometimes it don't.

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