2008 NFL Season

[WhiteRat]

Originally Posted by pac-man

Coin toss winners don't win often enough to say otherwise.

Any figures to back this up? In my experience, it seems to me that the coin toss winner usually just drives down the field and kicks a field goal.

[pac-man]

Total no. of overtime games (1974–2003)

365

Both teams had at least one possession

261 (72 %)

Team won toss and won game

189 (52 %)

Team lost toss and won game

160 (44 %)

Team won toss and drove for winning score

102 (28 %)

Games ending in a tie

15 (5 %)

From: http://www.maa.org/mathland/mathtrek_11_08_04.html

A majority of the time, both teams have at least one possession.