In the National Football League, the coin toss at the beginning of a game presents teams with a pivotal strategic decision. The winner of the coin toss has three primary options: to kick off, to receive the kickoff, or to defer their choice until the second half. This choice, particularly the nfl coin toss defer vs kick dilemma, can significantly influence early game momentum and overall strategic planning.
Deferring the Coin Toss Choice
Deferring the coin toss choice has become the most prevalent strategy in modern NFL football. Its adoption rate has surged since the rule change in 2008 that explicitly allowed this option.
What Deferring Means
When a team defers, they are essentially postponing their decision to kick or receive the opening kickoff until the start of the second half. This means the opposing team, even though they lost the coin toss, gets to make the immediate choice for the first half’s kickoff.
The Likely Scenario When Deferring
In almost all cases, when a team defers, the opponent will choose to receive the opening kickoff of the game. This provides the opponent with the first offensive possession. The key strategic outcome for the deferring team is that they are then guaranteed to receive the kickoff at the start of the second half. This sets up the potential for two consecutive possessions around halftime.
Strategic Advantages of Deferring
The primary reason for the popularity of deferring in the nfl coin toss defer vs kick debate lies in its strategic benefits:
- Two Consecutive Possessions: The most compelling advantage is the opportunity for a “double up” on possessions. A team that defers will typically receive the kickoff to start the second half. If they also manage to get the ball back at the end of the first half (either through a defensive stop, a turnover, or simply by scoring and leaving little time on the clock for the opponent), they can have two back-to-back offensive drives. This can create a significant scoring swing, allowing a team to potentially score at the end of the second quarter and then again at the beginning of the third quarter, shifting momentum dramatically.
- Halftime Adjustments: Receiving the second-half kickoff provides the team with more information. They have observed the opponent’s offensive and defensive schemes throughout the entire first half. This allows the coaching staff to make more informed adjustments at halftime, tailoring their game plan for the second half based on what they’ve seen. Starting the second half with the ball gives them an immediate opportunity to implement those adjustments and try to establish control.
- Psychological Advantage: While less tangible, there can be a psychological boost associated with starting the second half with possession. It can feel like regaining control of the game or setting a new tone after the break.
Choosing to Receive the Kickoff (First Half)
While less common than deferring, choosing to receive the opening kickoff of the game is a valid strategic option for some teams in specific situations.
What Choosing to Receive Means
This option is straightforward: the team winning the coin toss immediately chooses to receive the opening kickoff of the game. This grants them the first offensive possession of the game.
Strategic Advantages of Receiving First
The decision to receive first in the nfl coin toss defer vs kick strategy is often driven by a desire to:
- Establish an Early Lead: Getting the ball first allows a team to have the initial opportunity to score. For teams with high-powered offenses, this can be a strong move to establish an early lead, dictate the pace of the game, and put immediate pressure on the opponent. An early score can force the opposing team to play from behind, potentially altering their game plan.
- Dictate Game Pace: Starting with the ball allows a team to control the initial tempo of the game. An offense that excels at long, sustained drives can use this opportunity to chew up clock, limit the opponent’s possessions, and wear down their defense.
- Capitalize on Prepared Script: Many offensive coordinators have a “script” of plays prepared for the first drive of the game. Choosing to receive allows them to immediately execute this pre-planned sequence, which is often designed to exploit perceived weaknesses in the opposing defense or to showcase their own offensive strengths.
Choosing to Kick Off (First Half)
Choosing to kick off to start the game is the least common of the three options, but it does exist and can be strategically sound in very specific circumstances.
What Choosing to Kick Means
If a team chooses to kick off, they are sending their special teams and defense onto the field first. The opposing team will then receive the kickoff and have the first offensive possession.
Strategic Advantages of Kicking First
The strategic rationale for choosing to kick first in the nfl coin toss defer vs kick scenario is typically limited to:
- Showcasing a Strong Defense: For teams with an elite defense, opting to kick first allows their defensive unit to take the field immediately and set the tone. A quick three-and-out or a defensive turnover can swing momentum and give the offense excellent field position for their first drive. It sends a message that the defense is ready to dominate.
- Weather Conditions: In rare instances, extreme weather conditions can influence this decision. For example, if there’s a strong wind, a team might choose to kick with the wind in the first quarter to potentially pin the opponent deep or make field goals more difficult for them. They might then hope to have the wind at their back in the fourth quarter for their own offensive drives. This is a highly situational consideration.
- Field Position Strategy: Some coaches might believe that their special teams unit, particularly their coverage unit, can consistently pin opponents deep, leading to advantageous field position for their offense when they eventually get the ball.
The Overwhelming Trend: Deferring Dominates
Since the NFL rule change in 2008, which clarified and formalized the option to defer, this strategy has become the overwhelming preference for winning the coin toss. Data consistently shows that over 90% of NFL teams opt to defer their choice. This widespread adoption is a strong indicator of the perceived strategic superiority of deferring, particularly the advantage of gaining two consecutive possessions around halftime and the benefit of making second-half adjustments with the ball. The nfl coin toss defer vs kick debate has largely been settled in favor of deferring as the default, optimal choice for most situations.
Considerations Influencing the Coin Toss Decision
While deferring is the most common and often most beneficial strategy, the “best” decision in the nfl coin toss defer vs kick choice can be influenced by several factors. Coaches continuously weigh these elements when making their pre-game plans:
- Team Strengths:
- Offensive Powerhouse: A team with an exceptionally explosive offense might occasionally consider receiving first to strike early and establish dominance.
- Dominant Defense: A team with a historically strong defense might find some merit in kicking first to allow their defense to set the tone immediately, though even these teams often defer.
- Game Situation and Opponent:
- Underdog Status: An underdog team might want to receive first to try and get an early score, hoping to put pressure on a favored opponent.
- Opponent’s Tendencies: If an opponent has a history of slow starts, receiving first could be beneficial to capitalize on their sluggishness.
- Weather Conditions: As mentioned, strong winds or heavy rain can introduce unique variables. Kicking with a strong wind can make it harder for the opponent to return the ball or execute their passing game.
- Playoff Implications: In critical playoff games, every strategic advantage is amplified. Coaches might stick even more rigidly to proven strategies like deferring, or they might take a calculated risk based on specific game plan elements.
- Coaching Philosophy: Ultimately, the decision often comes down to the head coach’s philosophy and how they believe their team can best achieve victory. Some coaches are more aggressive, while others are more conservative.
Conclusion
The nfl coin toss defer vs kick decision is a microcosm of the strategic depth in professional football. While deferring has emerged as the overwhelmingly preferred option due to the significant advantage of potential consecutive possessions and the benefit of halftime adjustments, the other options remain viable in specific scenarios. Understanding the nuances of each choice reveals how even a seemingly simple coin toss can set the stage for how a game unfolds. For most NFL teams, the strategic benefits of deferring outweigh those of receiving or kicking to start, solidifying its place as the standard practice in the modern game.
What is the defer rule in the NFL coin toss?
Thanks for asking. When you defer, you are deferring the choice to kick or receive for the first half, and at the second half you have the choice. This results in the team that loses the coin toss receiving at the first half, and kicking at the second.
What is the advantage of deferring the coin toss?
Good point! This means the team that chose to “defer” will get the ball to start the game and get the ball at the break —a great thing for the receiving team, a bad thing for the kicking team.
Should you defer or receive?
Thanks for asking. Taking the ball down and scoring to start the game will boost a team’s confidence. If a team has an explosive offense the coach will probably choose to take the ball. If you are a coach that loves defense, then most likely that coach will defer if he wins the coin toss.
Who started deferring the kickoff?
Thanks for asking. Everybody would take the opening kickoff if they won the coin toss. The philosophy was that you want to put points on the board before the other team. Then Belichick started deferring; and he would do this because the Patriots always seemed to score at the end of the half.