NFL considers changing OT rules for playoffs

Updated: February 27, 2010, 10:21 PM ET
NFL may change OT rules for playoffs


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<CITE class=source>Associated Press
</CITE>

<!-- end mod-article-title --><!-- begin story body -->INDIANAPOLIS -- An NFL spokesman said Saturday the league could change its overtime format for playoff games at a meeting next month.
Under the new format, both teams would get the ball at least once unless the first team to get the ball scores a touchdown, Greg Aiello said. If the first team to get the ball makes a field goal and the other team ties the game, action would continue until a team scores again.
Under the current rules, the first team to score wins.
"There have been various concepts that have been discussed in recent years, but this one has never been proposed," Aiello said.
The competition committee will discuss the new concept with teams and players at league meetings March 21-24 in Orlando, Fla., when it could come to a vote. At least two thirds of the teams would need to agree to the changes for new rules to be adopted.
The competition committee met with the players' union and players on Thursday during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Discussion continued when the competition committee met with a general managers' advisory committee on Friday.
The debate about the rules gained steam after the NFC championship game, when New Orleans beat Minnesota 31-28 in overtime and Brett Favre's Vikings never got the ball in the extra period. Under the proposed rule, Minnesota would have gotten another possession because the Vikings didn't allow a touchdown.
Overtime was adopted for regular season games in 1974, a sudden-death format that allowed games to end in a tie if neither team scored in 15 minutes. Overtime for playoff games always has been sudden death.

They better change the o/t rules, it's just a matter of time before they get caught looking even more stupid in the playoffs.
If that Saint/Colt game went to o/t and was settled on first possession, man, the public would still be crying right now.

Both teams should get the ball at least once regardless of how the other team scores .

In fact always allowing both teams equal number of possessions would be pretty exciting in O/T .

World Number One said:

Both teams should get the ball at least once regardless of how the other team scores .

In fact always allowing both teams equal number of possessions would be pretty exciting in O/T .

Click to expand...

In that case the team to get the ball last would have an advantage (like in college football) because it can adjust its gameplan on the other teams possession before.
Would be interesting to see, if the new proposal can offset that and both teams statistically have the same chance of winning.

My only problem is if this improves the game...then how can you say a regular season game doesn't need the same rules, especially if it could keep a team in the playoff hunt????

Coin flip deciding an nfl playoff game; give me a fucking break. Yea, i know all the shit, hey they had a chance in the 4th quarter, their defense should have stopped them and they would have had good field position. All shit. Both teams touch ball in ot. Period.

2PLAYSMAX said:

My only problem is if this improves the game...then how can you say a regular season game doesn't need the same rules, especially if it could keep a team in the playoff hunt????

Click to expand...

+1. if its good for the playoffs its good 4 regular season.

Why do they even play OT during reg. season right now?
Imo it doesn't make much sense under the current rules: As long as you allow a game to end in a tie after 15min of overtime, ot doesn't seem to be neccassary at all during reg. time...

the ot rule in the nfl is one of the most stupid rule i have ever seen, it needs to be change for reg and playoff..........ck

current OT rules are terrible....NFL is years behind in adopting something better....SuperBowl was looking like it might go OT for a second...would've been a definite rule change had it gone.

i could understand it in preseason but this 1st score you win rule in ot it about as stupid as it get imo.ck

Too convoluted, still puts too much of an advantage on the coin flip

Have them play 10 or 15 minutes. If still tied, sudden death starts

Regular season games should be ties if tied after 60 minutes. For some reason it is just un-American to agree that on this day you are equal. Sports fans have such a need to know that one side was good and the other side was poor

change it.....jh

Agreed, play 10 minutes and decide the game. If still tied, let is stay that way in the regular season. In the playoffs, keep playing the reduced 10 minutes "quarters". It would almost ensure both teams get the ball and that they would not be so quick to kick the FG

NFL to look at changing overtime format for playoff games next month

<table width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="bottom"><td class="sport">
NFL looking at change to Overtime format for playoffs


Saturday, February 27, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS -- An NFL spokesman said Saturday the league could change its overtime format for playoff games at a meeting next month.

Under the new format, both teams would get the ball at least once unless the first team to get the ball scores a touchdown, Greg Aiello said. If the first team to get the ball makes a field goal and the other team ties the game, action would continue until a team scores again.

Under the current rules, the first team to score wins.

"There have been various concepts that have been discussed in recent years, but this one has never been proposed," Aiello said.

The competition committee will discuss the new concept with teams and players at league meetings March 21-24 in Orlando, Fla., when it could come to a vote. At least two thirds of the teams would need to agree to the changes for new rules to be adopted.

The competition committee met with the players' union and players on Thursday during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Discussion continued when the competition committee met with a general managers' advisory committee on Friday.

The debate about the rules gained steam after the NFC championship game, when New Orleans beat Minnesota 31-28 in overtime and Brett Favre's Vikings never got the ball in the extra period. Under the proposed rule, Minnesota would have gotten another possession because the Vikings didn't allow a touchdown.

Overtime was adopted for regular season games in 1974, a sudden-death format that allowed games to end in a tie if neither team scored in 15 minutes. Overtime for playoff games always has been sudden death.
.</td><td class="sport" align="right"></td></tr></tbody></table>

I say do it in the regular season to

The NFL overtime rule should have been changed years ago. The current rule is one of the dumbest in all of sports. To have a coin flip literally decide a football game is so stupid. If the team that wins the coin toss scores on their first possession, the other team should get the ball to try to match or beat the first score. After each team has had at least one possession, then just play until someone scores. Also, the rule should be the same in the regular season as it is for the playoffs.

So they would just kickoff like normal or would they place the ball on a pre-determined yard marker?

OT rule passes 28-4 vote.

2PLAYSMAX said:

OT rule passes 28-4 vote.

Click to expand...

i'm for changing the rule - but I am surprised it passed so easily. I wonder if the 4 teams against it passing were perennial playoff teams or not.