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The NFL’s overtime rules have caused some heated debates among analysts and fans alike.
Well, the league is trying something new in the playoffs this year and fans are buzzing once again.
According to Pro Football Talk, “The NFL changed its playoff overtime rules in the offseason, and now postseason games won’t end with a touchdown on the opening possession of overtime.” If anything, this is great news and hopefully, this rule remains in place for the future.
Pro Football Talk explains the rule change to a T. “Now if a team scores a touchdown on the first possession of overtime, it will line up to kick an extra point or attempt a two-point conversion. Then that team will kick off, and the other team will get a chance to score a touchdown. If that team does score a touchdown, it will line up for an extra point or two-point conversion of its own.” From there, the game becomes sudden death if the score is tied after both scores.
As you can imagine, NFL fans are still buzzing about the overtime rule. This playoff change is cool, but why not implement it for the regular season as well? Meanwhile, fans are offering some of their suggestions.
Really don’t understand why we can’t just adopt the college rules. Fast-paced, fun, fair.
— Mark Harbison (@darthharbison) January 12, 2023
Well, this is… Something.
I want the NFL overtime as sudden death, but the ball is auctioned off between the two head coaches instead of a coin toss. Whichever coach elects to start deeper in their own territory (own 10, own 5, whatever yard line), his team gets the ball there. Then play sudden death.
— Matt Gross (@MattGross87) January 12, 2023
Some fans simply like the overtime rule for the playoffs this year.
I want the NFL overtime as sudden death, but the ball is auctioned off between the two head coaches instead of a coin toss. Whichever coach elects to start deeper in their own territory (own 10, own 5, whatever yard line), his team gets the ball there. Then play sudden death.
— Matt Gross (@MattGross87) January 12, 2023
Maybe one day the league will make a change for the regular season as well. After all, it probably wouldn’t hurt to make overtime more exciting. Until then, it sounds like we’ll have to rely on the playoffs for an overtime setting that makes sense.