Topline
Both teams will now get at least one possession during postseason overtimes, ending a 12-year-old NFL rule that many said largely left the outcomes of pivotal games up to a coin toss.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates during a playoff victory against the … [+]
Key Facts
Previously, the team that won the overtime coin toss could win the game by scoring a touchdown on their first possession, a scenario that famously happened during the Kansas City Chiefs’ win over the Buffalo Bills during the AFC divisional round in January.
If one team has more points after both have had a possession, it will be the winner, but if the teams are tied, the game will continue until the next score.
The NFL’s regular season overtime format will not change.
Big Number
10-2. That’s the record of teams who won the coin toss in playoff overtimes since the NFL implemented the current rule in 2010, a statistic that New York Giants owner John Mara cited as his reason for supporting the change.
Chief Critic
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who also serves on the league’s competition committee, said Monday he doesn’t support any overtime changes: “I just think 60 minutes, everybody has had a fair opportunity to win the game. When you’re talking about changes as it pertains to competitive fairness, I speak to the first 60 minutes that we all had. So, win the game.” Several other prominent NFL figures opposed the change, including Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, while Bills head coach Sean McDermott supported the new rule.
Further Reading
Both teams assured of a possession in playoff overtime with rules change approved by NFL owners (ESPN)
NFL coaches are divided over whether to change overtime rules (CNBC)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2022/03/29/nfl-agrees-to-change-controversial-overtime-rule-in-playoffs/