New NFL overtime rule: Both teams get ball in playoff games

Everyone will get an opportunity.

The NFL on Tuesday amended time beyond regulation guidelines for the postseason to make sure that each groups may have a chance to own the ball within the further interval.

Below the earlier system — which nonetheless shall be in impact for the common season — the workforce that will get the ball first can safe a victory by scoring a landing, versus kicking a subject purpose. The Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles collectively submitted the playoffs proposal.

Within the 12 years for the reason that final change in time beyond regulation guidelines, there have been 12 playoff video games determined in an additional interval. The workforce that gained the time beyond regulation coin flip wound up successful 10 of these video games — with seven securing the win on the opening possession.

Now, in postseason video games, after every workforce has a possession and offering the sport stays tied, sudden loss of life will resolve the result.

“These 12 video games are as essential to these franchises as any they’re going to play of their historical past,” mentioned Atlanta Falcons president Wealthy McKay, chairman of the competitors committee. “So to us, we thought, sure, it’s not the pattern measurement of 25 or 30 video games, [but] it’s the one pattern measurement we’ve and every one ends anyone’s season.”

The time beyond regulation guidelines have been underneath heightened scrutiny since January, when the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Payments within the AFC divisional spherical. The Chiefs denied the Payments a possession within the thriller by scoring a landing once they opened with the ball.