# Colts propose NFL overtime rule change. Do you agree? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [February 28, 2022, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-propose-nfl-overtime-rule-change-do-you-agree/960257 "2022-02-28T22:34:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-propose-nfl-overtime-rule-change-do-you-agree/960257/81 "2022-03-03T01:54:28Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Do I have that wrong? But that wasn’t the scenario that @Atamasama had described. He said that the Team A did NOT score: > [@Atamasama](#): > > if Team A didn’t get a FG and instead punted or had a turnover of some kind (fumble, interception, failing on 4th down) and then Team B got the ball and had a turnover, the game is over with a tie. Under the current rules, if Team A didn’t score, and then Team B turned it over, the game would continue, and the next score would win, unless time expired. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-propose-nfl-overtime-rule-change-do-you-agree/960257/82 "2022-03-03T02:05:26Z")
Well, yeah, but the hypothetical being discussed was one drive each then it’s over. If I’m right about how the current OT rules work, then based on precedent, the play would be whistled dead the moment the second team turns the ball over. Any return would be a “second possession” for the first team. The real question is what happens after a safety. I think you have to add a special exception for safeties, otherwise it would always be followed by 4 victory formations. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-propose-nfl-overtime-rule-change-do-you-agree/960257/83 "2022-03-03T02:08:11Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Both False Start and Offsides (unabated to the QB) come to mind. Technically, a False Start occurs prior to the snap, so play isn’t ended, it hasn’t even started. And yes, an Offside or similar penalty (rusher has a clear path to the QB) will end a play, as will other penalties. But that is part of the penalty. The play isn’t ended “prematurely”. There is no reason to end a play because the game will end as the play is over. The play will stay in effect unless there is a reason to end it. Sometimes officials do end a play prematurely, such as blowing a play dead when there is an interception and an official thinks the ball hit the turf. Or if they think a runner was touched by an opponent prior to hitting the ground, and they didn’t. A replay might show the official made a mistake. But those are mistakes, and officials don’t end plays prematurely on purpose. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-propose-nfl-overtime-rule-change-do-you-agree/960257/84 "2022-03-03T02:09:19Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > There is no reason to end a play because the game will end as the play is over. I’m saying that the current rules of the NFL demonstrate that they will do exactly that. They absolutely 100% would consider the moment of the turnover to end Team B’s possession, and if the game is “one possession each” the game is over, play whistled dead immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-propose-nfl-overtime-rule-change-do-you-agree/960257/85 "2022-03-03T02:12:53Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > I’m saying that the current rules of the NFL demonstrate that they will do exactly that. No. You are wrong. [https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-overtime-procedures-124953914.html](https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-overtime-procedures-124953914.html) > If after the first team scores a field goal the second team loses possession by interception or fumble, the play continues until its conclusion. For example, the first team can return the ball for a touchdown, winning by nine points. Or the first team can lose possession during the return, the second team can recover the ball, and the second team can return it for a touchdown, winning the game. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-propose-nfl-overtime-rule-change-do-you-agree/960257/86 "2022-03-03T02:13:32Z")
Nice cite. I’m wrong, then. And agreed, they would let it continue based on precedent. EDIT: Oh, snap! This bit is hilarious in the context of “one drive each only”: > [@](#): > > Possession means simply an opportunity to possess the ball. An onside kick or a muffed kickoff recovery or a live ball recovered by the kicking team constitutes an opportunity to possess. That would hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-propose-nfl-overtime-rule-change-do-you-agree/960257/87 "2022-03-03T02:30:29Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > That would hurt. Yup. A good potential source of memes if it happened in a big game. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-propose-nfl-overtime-rule-change-do-you-agree/960257/88 "2022-03-03T13:46:39Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > I’m saying that the current rules of the NFL demonstrate that they will do exactly that. They absolutely 100% would consider the moment of the turnover to end Team B’s possession, and if the game is “one possession each” the game is over, play whistled dead immediately. Nope. The play is allowed to finish as Team A could fumble after obtaining possession. It has happened before. That’s why you’ll see (smart) players give themselves up after an interception or fumble recovery that ends the game. THAT stops the play. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-propose-nfl-overtime-rule-change-do-you-agree/960257/89 "2022-03-03T14:00:43Z")
I conceded in the previous post. Also, I see examples like you describe usually only as effectively ending the game, not actually ending it. After they go down, the offense trots back out for a few victory formations. But yeah, what you describe is for sure what you expect to see a defender do in overtime with an actual walk-off turnover. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-propose-nfl-overtime-rule-change-do-you-agree/960257/90 "2022-03-03T15:35:06Z")
I think that is the fair way to go. It was obvious in the KC/Buffalo game that whoever won the coin toss was going to win in overtime. A spot in the conference championship shouldn’t depend on a lucky coin flip. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-propose-nfl-overtime-rule-change-do-you-agree/960257/91 "2022-03-03T17:53:27Z")
Don’t feel bad, that used to be the rule. They changed it in 2018. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-propose-nfl-overtime-rule-change-do-you-agree/960257/92 "2022-03-03T19:55:14Z")
It seems like every year they try to tweak the OT rules, and make changes about half the time. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-propose-nfl-overtime-rule-change-do-you-agree/960257/93 "2022-03-29T19:37:08Z")
And we’ve got a change (for the postseason): > [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-propose-nfl-overtime-rule-change-do-you-agree/960257.md?page=4)