# New NFL playoff overtime rules **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 23, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535 "2010-03-23T21:16:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/1 "2010-03-23T21:16:20Z")
> **[NFL owners pass playoff OT rules modification](https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5022064)** > > The NFL's overtime rules proposal has passed by a vote of 28-4, according to an owner who had just left the meeting. REALLY glad to see this change, and frankly I don’t think it should be limited to the playoffs. I hate seeing a team win the toss, kick a field goal and go home. The change in a nutshell goes like this: The team that wins the toss gets the ball. If they score a touchdown, game over they win. If they kick a field goal, the other team gets the ball. If the other team scores a touchdown, game over they win. If they fail to score, they lose. If they kick a field goal, the first team gets the ball back and we go back to standard sudden death rules. Excellent move by the NFL, and this is one reason why it is such a great sport - they aren’t afraid to tweak their core rules to improve the product. Unlike, say baseball (which I still love, dammit), which is so beholden to tradition that they cling to it despite its glaring flaws. ETA: Crap I screwed up the title. I meant to say “New **NFL** playoff overtime rules”. Hopefully a helpful mod will fix this 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/2 "2010-03-23T21:17:47Z")
Good. Maybe eventually they’ll get to a real overtime. That is: Play an extra quarter. Still tied? play an extra quarter… ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/3 "2010-03-23T21:26:17Z")
> [@Jman](#): > > Good. Maybe eventually they’ll get to a real overtime. That is: Play an extra quarter. Still tied? play an extra quarter… This is what I was hoping they would do, except revert to sudden death after one extended period rather than continuing to add time… ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/4 "2010-03-23T21:28:21Z")
> [@HoboStew](#): > > The team that wins the toss gets the ball. If they score a touchdown, game over they win. If they kick a field goal, the other team gets the ball. If the other team scores a touchdown, game over they win. If they fail to score, they lose. If they kick a field goal, the first team gets the ball back and we go back to standard sudden death rules. What happens if the team that wins the toss fails to score, and the other team scores a FG on their first possession? I don’t think the rule needed changing, I don’t think this was a good change, and I don’t like having different rules for the playoffs. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/5 "2010-03-23T21:29:25Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > What happens if the team that wins the toss fails to score, and the other team scores a FG on their first possession? > > I don’t think the rule needed changing, I don’t think this was a good change, and I don’t like having different rules for the playoffs. Yeah, or how about if there’s a safety? Does the other team get a chance to get a safety too? ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/6 "2010-03-23T21:38:46Z")
It didn’t say what happens on a safety, I would assume the team who gets the 2 points from the safety would win. If the first team fails to score & the other team scores an FG, the other team wins. The idea behind the rule is that if you get the ball first, then the onus is on you to take care of business, score a touchdown and win the game. If you can’t even muster a field goal, and can’t prevent the other team from kicking a field goal, you deserve to lose. I agree with those sentiments. I do agree that having a different system in the playoffs is kinda lame, which is why I think it should be a global change. I think the current sudden death system, however, stinks. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/7 "2010-03-23T21:39:00Z")
Terrible change. Of course, we can’t really say for sure, as the NFL doesn’t let anyone see their rules. But what happens if the first team kicks a FG, and then recovers an onside kick? Is that ok? And it doesn’t guarantee the second team a full possession: The clock will still end the game at 15 minutes. Unless the FIRST team is still in possession. What happens if the defense intercepts, but then fumbles? Is that a possession? Very ambiguous. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/8 "2010-03-23T21:40:14Z")
> [@HoboStew](#): > > It didn’t say what happens on a safety, I would assume the team who gets the 2 points from the safety would win. If the first team fails to score & the other team scores an FG, the other team wins. > > The idea behind the rule is that if you get the ball first, then the onus is on you to take care of business, score a touchdown and win the game. If you can’t even muster a field goal, and can’t prevent the other team from kicking a field goal, you deserve to lose. I agree with those sentiments. I do agree that having a different system in the playoffs is kinda lame, which is why I think it should be a global change. The current sudden death system stinks. I was thinking about that too, WRT it being only in the playoffs. What about teams that NEED to win their last game to even get INTO the playoffs? ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/9 "2010-03-23T21:41:33Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > What happens if the team that wins the toss fails to score, and the other team scores a FG on their first possession? > > I don’t think the rule needed changing, I don’t think this was a good change, and I don’t like having different rules for the playoffs. I do think it’s a good change, but it should apply to all games - not just playoffs. I don’t remember the exact numbers, but it was something like 70% of the coin toss winners ended up winning the game. That tell’s me that there’s something wrong with OT and should be addressed. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, it pretty much just comes down to a coinflip the way the current rules are. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/10 "2010-03-23T21:42:55Z")
> [@Flymaster](#): > > Terrible change. Of course, we can’t really say for sure, as the NFL doesn’t let anyone see their rules. Says who? Not only do they let you _see_ them, they let you _buy_ them: > **[Official Rules of the NFL: NFL: 9781600782893: Amazon.com: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Official-Rules-NFL/dp/1600782892)** > > Official Rules of the NFL \[NFL\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Official Rules of the NFL ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/11 "2010-03-23T21:48:09Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Says who? Not only do they let you _see_ them, they let you _buy_ them: > > [Official Rules of the NFL: NFL: 9781600782893: Amazon.com: Books](http://www.amazon.com/Official-Playing-National-Football-League/dp/1600782892/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269380522&sr=1-2) I had honestly never thought of looking for them as a book. I was always looking to buy a PDF. Thanks. Of course, they still don’t have the 2010 rule change text out there, that I’m aware of. But that REALLY helps. Thank you so much. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/12 "2010-03-23T21:49:42Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I don’t think the rule needed changing, I don’t think this was a good change, and I don’t like having different rules for the playoffs. I _do_ think the rule needed changing, I don’t think this was a good change, and I don’t like having different rules for the playoffs. 🙂 > [@Flymaster](#): > > But what happens if the first team kicks a FG, and then recovers an onside kick? Is that ok? […] What happens if the defense intercepts, but then fumbles? Is that a possession? I would imagine that recovering an onside kick after a FG just wins the game, and that if the defense intercepts and then fumbles that is considered a possession for them, but who knows. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/13 "2010-03-23T21:50:27Z")
And, that book is not available from the official NFL store. Seems like it should be. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/14 "2010-03-23T21:50:49Z")
> [@Flymaster](#): > > what happens if the first team kicks a FG, and then recovers an onside kick? I’m not really bothered by your other issues, which seem like extreme edge cases, but this is one I didn’t think about. I would assume that would mean a win, but I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/15 "2010-03-23T21:51:49Z")
My NFL OT rule, if they had to change it: First to lead by 4 points wins. If the lead is less than 4 at the end of 15 minutes, the score at that point stands. If it’s still tied, continue on with the same rules: A 4 point lead ends the game, otherwise, play on till the end of an OT period. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/16 "2010-03-23T21:54:00Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I don’t think the rule needed changing, I don’t think this was a good change, and I don’t like having different rules for the playoffs. We already had different rules for the playoffs. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/17 "2010-03-23T21:56:11Z")
> [@Flymaster](#): > > But that REALLY helps. Thank you so much. You’re welcome. I was such a football nerd as a kid, I bought the rulebook. Every year. 😛 > [@Flymaster](#): > > And, that book is not available from the official NFL store. Seems like it should be. Yeah, that is strange. ---
**Author:** ![President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/President_Johnny_Gentle)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/18 "2010-03-23T21:58:35Z")
Teams are not guaranteed a possession, just the opportunity for a possession. So a field goal/onside kick combination would seem to end the game. Some [clarification](http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/11070/vikings-among-four-holdouts-on-ot) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/19 "2010-03-23T21:59:57Z")
> [@Flymaster](#): > > Of course, they still don’t have the 2010 rule change text out there, that I’m aware of. It’s in the sidebar to this article on [ESPN.com](http://ESPN.com): > **[NFL owners pass playoff OT rules modification](https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5022064)** > > The NFL's overtime rules proposal has passed by a vote of 28-4, according to an owner who had just left the meeting. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535/20 "2010-03-23T22:03:22Z")
The Chicago Sun-Times had some moderately amusing thoughts on the overtime rules today. [http://www.suntimes.com/sports/2118158,nfl-overtime-rules-23.article](http://www.suntimes.com/sports/2118158,nfl-overtime-rules-23.article) This article is the set up, from there go [http://www.suntimes.com/sports/2118158,nfl-overtime-rules-23.article#](http://www.suntimes.com/sports/2118158,nfl-overtime-rules-23.article#) I kind of like the “Win by 4” thought, though maybe they should allow a safety to end the game as well since safeties are fairly rare and kind of awesome to get. Then again the team that generates a safety gets the ball back as well as 2 points, but how lame would that be to get one and then lose by a TD? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nfl-playoff-overtime-rules/533535.md?page=2)