Change could be coming to the NFL’s overtime format, at least in the postseason.
According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, the ending of the AFC Divisional Round Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills has sparked “a real debate” about revising the overtime rules in the postseason.
The process is still in the early stages, but the league has asked teams for input on overtime in its annual survey for potential revisions to rules.
Any rule change would require a vote from owners, with 24 votes needed to make a revision.
Florio notes the league could ultimately decide to keep the overtime rules the same in the regular season and change it for the playoffs to give each team one guaranteed possession.
In, what was very likely, the best game of the 2021 NFL Playoffs, the Chiefs defeated the Bills in overtime by scoring a touchdown after winning the coin toss.
Had the Bills defense held the Chiefs to a field goal, it would have allowed Josh Allen a chance to lead Buffalo’s offense in overtime.
Alas, the rules state that if the team that wins the coin toss scores a touchdown on the first possession, the game is over.
Whether or not the NFL goes through with a change to the rule will surely be closely watched in the coming months.
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