NFL owners approve changes to overtime for playoff games

[sa_butta]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8171b356&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true

The NFL has changed its overtime rules for playoff games.
Starting next season, if a team wins the coin toss and then kicks a field goal, the other team gets the ball.

If the game is still tied after that, play will continue under the current sudden-death rules. Should the team winning the toss immediately score a touchdown, then the game is over.

"We felt like this year's proposal, which we call 'modified sudden death,' was really an opportunity to make what we think is a pretty good rule -- sudden death -- even better," Atlanta Falcons (http://www.nfl.com/teams/atlantafalcons/profile?team=ATL) president and NFL competition committee co-chair Rich McKay said. "We felt like statistically it needed to be changed, that the (old way) wasn't producing the 'fairest result,' if you will, based on the effect of field-goal accuracy and distance and the drive start."
Team owners voted 28-4 on Tuesday in favor of the proposal at the NFL Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. The new rule applies only for postseason games.
NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reports that the four teams to vote against the changes were the Baltimore Ravens (http://www.nfl.com/teams/baltimoreravens/profile?team=BAL), Buffalo Bills (http://www.nfl.com/teams/buffalobills/profile?team=BUF), Cincinnati Bengals (http://www.nfl.com/teams/cincinnatibengals/profile?team=CIN) and Minnesota Vikings (http://www.nfl.com/teams/minnesotavikings/profile?team=MIN).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[Bigzax]

weird that Minnesota would vote against.

[Obstructed_View]

What if the defense gets a sack for a safety? Surely the offense should get another chance. That's only two points, and not as many as three. It's not fair. :cry

There's a fucking reason it's called "sudden death". Now I guess it's going to be called "prolonged illness".

[bresilhac]

This move is just plain stupid and useless. Why did they have to mess with something that has worked well for decades?

[BlackSwordsMan]

so fuck fieldgoals is what I understand

[Pistons < Spurs]

I suppose it's a step in the right direction, as the previous sudden death crap was pure garbage, but I won't really be happy till they adopt the college rules.

[IronMexican]

:tu

[ducks]

I think both teams should get the ball even if coin toss team scores touchdown

[Trainwreck2100]

weird that Minnesota would vote against.

they know if favre stays next year he'll just throw an int in OT


What if the defense gets a sack for a safety? Surely the offense should get another chance. That's only two points, and not as many as three. It's not fair. :cry

There's a fucking reason it's called "sudden death". Now I guess it's going to be called "prolonged illness".
Safety ends the game

This move is just plain stupid and useless. Why did they have to mess with something that has worked well for decades?
because decades ago kickers weren't this good so the rule made sense

[Blake]

i suppose it's a step in the right direction, as the previous sudden death crap was pure garbage, but i won't really be happy till they adopt the college rules.

+1

[bostonguy]

Lame. Just keep it the way it is. If you don't like the OT rules, improve your defense. It is that simple.

[Blake]

Lame. Just keep it the way it is. If you don't like the OT rules, improve your defense. It is that simple.

or improve your heads/tails calling ability.

[BRHornet45]

Minnesota only voted against it because I'm sure that they had inside sources telling them that it would pass with or without they vote and they didn't want to look like a bunch of whining little cuckolds.

[monosylab1k]

This is way better :tu It's just stupid that it's only for playoff games.

Sorry, but it's not a good system when every team's overtime gameplan is to draw enough penalties to put them in field goal range, then take 3 plays to center the football. This forces teams to play football and come up with some actual strategy.

[PGDynasty24]

Finally! and I'm glad they are doing it like college where u start at the 30 or whatever

[Trainwreck2100]

Finally! and I'm glad they are doing it like college where u start at the 30 or whatever

no they're not

[Trainwreck2100]

This is way better :tu It's just stupid that it's only for overtime games.


.

i think you mean playoff games

[monosylab1k]

:lmao wow that was a bad one

[Trainwreck2100]

:lmao wow that was a bad one

I spared you a verbal lashing for you are a fellow supporter of the great colonel hans landa

[symple19]

I suppose it's a step in the right direction, as the previous sudden death crap was pure garbage, but I won't really be happy till they adopt the college rules.

this

[spurs_2108]

A FG could still win the game correct? Team A kicks off to team B. Team B goes 3 and out and punts to team A. Team A gets the ball to the 30 yard line, kicks a FG and wins?

[Spurminator]

To me, this is convoluted and unnecesary. There are two options no one seems to be talking about that make perfect sense and don't require 5 minutes to explain (looking forward to THAT during telecasts of close playoff games in the 4th quarter).

- Simply extend the 4th quarter until someone goes ahead

- Have a 10-15 minute overtime period like basketball. No sudden death, whoever leads at the end of the overtime wins. If it's tied at the end of the overtime period, keep playing until someone scores.

Why do we have to trick it up so much?

[benefactor]

- Have a 10-15 minute overtime period like basketball. No sudden death, whoever leads at the end of the overtime wins. If it's tied at the end of the overtime period, keep playing until someone scores.

This has always been my favorite option. A ten minute quarter then go until someone scores.

[Blake]

why do we have to trick it up so much?

t.v. time

[symple19]

t.v. time

Good point Blake, I think this was the biggest concern for the owners as they contemplated this. They will always bow-down to the almighty TV dollar and the time constraints that go along with it

[jack sommerset]

Dumbass rule. Just get rid of kicking if they hate it so much.

[Blake]

Dumbass rule. Just get rid of kicking if they hate it so much.

They obviously don't hate the kicking. That's why they are adding more kicking.

[stretch]

i say they should have a 7 minute quarter with playclocks being half as long. makes it like the 2 minute drill the entire time. much more exciting, makes it go by faster, makes it tougher to just be a clock control period.