New NFL Overtime Playoff Rules
AUTHOR: Marc A. Greenberg
If the team that wins the toss scores a field goal on the opening possession, it will then kick off to the other team. A touchdown would end the game at any point. And the game would become sudden-death if the teams trade field goals on opening possessions.
Got it?
That means that if the Jets get to overtime against the Colts, and win the coin toss, Rex Ryan may decide to kick off to Peyton Manning and try to hold the Colts to a FG or less. Then the Jets would get the ball and can play all-out to score a TD or FG to tie the game. Picture how many 4th down chances a team will get knowing that they have to keep going for it. The odds of scoring a TD must be greater for the team that kicks off to start overtime.
Apparently, NFL owners decided to change the rule because during the last 16 seasons, the coin-flip winner prevailed in 59.8% of games.
In the 2010 regular season, both teams had possession of the ball in overtime in 17 of the 19 games that went to an extra frame.
Here's a interesting article discussing the risk/rewards of onside kicks under the new format. Interesting read. Wonder who would try this. My money is on Rex or Sean Payton.
dtrain11
Senior Member
Comments
AUTHOR: Marc A. Greenberg
If the team that wins the toss scores a field goal on the opening possession, it will then kick off to the other team. A touchdown would end the game at any point. And the game would become sudden-death if the teams trade field goals on opening possessions.
Got it?
That means that if the Jets get to overtime against the Colts, and win the coin toss, Rex Ryan may decide to kick off to Peyton Manning and try to hold the Colts to a FG or less. Then the Jets would get the ball and can play all-out to score a TD or FG to tie the game. Picture how many 4th down chances a team will get knowing that they have to keep going for it. The odds of scoring a TD must be greater for the team that kicks off to start overtime.
Apparently, NFL owners decided to change the rule because during the last 16 seasons, the coin-flip winner prevailed in 59.8% of games.
In the 2010 regular season, both teams had possession of the ball in overtime in 17 of the 19 games that went to an extra frame.
http://www.slate.com/id/2280272/pagenum/all