The NFL’s overtime rule explained and why fans want to see it changed

Buffalo Bills free safety Jordan Poyer (21) kneels on the field after an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 42-36 in overtime. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)" title="Buffalo Bills free safety Jordan Poyer (21) kneels on the field after an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 42-36 in overtime. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)"
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Buffalo Payments free security Jordan Poyer (21) kneels on the sphere after an NFL divisional spherical playoff soccer recreation towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. The Chiefs received 42-36 in extra time. (AP Photograph/Ed Zurga)

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs 42, Buffalo Payments 36. An prompt traditional that’ll be remembered for years to come back.

Whether or not it's for the big-name gamers, the outstanding quarterback play or for the dramatic back-and-forth nature of it, their playoff encounter will stay lengthy within the reminiscence.

Nevertheless, for some, the recreation’s ending did go away considerably of a bitter style within the mouth.

Having received the coin toss at the start of extra time, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes related with Travis Kelce for a walk-off landing on the primary possession of additional time.

Such are the principles of extra time within the NFL, Josh Allen and his red-hot offense by no means acquired the prospect to answer, annoying many impartial spectators.

Some known as it the “worst rule in sports activities,” whereas others jokingly known as for US President Joe Biden step in and repair the rule.

And whereas Allen, shortly after struggling the crushing defeat, was magnanimous in regards to the present OT guidelines, it’s raised the query: ought to they be modified to permit each groups the chance to attain?

Including time

In accordance with NFL guidelines, within the 10-minute extra time interval: “Every crew should possess, or have the chance to own, the ball. The exception: if the crew that will get the ball first scores a landing on the opening possession.”

In essence, if the receiving crew doesn't rating a landing on its first possession (or if the kicking crew doesn't rating a landing on a turnover), the sport continues.

The present system has been in place for the reason that 2011 postseason.

In accordance with the Stathead database, there have been just a little over 160 extra time video games underneath the present guidelines for profitable in extra time (together with the postseason). The crew that acquired the ball first has received 52% of the time. The crew that kicked off has received 42% of the time. The remainder had been ties, which occurs in common season video games when nobody scores throughout the now 10-minute extra time interval.

These guidelines differ from these in faculty soccer; guidelines that are arguably fairer than the NFL’s.

In faculty soccer, every crew — no matter who wins the extra time coin toss — will get an opportunity to go on offense from the opposite’s 25 yard-line within the first extra time.

Whereas, within the NFL, groups hope to win the coin toss and win the sport on the first time of asking, within the collegiate recreation, the crew that wins the toss often decides to go on protection first as a result of they'll know if the opposite crew scored a landing, a discipline objective or failed to attain. Primarily based on that, the crew that goes second can select to be roughly aggressive after they get on offense.

In accordance with information from Oklahoma State’s Rick Wilson, a professor on the Spears Faculty of Enterprise, and thru some analysis of field scores from Sports activities Reference, there have been practically 300 extra time video games involving Division I Soccer Bowl Subdivision groups from 2013-2021.

The crew that obtained the ball second received 49.7% of the time since 2013, or proper about 50% of the time.

Whereas the NFL is unlikely to make modifications off the again of 1 recreation, the wheels of movement may need been kicked into gear.

Calling for change

Whereas Allen didn’t instantly categorical disappointment on the extra time guidelines, there wasn’t a scarcity of gamers, previous and current, chiming in in his absence.

“Nice recreation by each groups however the extra time guidelines have gotten to vary!! No coin flip ought to have that a lot energy,” Detroit Lions huge receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown mentioned.

Former Carolina Panthers tight finish Greg Olsen additionally expressed his frustration on the rule.

“In case you are nonetheless arguing, in a recreation like that, it’s not in finest curiosity of EVERYONE that each Mahomes and Allen get the ball in (extra time) I don’t know what to inform you,” he mentioned on Twitter.

“In a recreation the place neither crew may cease the opposite on the finish, a literal coin flip decided the ending.”

The truth is, in 2019, after the Chiefs misplaced to the New England Patriots in extra time with out even touching the ball, Kelce weighed in: “I’m undoubtedly in favor of [both sides getting the ball in overtime],” he mentioned.

“Being in that state of affairs, actually having no management, no rebuttal or no retaliation on enjoying towards an incredible offense like that — it form of sucked.”

Within the months following that, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Chiefs put ahead a proposal that will’ve compelled each groups to own the ball.

The proposal reportedly didn't achieve sufficient assist and so was thrown out, however the future may have been very totally different if it had…

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