NFL votes to change overtime rules, both teams guaranteed ball unlike Bills overtime loss

Evan Bourtis

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PALM BEACH, Fla. (WHEC) — NFL team owners voted on Tuesday to approve a change to the playoff overtime rules so each team’s offense will get the ball.

Starting this season, if one team scores a touchdown on the first possession of overtime, the other team’s offense will have a chance to earn a touchdown and keep playing, reported the Associated Press. Previously, an opening drive overtime touchdown could win the game, giving the team that won the coin toss a strong advantage.

During the 2022 divisional round playoff game, Buffalo Bills went into overtime tied 36-36 with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs won the coin toss and scored a touchdown on the first drive, which didn’t give Buffalo’s offense a chance to score. Fans were heartbroken as Bills quarterback Josh Allen didn’t have the chance to match the 75-yard touchdown pass from the Chief’s Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce.

The Colts and the Eagles were the teams that proposed a change to the rules for the 10-minute overtime. The rule changes are only for the postseason, where there can be no ties. The vote was held during NFL’s annual meeting in Palm Beach, Fla.

[News10NBC]