NFL Playoffs - Time to Change the Rules: Overtime's Playoff Modification

The NFL released a reminder this week about the modified post season rules. The league changed the rules before the start of last season, trying to prevent a first possession field goal from ending a playoff game. However, the rule was not needed last year. This year, it could be.

Essentially, the rule prevents a team from winning the game on the first possession, unless they score a touchdown. A touchdown will always end overtime. However, if a team kicks a field goal on that first possession, they then have to kick off and allow the opponent an opportunity to possess the ball. At this point, the team to get the ball second will either lose by not scoring, tie the game and continue playing, or win the game with a touchdown.

If both teams have had a chance to possess the ball on offense, the game will end on the first score. And, just to throw this one in there, any defensive score (interception return, fumble return, safety) ends the game as well.

Does that all make sense? I hope so. If not, maybe the NFL will explain it better. The full press release is below.

POSTSEASON OVERTIME

Prior to the 2010 season, NFL owners voted to amend overtime rules for the postseason to a MODIFIED SUDDEN DEATH format. Teams have the opportunity to possess the ball at least once in the extra period unless the team that receives the overtime kickoff scores a touchdown on its first possession.

A look at the NFL's overtime procedures for the postseason:

POSTSEASON - MODIFIED SUDDEN DEATH The modified sudden death system of determining the winner shall prevail when the score is tied at the end of regulation for postseason NFL games. The system guarantees each team a possession or the opportunity to possess, unless the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown on its initial possession. At the end of regulation time, the Referee will immediately toss a coin at the center of the field in accordance with rules pertaining to the usual pregame toss. The captain of the visiting team will call the toss prior to the coin being flipped. Following a three-minute intermission after the end of the regulation game, play will be continued in 15-minute periods until a winner is declared. Each team must possess or have the opportunity to possess the ball unless the team that has the ball first scores a touchdown on its initial possession. Play continues in sudden death until a winner is determined, and the game automatically ends upon any score (by safety, field goal, or touchdown) or when a score is awarded by the Referee for a palpably unfair act. Each team has three timeouts per half and all general timing provisions apply as during a regular-season game. The try is not attempted if a touchdown is scored. Disqualified players are not allowed to return. Instant Replay: No challenges are allowed. All reviews are initiated by the replay official.

Key Definitions: Possession: Actual possession of the ball with complete control. The defense gains possession when it catches, intercepts, or recovers a loose ball. Opportunity to possess: The opportunity to possess occurs only during kicking plays. A kickoff is an opportunity to possess for the receiving team. If the kicking team legally recovers the kick, the receiving team is considered to have had its opportunity. A punt or a field goal that crosses the line of scrimmage and is muffed by the receiving team is considered to be an opportunity to possess for the receivers. Normal touching rules by the kicking team apply.

There have been 27 overtime postseason games, starting with the 1958 NFL Championship.

POSTSEASON OVERTIME HISTORY - CHRONOLOGICAL

(Home team in CAPS)

DATE	SEASON	PLAYOFF ROUND	GAME	LENGTH
Dec. 28, 1958	1958	NFL Championship	Baltimore 23, N.Y. GIANTS 17	68:15
Dec. 23, 1962	1962	AFL Championship	Dallas Texans 20, HOUSTON 17	77:54
Dec. 26, 1965	1965	Divisional	GREEN BAY 13, Baltimore 10	73:39
Dec. 25, 1971	1971	Divisional	Miami 27, KANSAS CITY 24	82:40
Dec. 24, 1977	1977	Divisional	Oakland 37, BALTIMORE 31	75:43
Jan 2, 1982	1981	Divisional	San Diego 41, MIAMI 38	73:52
Jan. 3, 1987	1986	Divisional	CLEVELAND 23, N.Y. Jets 20	77:02
Jan. 11, 1987	1986	AFC Championship	Denver 23, CLEVELAND 20	65:38
Jan. 3, 1988	1987	Wild Card	HOUSTON 23, Seattle 20	68:05
Dec. 31, 1989	1989	Wild Card	Pittsburgh 26, HOUSTON 23	63:26
Jan. 7, 1990	1989	Divisional	L.A. Rams 19, N.Y. GIANTS 13	61:06
Jan. 3, 1993	1992	Wild Card	BUFFALO 41, Houston 38	63:06
Jan. 8, 1994	1993	Wild Card	KANSAS CITY 27, Pittsburgh 24	71:03
Jan 17, 1999	1998	NFC Championship	Atlanta 30, MINNESOTA 27	71:52
Dec. 30, 2000	2000	Wild Card	MIAMI 23, Indianapolis 17	71:16
Jan. 19, 2002	2001	AFC Divisional	NEW ENGLAND 16, Oakland 13	68:29
Jan. 11, 2003	2002	AFC Divisional	TENNESSEE 34, Pittsburgh 31	62:15
Jan. 4, 2004	2003	Wild Card	GREEN BAY 33, Seattle 27	64:25
Jan. 10, 2004	2003	Divisional	Carolina 29, ST. LOUIS 23	75:10
Jan. 11, 2004	2003	Divisional	PHILADELPHIA 20, Green Bay 17	64:48
Jan. 8, 2005	2004	Wild Card	N.Y. Jets 20, SAN DIEGO 17	74:55
Jan. 15, 2005	2004	Divisional	PITTSBURGH 20, N.Y. Jets 17	71:04
Jan. 14, 2007	2006	Divisional	CHICAGO 27, Seattle 24	64:53
Jan. 20, 2008	2007	NFC Championship	N.Y. Giants 23, GREEN BAY 20	62:35
Jan. 3, 2009	2008	AFC Wild Card	SAN DIEGO 23, Indianapolis 17	66:12
Jan. 10, 2010	2009	Wild Card	ARIZONA 51, Green Bay 45	61:18
Jan. 24, 2010	2009	NFC Championship	NEW ORLEANS 31, Minnesota 28	64:45

The playoffs have featured at least one overtime game in nine of the past 11 postseasons. A look at NFL overtime playoff games since 2000:

SEASON	ROUND	TEAMS	GAME-WINNING SCORE
2000	WC	Miami 23, Indianapolis 17	RB Lamar Smith scores on 17-yard TD run.
2001	Div.	New England 16, Oakland 13	K Adam Vinatieri connects on 23-yard FG.
2002	Div.	Tennessee 34, Pittsburgh 31	K Joe Nedney wins it with 26-yard FG.
2003	WC	Green Bay 33, Seattle 27	CB Al Harris returns INT 52 yards for TD.
2003	Div.	Carolina 29, St. Louis 23 (2 OT)	QB Jake Delhomme connects with WR Steve Smith on 69-yd TD.
2003	Div.	Philadelphia 20, Green Bay 17	K David Akers wins game with 31-yard FG.
2004	WC	NY Jets 20, San Diego 17	K Doug Brien converts 28-yard FG.
2004	Div.	Pittsburgh 20, NY Jets 17	K Jeff Reed connects on 33-yard game-winner.
2006	Div.	Chicago 27, Seattle 24	K Robbie Gould converts game-winning FG from 49 yards out.
2007	Champ.	NY Giants 23, Green Bay 20	K Lawrence Tynes wins it with 47-yard FG.
2008	WC	San Diego 23, Indianapolis 17	RB Darren Sproles scores on 22-yard TD run.
2009	WC	Arizona 51, Green Bay 45	LB Karlos Dansby scores on 17-yard FR-TD.
2009	Champ.	New Orleans 31, Minnesota 28	K Garrett Hartley converts 40-yard game-winning FG.

An overtime history of the 2011 playoff participants:

TEAM	2011 OT RECORD	ALL-TIME REGULAR-SEASON OT RECORD		PLAYOFF OT RECORD
Atlanta Falcons	0-1	13-20-2 (.400)		1-0
Baltimore Ravens	0-0	9-7-1 (.559)		0-0
Cincinnati Bengals	0-0	15-11-1 (.574)		0-0
Denver Broncos	3-0	25-15-2 (.619)		1-0
Detroit Lions	1-0	14-16-1 (.468)		0-0
Green Bay Packers	0-0	11-15-4 (.433)		2-3
Houston Texans	0-0	1-7-0 (.125)		0-0
New England Patriots	0-0	17-20-0 (.459)		1-0
New Orleans Saints	1-0	9-11-0 (.450)		1-0
New York Giants	0-0	18-14-2 (.559)		1-2
Pittsburgh Steelers	0-0	20-14-2 (.583)		2-2
San Francisco 49ers	0-1	19-14-1 (.574)		0-0