Is It Time for a Change to NFL Overtime?

The thrilling AFC Divisional Playoff between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs ended up going to overtime tied at 36, due to Patrick Mahomes leading KC to field goal range with little time left. After Harrison Butker made the game-tying kick, KC won the coin toss, and their drive ended with a Travis Kelce touchdown that ended the game and sent the Chiefs to the AFC Championship. Josh Allen and the Bills never saw the ball in overtime, a fate that has befallen several teams who have lost overtime games (regular season and playoffs) played since this current rule was established in 2010.

I've said for years that the rules are fine, as they were changed to help the defense (it's easier to prevent a TD than it is to keep a team out of FG range). Even as a fan of the Green Bay Packers who has seen them lose twice in the playoffs due to Aaron Rodgers not getting a chance with the ball in OT, I didn't blame the rule. However, I now find myself willing to want changes to NFL OT. I've heard a pair of suggestions for what the overtime rules should be, and they are as follows.

College Rules: The most popular suggestion is the "college rules"; more specifically, NCAA's version of overtime in football. Similar to the NFL, a coin toss decided possession, but afterwards, the ball is placed on the opposing 25-yard line, and teams run plays from that point. Whatever the team scores on the first possession has to be either matched or topped by the opponent, meaning that no matter what, both teams would get the ball in overtime. If the teams are tied after each possession, the game continues until a winner is decided.

Originally, the first two OT periods allowed an extra point to be tried after touchdowns, with two-point conversions being mandatory beginning with the third OT. In 2019, the NCAA instilled a change to overtime, where after two periods, teams much make dueling two-point attempts, similar to shootouts in hockey and soccer. In 2021, it was changed to the "shootout" being mandatory beginning with the second OT.

The Canadian Football League has the same OT rules, but a few differences. In Canada, the ball is placed on the opposing 35-yard line, and because ties exist in the CFL, there are only two rounds in regular season games, while OT is played until a winner is crowned in the playoffs. Also, there are no extra points after touchdowns, teams have to go for two, with the exception of walk-off touchdowns. In either regard, OT is untimed, with the exception of a play clock.

Playing Out OT in Full: Before the rule was officially changed in 2010, I recall Mike Golic actually suggesting that the NFL should allow the OT period to be played in full, regardless of what scores occur. The higher score wins, and if the game ends tied after the period ends, then so be it. OT is played in full in basketball; a five-minute extra period to determine a winner, with another one needed if the game remained tied. Despite OT being sudden death in hockey, even that five minutes gets played in its entirety due to the game being centered on defense, and it's been followed by a shootout since 2005. I honestly don't see the harm in NFL OT being played in full, especially since it happens very rarely.

Usually, the only time we see the full OT played in the NFL is in tied games. In the 2021 season, three games saw the full 10-minute OT played out. The first was Week 1; the Cincinnati Bengals defeating the Minnesota Vikings with a last second field goal in OT--a very rare moment where the full OT is played and a winner is crowned. The second time, of course, was Week 10; the 16-16 tie between the Detroit Lions and the Pittsburgh Steelers. And finally, there was the tense regular season finale between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers which ended with Daniel Carlson's game winning FG at the final seconds of overtime.

If I had my choice for a change to NFL OT, I'd go with the option of playing it out. I actually used to want the college rule, but I can't really see the NFL really doing that. Playing out the period in the regular season really works, and even though OT is 15 minutes in the playoffs, they could do it in playoff games as well. In regards to the playoffs, it would mean more football for fans and viewers, padded stats for the players, and more money for networks and all else.

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Feel free to check out my story about the history of NFL Overtime below!