NFL owners have approved a major rule change at the ongoing league meetings in Palm Beach, Florida.
As reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the owners voted to change the overtime format for regular season games, thereby allowing both teams to possess the ball in the extra period. The postseason overtime rules had differed from the regular season since 2022, but team owners are now adopting the postseason rules for the regular season.
The teams that received the ball first had won 56.8 percent of games since 2017, according to NFL.com. Tuesday’s vote aims to address that advantage.
Previously, the team that received the opening kickoff in overtime could deny the other team possession by scoring a game-winning touchdown on the first drive of the extra frame.
Now, even if the receiving team does score on the opening drive, the kicking team will still have a chance to tie the game on the ensuing possession.
There was a proposal for a 15-minute overtime, but Schefter is reporting that’s been reduced to 10 minutes.
Patriots CEO Robert Kraft, right, is interviewed at the NFL football annual meetings Tuesday
Fans are naturally torn over the decision.
‘Stop ruining the game please,’ read a post from ‘The Gabaghoul’ account.
Others were enthusiastic.
‘Long overdue,’ one fan wrote. ‘Finally a better OT system.’
The NFL last tweaked overtime rules in 2022 following uproar over the Kansas City Chiefs’ thrilling playoff win over the Buffalo Bills, who were denied a possession in the extra frame.
In another major development, the controversial ‘tush push’ appears to be safe for now.
As reported by Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, the Green Bay Packers‘ proposed ban of the controversial rugby-style quarterback sneak is unlikely to be approved at the ongoing league meetings in Palm Beach, Florida.
But that doesn’t mean the issue is off the table. Rather, Schultz understands there is a ‘better chance’ negotiations will be tabled for a future owners meeting.
Part of the issue is the wording of the proposed ban.
‘The current language in the proposal is just not clear enough and can easily be manipulated,’ one source told Schultz.
The future of the tush push should be decided Tuesday following debates about the safety of a play that’s helped the Philadelphia Eagles win one Super Bowl and reach another. To gain approval, the proposed ban would need votes from 24 of 32 teams.
