There appears to be some momentum toward changing the NFL’s overtime rules during the playoffs, in part because of what happened to the Buffalo Bills in the NFL playoffs. The Bills even have their own proposal for a change.
Buffalo GM Brandon Beane confirmed Tuesday that the Bills would be among the teams proposing a change to the league’s overtime rules, at least for postseason games. The Bills’ proposal differs slightly, however: instead of trading possessions, there would be a set clock for overtime which would be played out until the end.
“Ours is going to be more instead of one possession and then you get the other possession, is a time, similar to in basketball, you play five minutes,” Beane said, via Michael Marot of the Associated Press. “Baseball, both teams get the top half and the bottom half (of an inning). So a time limit, and I’m talking about postseason only. That way, both teams will definitely have a chance and maybe even more than one possession.”
In theory, something like a ten-minute overtime could work for the playoffs. That could set the stage for a dramatic finish and maintain strategy without putting one team at a huge disadvantage.
The Bills were on the wrong end of an AFC Divisional game that most agreed went the way it did largely because they lost the overtime coin toss. That was a tough pill to swallow, and it has inspired at least some efforts to change those rules going forward.
Photo: Oct 31, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane enters the field before a game against the Miami Dolphins at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
