NFL open to playoff overtime rule change?
The NFL might decide to entertain changes to playoff overtime rules, with the chairman of the league’s competition committee admitting that changes will be on the agenda.
Competition committee chair Rich McKay said Sunday that he fully anticipates overtime rules to be on the agenda during the Competition Committee’s meeting. The meeting is expected to cover OT rules for both regular season and postseason. This does not guarantee any changes, however.
Rich McKay, chair of the NFL's Competition Committee, says no question proposed changes to OT will be brought up, with teams proposing changes for playoffs only, and for regular season & playoffs. Committee discussion later this week. Level of support for change unclear.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) February 27, 2022
In a separate report, Mark Maske of the Washington Post reported that there is “some sentiment” to change the rules to ensure that each team gets a possession in overtime during the playoffs. Whether there is enough firm support for an actual rule change is less clear.
NFL competition committee is meeting today in Indy. There is at least some sentiment within the committee for modifying OT for the postseason to ensure that each team gets one possession. But such a measure still would need to get 24 votes among the 32 teams to be enacted.
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) February 27, 2022
Sentiment for a playoff rule change grew after a dramatic AFC Divisional game between Buffalo and Kansas City, which saw a frantic end to regulation give way to a Chiefs win after they won the overtime coin toss and immediately marched downfield for a touchdown. Even the winning coach suggested that the overtime rules are not entirely fair. There could be momentum for a change.
