As the annual NFL Owners Meeting approaches, the league will be considering proposed rule changes, including some pretty significant ones that can impact overtime across the league.
The latest proposal to be submitted to the NFL comes from the Philadelphia Eagles. Under the proposal, the postseason overtime rule would be applied to the regular season as well.
The postseason overtime rule grants both teams an opportunity to possess the ball regardless of what happens on the first possession. As it stands, a regular season overtime game will end if the opening drive results in a touchdown, with or without the other team getting a chance to touch the ball.
“By Philadelphia; amends Rule 16, Section 1, to align the postseason and regular season overtime rules by granting both teams an opportunity to possess the ball regardless of the outcome of the first possession, subject to a 15-minute overtime period in the regular season," the proposal states, via the New York Post.
It was only a few years ago that the league modified the postseason overtime rule. That was done in response to the thrilling Chiefs-Bills game that saw the shootout between the two teams end without the Bills getting a chance to touch the ball.
The NFL has been trying for ages to tweak and adjust the overtime rules to make it more interesting. The first big change was allowing the second team to get the ball back if the opening drive resulted in a field goal. The second major change was shortening the period to only 10 minutes to mitigate injuries.
This newest proposal could have the benefit of making overtime more competitive and even less contingent on who scores first.
Do you like the proposal?
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