The proposal says the team that gets the ball at the start of overtime can win on the opening possession only with a touchdown. The new overtime would still end if the offensive team scored a touchdown, but if it only makes a field goal, the other team would get a possession. That first possession is an enormous advantage, since the winning team scores, on average, after just 5.5 minutes of OT to end the game. One of the biggest complaints of NFL fans is that winning in overtime comes down to the luck of a coin flip.
– NFL fans who hate the overtime rules have reason to hope. More often than not it seems, the team that wins the coin toss zips down the field and ends the game with a field goal. League owners are considering a revision to try to even things up: The game can end on the opening possession only if the offensive team scores a touchdown. If it kicks a field goal, the other team gets the ball back to try to win or tie. The OT becomes sudden death again if both teams kick field goals of if neither scores on its first possession. The rules go into effect if 75% of owners agree—but only for playoff games, reports the Wall Street Journal. Already, critics are surfacing. Sam Farmer at the Los Angeles Times worries the proposed changes give an edge to the team with second possession.