Despite witnessing the best divisional round of playoff games in the history of football, the ending couldn’t have been more dissatisfying – leaving a sour taste in the mouths of every football player and fan known to man. Why? Due to the NFL’s overtime rule which states:
“Each team must possess, or have the opportunity to possess, the ball. The exception: if the team that gets the ball first scores a touchdown on the opening possession.”
The AFC Divisional round matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills ended after Chiefs’ All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce caught a touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes in overtime. Josh Allen and the Bills’ offense never got an opportunity to touch the ball after going through multiple lead changes in the final minute of the game.
The rule also states that if both teams in overtime fail to score on their ensuing drives it goes into a sudden death phase where the next team to score wins the football game.
Ironically, in 2019 this rule went to the league’s board of governors and owners for review after the Kansas City Chiefs proposed it be changed to allow both teams in an overtime possession. The proposal was shut down.
During the 2019 AFC Championship game the Patriots made a miraculous comeback – sending the game into overtime versus the Chiefs. Brady and company won the coin toss, went down the field and scored the winning touchdown without Mahomes and the Chiefs ever getting an opportunity.
One would think after Sunday night’s divisional round game, the thought of the rule being changed will gain momentum. Former players, media and fans have called for a change.
Would you like to see the NFL change its overtime rule to allow both teams to possess the ball at least once in overtime, regardless of who scores a touchdown first?