NFL adopts playoff OT rule guaranteeing both teams a possession
NFL owners have approved a change to the overtime rule, now guaranteeing both teams have a possession in playoff games, the league announced Tuesday.
Overtime rules in the regular season will remain the same, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The modified rule jointly proposed by the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles comes in the wake of the high-profile overtime contest between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs.
Kansas City and Buffalo engaged in one of the highest-scoring conclusions to a postseason game in NFL history.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes led their teams to a combined 25 points in the final two minutes of regulation before Kansas City sealed it in overtime with a touchdown pass from Mahomes to tight end Travis Kelce.
Buffalo's high-flying offense didn't get the football in overtime after Kansas City won the coin toss.
The ending once again shined a light on the NFL's controversial overtime rules, which some argue give too big of an advantage to the team that earns the first possession.
Seven of 12 playoff overtime games played under the current format, implemented in 2010, have been won on the opening possession, and 10 of those 12 were won by the team that won the coin toss, according to ESPN.
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