2024 Super Bowl: Postseason overtime rules means it is better to give than receive

The NFL began its new postseason overtime rules in the 2023 playoffs, and coaches who win the toss will now likely weigh whether to take the unusual step of kicking off to the opponent in overtime.

The league changed its overtime rules during the 2022 offseason in large part due to the ending of the Bills-Chiefs divisional round game. The Chiefs won 42-36 after winning the coin toss in overtime and scoring first, meaning Josh Allen and the Bills offense never touched the ball in the overtime period.

For the playoffs only, both teams must have the opportunity to possess the ball. Gone are the days of winning the toss, scoring a touchdown and ending the game.

And that should change a coach’s approach to strategy. Being guaranteed an offensive possession in overtime should lead coaches to have their captain defer should he win the overtime coin toss.

Kicking off to the opponent would allow the toss-winning team the opportunity to know exactly what it needs to win or extend the game. It would also give the team the opportunity to end the game with a defensive score. And it would very likely give the team better starting field position via a defensive stop and ensuing punt over the kickoff

Winning the toss and electing to kick is what’s almost always done in college football. But even then, you’re guaranteed to start your offensive possession at the 25-yard line. Winning and kicking in NFL overtime would (very likely) give the toss-winning team the advantage of improved starting field position over the opponent.

Since 2010, there have been 12 overtime playoff games. Teams who won the coin toss are 10-2 in those games, though only seven of the 12 who won the coin toss won on their first possession without the other team possessing the ball.

The league used those numbers — 10-2 and seven out of 12 — to justify the changes to the overtime rules. In reality, it was the…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-super-bowl-postseason-overtime-rules-means-it-is-better-to-give-than-receive/

Author : Jonathan Jones

Publish date : 2024-02-12 03:20:08

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