Is There Double Overtime in the NFL?
Contents
- What is Overtime in the NFL?
- How is Overtime in the NFL Different from Other Leagues?
- What is the History of Overtime in the NFL?
- What is the Current Rule for Overtime in the NFL?
- How Has the Rule for Overtime in the NFL Changed?
- What Are the Pros and Cons of the Current Rule for Overtime in the NFL?
- What is the Future of Overtime in the NFL?
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league. The regular season runs from September to December, with each team playing 16 games. The playoffs follow, culminating in the Super Bowl, the league’s championship game, which is typically held in February.
With all of the games played throughout the season, is there such a thing as double overtime in the NFL? Let’s take a look.
What is Overtime in the NFL?
In the NFL, overtime is an extra period of play at the end of regulation time that is used to determine a winner. If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, the teams will play an extra period (or periods) of football until one team scores and the other team does not. The team that scores first in overtime wins the game.
Overtime in the NFL consists of each team having one possession to score, beginning with a coin toss to decide which team will have the ball first. The game ends when one team scores and the other team does not, or when both teams score but one team has more points than the other. If both teams score touchdowns on their first possessions, or if both teams kick field goals on their first possessions, then each team gets another chance to score. This process continues until one team has more points than the other at the end of a Possession.
How is Overtime in the NFL Different from Other Leagues?
In the NFL, if a regulation game ends in a tie, each team gets one possession to try and score from the 25-yard line. If the score is still tied after both teams have had a chance to possess the ball, then the game goes into sudden death. In sudden death, whichever team scores first (whether it’s a touchdown, field goal or safety) wins the game.
This is different from other leagues, like college football or the CFL, which use a system of overtime periods. In those leagues, each team gets a chance to possess the ball and score in each overtime period until one team has more points than the other at the end of an overtime period.
The NFL’s overtime rules have been controversial because they don’t give both teams an equal chance to win. Some people think that both teams should at least get one possession in overtime, regardless of whether or not the first team scores. Others think that overtime should be abolished altogether and games should end in a tie if they’re still tied after regulation.
What is the History of Overtime in the NFL?
The history of overtime in the NFL began in 1974 when the league introduced a new rule to try and reduce the number of tie games. Before 1974, if a game was tied at the end of regulation time, it would remain a tie. In 1974, the league introduced a 10-minute sudden death overtime period. If the score was still tied at the end of this period, the game would remain a tie.
In 2017, the overtime period was reduced from 15 minutes to 10 minutes. This change was made to try and reduce player injuries. Overtime games are now decided by a coin toss. The team that wins the coin toss has the option to either kick off or receive the ball. If they score a touchdown on their first possession, they win the game. If they don’t score, or if they score a field goal, the other team gets a chance to possess the ball and they can win with either a touchdown or field goal. If neither team scores, or if both teams score field goals, it’s sudden death and whoever scores next wins the game.
So there is no double overtime in NFL games anymore!
What is the Current Rule for Overtime in the NFL?
As of the 2019 NFL season, the overtime rules are as follows: each team gets one possession regardless of what happens on the first, and the game ends as soon as one team scores; if neither team scores, or if both teams score field goals on their first possessions, then the game enters a “sudden death” period where the first team to score wins. during “sudden death,” both teams have an opportunity to score on each possession; previously, only the team that won the coin toss could win on their first drive.
How Has the Rule for Overtime in the NFL Changed?
In the past, NFL games that ended in a tie were decided by a single overtime period. Both teams had an opportunity to possess the ball, and if neither team scored, the game ended in a tie. This system was often criticized because it didn’t seem fair that a team could win the coin toss, score a touchdown on their first drive, and then win the game without giving their opponent a chance to respond.
In 2017, the NFL changed its overtime rules to eliminate this problem. Now, if the score is tied at the end of regulation, both teams will get an opportunity to possess the ball in overtime. If one team scores a touchdown on their first drive, the other team will still get a chance to possession the ball and either tie the game with a touchdown of their own or win it with a field goal. This rule change has made overtime fairer and more exciting for fans.
What Are the Pros and Cons of the Current Rule for Overtime in the NFL?
The current overtime rules in the NFL are designed to create a fair outcome for both teams, while also ensuring that the game is not too long. The overtime period is 10 minutes long, and each team gets one possession. If the score is still tied at the end of the overtime period, then the game ends in a tie.
There are pros and cons to this rule. One pro is that it gives both teams an equal chance to win the game. Another pro is that it prevents the game from going on for too long. A con is that it can be unfair to the team that loses the coin toss, as they may not even get a chance to possess the ball in overtime. Another con is that 10 minutes may not be enough time to determine a winner, and so ties can happen quite often.
What is the Future of Overtime in the NFL?
The NFL overtime rules are simple: each team gets one possession to score, and the first team to do so wins the game. If the score is still tied after both teams have had a possession, then the game ends in a tie.
This system has been in place since 1974, and it has resulted in some thrilling finishes over the years. However, it also means that some games can drag on for longer than they need to, especially if both teams are struggling to score.
There have been calls for the NFL to change its overtime rules in recent years, with some suggesting that each team should get two possessions instead of just one. Others have suggested that the overtime period should be shorter than the standard 15 minutes, or that teams should play “sudden death” where the first team to score wins regardless of how much time is left on the clock.
So far, the NFL has resisted these calls for change, but that could all be about to change. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the league’s competition committee is considering making some changes to overtime for the 2019 season. These changes would need to be approved by a vote of all 32 teams before they could be implemented.
One of the changes being considered is making each team get two possessions in overtime instead of just one. This would presumably make games shorter and more exciting, as both teams would have a better chance of scoring. It would also make ties less likely, as there would almost always be a winner if both teams got two chances to score.
Another change being considered is making the overtime period shorter than 15 minutes. This would make games even shorter, and it would also reduce the likelihood of injuries, as players would not be on the field for as long.
It remains to be seen whether any of these changes will actually be implemented for next season, but it’s clear that The NFL is at least considering making some adjustments to its overtime rules.