When Did NFL OT Rules Change?

The National Football League (NFL) overtime rules have changed several times since the league was founded in 1920. The most recent change was made in 2012.

Introduction

OT rules have changed several times throughout NFL history. The most recent change came in 2012, when the league implemented a new rule that allowed teams to score a touchdown on the opening drive of overtime. Prior to that, the only way to score in OT was with a field goal.

What are the NFL overtime rules?

In the NFL, if a team scores a touchdown on its opening drive of overtime, the game is over. However, if the team scores a field goal, the other team gets a chance to either score a touchdown or match the field goal with a field goal of its own.

How do NFL overtime rules work?

In the NFL, if a game is tied at the end of regulation, overtime is played. During the regular season, overtime is 10 minutes long, and each team gets one possession. If the score is still tied after both teams have had a possession, the game ends in a tie.

In the playoffs, however, overtime is sudden death. This means that the first team to score wins, regardless of how long it takes or how many possessions each team has.

What is the sudden death rule?

In sudden death, the first team to score wins, regardless of how many possessions each team has had. In the NFL regular season, a game cannot end in a tie, so if the score is still tied at the end of regulation play, the game enters sudden death. The two teams will each have one possession to score from their own 25-yard line (or 30 yards in 2007), with no kickoffs and no punts. If one team scores a touchdown or field goal, it wins; if it does not score or if it scores a safety, the other team gets another chance beginning from its own 25-yard line (or 30 yards in 2007). This process is continued until one team scored and wins. In college football games before overtime was introduced in 1996 (see below), ties were allowed; they are now exceedingly rare.

When did NFL overtime rules change?

The NFL overtime rules have been the subject of much debate in recent years. Some people believe that the rules are fair, while others believe that they are unfair. The rules were changed in 2010, and they have been the source of much controversy ever since. Let’s take a look at the history of the NFL overtime rules.

Why did NFL overtime rules change?

In 2012, the NFL quarterbacks Tom Brady and Drew Brees led a charge to have NFL overtime rules changed. Prior to the 2012 rule change, if a team won the coin toss at the start of overtime, that team could choose to either receive or defer the ball, and then if they scored a touchdown on their first drive, the game would end. The team that lost the coin toss would then have a chance to score, but if they didn’t, the game would end. This put a huge advantage on the team that won the coin toss. In 2012, the NFL changed its overtime rules so that both teams would get at least one possession in overtime regardless of what happened on the first drive. If neither team scored after both had possession, then it would go to sudden death where whoever scored first would win.

What are the benefits of the new NFL overtime rules?

The current overtime rules in the NFL were instituted in 2012, and they have resulted in some significant changes to the way the game is played. Perhaps the most important change is that, under the new rules, both teams are guaranteed to get at least one possession in OT, regardless of which team wins the coin toss.

Previously, if the team that won the coin toss managed to score a touchdown on their first drive, the game would be over. The new rules are intended to add a bit more fairness to the overtime period, and to ensure that both teams have a chance to win the game.

There have been other changes as well. For example, under the new rules, if the team that loses the coin toss scores a field goal on their first drive, the other team will then have a chance to score either a touchdown (which would win them the game) or a field goal of their own (which would result in a tie).

So far, these changes seem to be working well and providing some much-needed excitement to NFL OT games.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the NFL’s overtime rules have changed several times over the years, with the most recent change happening in 2010. The current overtime rules give each team a chance to possess the ball at least once, and if the game is still tied after both teams have had possession, then the game goes into sudden death. This means that the first team to score wins, regardless of how much time is left on the clock.