NFL owners pass new overtime rule

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In a surprising turnaround, NFL owners have passed a proposal to change the league’s overtime format for the postseason, increasing the possibility that both teams will get a possession in the extra period.

The modification passed by a 28-4 vote.

The proposal, which addresses the ‘doomsday’ scenario of a team winning the Super Bowl in overtime with a quick field goal, was controversial and far from fully embraced by coaches and general managers. But it got the required three-quarters vote from owners and will go into effect this season.

The new rule says the team that gets the ball at the start of overtime can win on the opening possession only with a touchdown. If that team kicks a field goal, the other team gets a possession with a chance to either win with a touchdown or tie with a field goal. If the score is tied after that, it would be sudden death from that point on.

If neither team scores on its first possession, the game would continue on a sudden-death basis.

-- Sam Farmer