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Overtime: Right Enough

I’m not a Chiefs fan, but I especially dislike the 49ers so am happy that they lost | again and that their misunderstanding of the overtime rules might have contributed.1 This second-ever Super Bowl overtime game also seemed an ideal time to revisit my old proposal:

Regular season games can end in a tie,2 but playoff games continue until the team with the lead scores (or has possession for a non-kickoff play).3

(Note: This rule would not have extended Super Bowl 58 because the Chief’s final score gave them the lead, and they still retained possession for the point-after attempt.)

Given the new wording, the main difference between my proposal and the status quo is that I’d allow teams to trade field goals indefinitely; whereas if KC had tied, the Super Bowl would have gone to next-score-wins. I don’t like sudden death — ever — but I understand the desire to end games sooner, and practically it’s a distinction without a difference.

The NFL’s overtime rules are now right-enough, so I’m happy. Your move NCAA.


  1. Stay in school kids. ↩

  2. I guess soccer is really rubbing off on me. ↩

  3. My original proposal had slightly different wording. It said “lead and possession” or “a lead of eight or more”. The eight-point thing was to account for having a lead and scoring on defense, but upon closer examination it doesn’t cover all the potential scoring scenarios — like being up by a field goal and then getting a safety, which should clearly end the game. ↩


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Published

Feb 20, 2024

by Adam Wuerl

Tags

  • football 11

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