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The NFL owners voted 28-4 in favor of new overtime rules giving the team that loses the coin toss in overtime to get another possession if they can hold the coin toss winner to a FG at best. The format would then follow a sudden death format. They need 24 out of 32 votes to pass a rule change in the NFL.  The only teams that voted against it were the Bills, Vikings, Ravens, and Bengals.

Goodell had been a strong proponent of this new rule change. The Packers loss to the Cardinals in the first round, in the highest scoring game in NFL playoff history would remain the same outcome since GB won the coin toss. Goodell, and others, had been very worried that something like this could happen in the Super Bowl, and could have last year had Peyton been able to score rather than throw the pick.  This would have been a disaster for the NFL had the Super Bowl been decided in a coin toss.

Why the change?

Well, since 1994, when they moved the kickoff yard line to the 30 from the 35, the coin toss winner has gone on to win the game 60% of the time. A 60/40 advantage is a HUGE advantage.  The kind of advantage that could make a sports bettor millions in a season if he had that advantage in every game. Home field advantage in football for the last decade is around 56%, and the OT coin toss is even more determinant of a win.

The new ruling is only for the playoffs right now. But Rick McKay, co-chairman of the competition committee didn’t rule out the rule being instated for the 2010 regular season, be he did doubt the possibility. They want to protect players and make games as fair as possible. The possibility of playing longer OT games is a no go for coaches and players.  The next week the team’s have no energy, and the later in the game and the more tired players get, the more they get injured.

New Rules in detail:

• Each team must have the opportunity to have possession at least once during the extra period.  But, if the opening coin toss is able to score a touchdown on their opening drive that team is declared the winner.
• If the coin toss winner scores a field goal on it’s first OT possession, the coin toss losing will have the opportunity to possess the ball.  If this team scores a TD on the ensuiing possession, they are declared the winner. If the score is tied after both teams have had the ball, it returns to sudden death OT and any team scoring in any fashion wins the game.
• If the score is tied after the 15-minute OT period or the initial possession has not ended, another OT will being. and play will continue until a score is made.  (No Change here)