A new overtime rule will apply from the 2022 season. The reactions to it are mostly positive – but not only.

Munich – The much-criticised overtime rule in the NFL is getting an update – at least in the playoffs.

Starting in the 2022 season, both teams are guaranteed possession of the ball in overtime of playoff games. Provided both teams score a touchdown, the next score will lead to victory.

Previously, the team that won the coin toss and chose possession could end the duel with a touchdown. Owners had voted 29-3 in favour of the change.

NFL boss Goodell: “Listen to the fans “

“We always listen to the fans – that’s an important thing. We’re always looking to improve,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

“What really drove the decision was ultimately the database and the facts about what happened. We saw that of the twelve games in the postseason, seven games were won on the very first possession.”

To explain, this refers to those twelve games that took place from 2010 and thus under the previous overtime rule. In total, the team that also won the coin toss won ten times.

In the regular season, however, the old rule remains in place. “I think people like the overtime rule in the regular season,” Goodell said. “I don’t think what we’re doing now in the postseason has to be done the same way in the regular season.”

Nonetheless, he holds out the prospect of changes in the future. “There can be another solution. The overtime rule has already gone through many changes.”

But is this rule really an improvement now? Opinions differ. Most recently, the old rule caused frustration in the playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills because the Chiefs used their very first possession to score the decisive touchdown.

Scott Hansen doubts the value of the new rule

Scott Hanson of the “NFL Network”, known for the conference broadcast “Red Zone”, has his doubts. Via Twitter, he explains his reasoning: “If this had happened back in January: KC would have won the coin toss, scored a TD… BUF (might) have gotten the ball and scored a TD… Then (possibly) KC would have scored again and won the game because they were the team with the third possession – based on the coin toss. “

If this was in place in January:

KC woulda won the toss, scored a TD….

BUF woulda (coulda) got the ball and scored a TD…

& then KC woulda (coulda) scored again and won the game b/c they were the team w the THIRD possession **based on coin flip**.

– Scott Hanson (@ScottHanson) March 29, 2022

This means: A certain injustice still exists.

Especially since each team that wins the coin toss will probably continue to favour possession first, possibly to win with another score after a touchdown on each side.

Despite this argument, agreement prevails.

Brandon Beane, the Buffalo Bills’ general manager, explains, “We’ve thought about this before when Kansas City lost to New England [in the 2018 AFC Championship Game, ed]. I watched that game. Man, you got a young Patrick Mahomes against veteran Tom Brady and you never saw Mahomes get his shot.”

Rich McKay, the president of the Atlanta Falcons and the chairman of the competition committee, takes a similar view: “The data was compelling for us and the league.” But a change, he said, only applied to the playoffs, “because the postseason is mainly where our problem is. “

Matt Rhule happy about more fairness: “May the better team win “

Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule is also a proponent of the new overtime rule: “You get a chance and I get a chance. May the better team win.”

Former NFL pro Troy Vincent, now executive vice president of football operations, adds: “The fan wants to see their quarterback get the ball.”