clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

NFL Changes overtime rules

The NFL is shortening the overtime period to ten minutes.

NFL: Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The worst game for the Arizona Cardinals was easily the tie with the Seattle Seahawks. It was such an abysmal feeling to have thoroughly outplayed your opponent for 60+ minutes, but fall short because of an abundance of issues.

The 15 minute overtime period was even worse, watching the Cardinals move down the field to kick a go ahead field goal, before Seattle got the ball back to tie the game with a field goal. Then both Chandler Catanzaro and Steven Hauschka missed game winning kicks and we were left with that ugly 6-6 score.

Those fifteen minutes were among the worst in my time as a Cardinals fan.

Now, with the NFL owners approval, that overtime period would have only taken 10 minutes, as the NFL owners voted to shorten the overtime period to 10 minutes.

Won’t that result in more ties?

Texans head coach Bill O’Brien doesn’t see it happening. He thinks teams will be more aggressive in overtime now.

What about the preseason and postseason?

The rule change will be implemented in the preseason as well. For the playoffs, it will remain in the modified sudden-death format, where each team gets to possess the ball unless the team that receives the kickoff scores a touchdown on its opening possession.

Do you like the shortening of overtime?

Poll

Do you like the new overtime rule?

This poll is closed

  • 47%
    Yes
    (86 votes)
  • 52%
    No
    (95 votes)
181 votes total Vote Now