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After the Chiefs lost the AFC Championship in overtime, the Chiefs proposed a rule that would allow the team that kicks off to start the extra session a chance to match a first-possession touchdown.
profootballtalk.nbcsports.com
Overtime rules still need to change
After the Chiefs lost the AFC Championship in overtime, the Chiefs proposed a rule that would allow the team that kicks off to start the extra session a chance to match a first-possession touchdown. It wasn’t passed. It still needs to be, as evidenced by Sunday’s first-possession, walk-off touchdown from the Vikings in New Orleans.
The Kansas City proposal had some support, prompting Chiefs owner Clark Hunt to tell PFT Live last March that a revision to overtime for the postseason could be coming. The owners had tabled the subject until May (Cowboys COO Stephen Jones, a member of the Competition Committee, told #PFTPM that he supported it), and then instead of voting on the change the owners delayed consideration for a year.
The decision to table the matter for a year made little sense, but political and P.R. considerationslikely influenced an outcome that didn’t entail a failure to make overtime more equitable.
And equity continues to be the primary consideration. As to everyone who shouts “Just play defense!” the reality is that if the team that wins the coin toss scores a touchdown on the opening drive, it never has to play defense in overtime. Both teams should have to play offense and defense if the score is tied at the end of regulation of a postseason game.
On Tuesday, the XFL will be announcing its official first set of rules, and the overtime procedures at last check were expected to be a shootout-style two-point conversation competition lifted (we were happy to help) from one of the ideas proposed by PFT for making the extra session more fair. Here’s hoping the NFL is willing to consider creative alternatives like this, especially if the XFL’s approach is as compelling as it promises to be, with 22 players at each end of the field alternative two-point tries with the game on the line.
Sorry totally disagree here, for years the saying goes a tie is like kissing your sister and unless you're from West Virginia, I cannot embrace this philosophy.
Sorry totally disagree here, for years the saying goes a tie is like kissing your sister and unless you're from West Virginia, I cannot embrace this philosophy.
Can’t wait for the lawsuit regarding the offense pass interference.
They just need to accept that their midget quarterback sucks in big games.
He did it again.
The Curtis Martin of QBs. The ultimate stat compiler.
Can’t wait for the lawsuit regarding the offense pass interference.
They just need to accept that their midget quarterback sucks in big games.
He did it again.
The Curtis Martin of QBs. The ultimate stat compiler.
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www.prosportsdaily.com
How XFL rules will differ from NFL, including shootout-style overtime format
The ending of Sunday's wild-card game between the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints prompted another wave of criticism for the NFL's overtime rules, which allowed the Vikings to win without New Orleans even touching the ball.
Roughly 48 hours later, the XFL unveiled an alternative idea as part of its official rules.
The rules for startup league, which will kick off next month, will include several departures from how the game is played in the NFL. Among the most significant changes is a shootout-style overtime procedure, with teams getting up to five one-play possessions from the 5-yard line worth two points each. The teams will alternate plays until one team is mathematically eliminated.
XFL commissioner Oliver Luck said the intent of the rule is to create a fast, exciting overtime period while also allowing offensive and defensive players on both teams to play a role in the final outcome.
"We think it makes sense, because you've got the players on the field deciding overtime that were the players on the field through the course of regulation deciding the fact that overtime was necessary," Luck told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday morning.
"We think people will like it, based on the feedback that we've gotten from focus groups — and just sort of the general excitement around a hockey shootout, which is different but somewhat similar. Or a soccer shootout."
Luck said the league hasn't yet determined whether the overtime action will occur at the same end of the field, or whether all units will be on the field at the same time — Team A's offense vs. Team B's defense at one end, for example, and Team B's offense vs. Team A's defense at the other.
Here are some of the other notable rules the XFL is revealing Tuesday, many of which had previously been floated by Luck or otherwise rumored.
A 9-point touchdown?
Yes, this will officially be a thing in the XFL. The league is eliminating the traditional extra point and replacing it with a three-tiered PAT system:
A successful offensive play from the 2-yard line, worth 1 point
A play from the 5-yard line, worth 2 points
A play from the 10-yard line, worth 3 points
The defense can also score on these plays, as well. So if Team B intercepts Team A on a 3-point attempt and returns it to the opposite end zone, Team B would get 3 points.
Significant special teams tweaks
The XFL is trying to revive the kickoff, but also keep it safe, by mandating that blockers line up 5 yards across from each other. So instead of running downfield to cover a kickoff, the kickoff coverage unit will line up on the opposing 35-yard line. The kickoff return team will line up on the 30. Once the ball is caught or on the ground for three seconds, the two sides will be allowed to engage. The league hopes this will eliminate some of the high-speed collisions that have resulted from the running start in the NFL.
On punts, there's a similarly significant change: If a punt travels into the end zone, it will be placed at the 35-yard line. If it sails out of bounds between the end zone and the 35, it will also be placed at the 35-yard line. So there won't be any so-called coffin corner punts in the XFL. And the hope, generally, is that this rule will encourage coaches to more frequently go for it on fourth downs near midfield.
Double forward passes
This has long been in the works, and it's not quite as dramatic as it sounds. The gist of the rule is that a team can attempt two forward passes as long as both originate from behind the line of scrimmage, as opposed to the NFL rule that requires the first pass to travel backwards. This change is, in part, intended to open the door for more trick plays out of the shotgun.
Other notable changes
A 25-second play clock, as opposed to the 40-second clock in the NFL
A designated ball-spotter, in an effort to speed up the pace of play
Requiring just one foot in bounds to complete a catch, as opposed to two in the NFL
A running clock, except in the final two minutes of each half
I’ve always thought that both teams should get a possession regardless and then sudden death. But in lieu of that I think they have it as good as it gets.
it would be great though if they change the rule to both teams getting a possession to appease the Saints again. Then next year, Saints make playoffs, go to overtime and get ball first. They score a TD and miss the extra point. Then the opponent scores a TD and wins game by making XP and the Saints fans cry for the rule to get changed back. Hahaha
Then you don't deserve to win the game. This isn't the first possession of the entire game - your team could have won in regulation. Once neither team wins in regulation, then "fair" is out the window. The Packers beat the Seahawks in 2004/2005 without their offense touching the field - during the sudden death rules of overtime. That same playoff, the Rams/Panthers went to double overtime because an entire 15 minutes - of sudden death mind you - wasn't enough. In the NBA, your defense can't score and a possession only lasts a max of 24 seconds (barring an offensive rebound) - completely different and not at all comparable.
The Rams beat the Saints last year in OT with defense and special teams making the biggest plays in OT - the offense did just enough, but the D and ST were the stars of OT. That doesn't happen if we receive.
The Vikings years ago kicked off in OT against us and won. Pats did it to the Broncos. I prefer it honestly - once your D stops them, you only need a FG to win instead of a TD.