NFL Playoffs: New Overtime Rules Could Factor Into Ravens Vs. Steelers
Our Joel Thorman broke the NFL overtime rules down in detail a week ago, but it’s worth noting the basics again.
Each team must possess or have the opportunity to possess the ball unless the team that has the ball first scores a touchdown on its initial possession. Play continues in sudden death until a winner is determined, and the game automatically ends upon any score (by safety, field goal, or touchdown) or when a score is awarded by the Referee for a palpably unfair act. Each team has three time-outs per half and all general timing provisions apply as during a regular game. The try is not attempted if a touchdown is scored. Disqualified players are not allowed to return.
And to sum that up in layman’s terms: each team gets a possession unless the first team scores a touchdown, BUT a tie game after the first possession for each team makes the rules revert to sudden death.
Sure, Antonio Brown likely just made this more or less an academic exercise. But Shaun Suisham could still miss!
