The NFL has rolled out significant changes to its overtime format heading into the 2025 season, aiming to level the playing field in those nail-biting extra periods. After years of tweaking, the league's owners finally aligned regular season and postseason rules, ensuring both teams get a shot at the ball before a winner is declared. This shift, approved earlier this year, comes on the heels of the 2022 playoff adjustment that sparked plenty of debate among fans and players alike.
Under the old regular season setup, overtime lasted a tense 10 minutes since 2017, but the team winning the coin toss could potentially end it all with a quick touchdown on their first drive. That often left the other side fuming, feeling robbed of a fair chance. Now, however, both teams are guaranteed at least one possession, even if the opening drive results in a score—unless, of course, the defense snags a pick-six or forces a safety right away. It's a move toward equity, but not without its critics who argue it drags out games unnecessarily.
Here's how it plays out: At the end of regulation, the ref flips a coin—the visiting captain calls it—and the winner picks whether to receive or defer. No more than one 10-minute period follows a brief intermission, with each side getting two timeouts. If it's still tied after that, well, sudden death kicks in until someone scores. Moreover, point-after attempts are skipped if a touchdown seals the deal at the buzzer. The postseason mirrors this exactly now, which should make late-season games feel more consistent. Indeed, the change was pushed by the Competition Committee to boost competitiveness, though some coaches worry about added fatigue on players.
These updates build on past reforms, like shortening OT from 15 minutes to curb injury risks. Yet, as teams gear up for Week 5 clashes—like tonight's Rams-49ers showdown—the real test will be whether this fosters more dramatic finishes or just prolongs the agony. One thing's clear: the NFL's evolving, but is it evolving fast enough to keep everyone satisfied?