The NFL kicked off its 2025 campaign with a significant tweak to overtime procedures, aiming to level the playing field in those nail-biting extra periods. After years of debate, league owners finally aligned regular season and postseason rules, ensuring both teams get a shot at the ball before a winner is declared. This change, approved back in March, comes on the heels of the postseason format introduced in 2022, and it's already sparking chatter among fans and players alike.
Under the new setup, overtime lasts just 10 minutes in the regular season—down from the old 15—to keep things brisk and reduce injury risks. A coin toss decides who possesses first, with the visiting team's captain calling heads or tails. Crucially, even if the opening drive ends in a touchdown, the other side still gets their turn. That flips the script from past years, where a quick score could seal the deal outright. However, exceptions apply: a pick-six or safety by the defense on that first possession wraps it up immediately.
Indeed, this shift addresses long-standing gripes about fairness. Remember the uproar after the Chiefs' overtime win over the Bills in the 2022 playoffs? No more one-sided advantages there. Both squads now earn two timeouts each, and all reviews come from the booth to speed up decisions. Moreover, if the clock runs out tied, well, it's a draw—though that rare outcome hasn't sat well with everyone. Players from recent ties, like those in the Cowboys-Packers clash last week, grumbled about the lack of resolution, calling it a drag on the excitement.
Yet, the rules aren't without quirks. Onside kicks remain possible anytime if a team trails, but the core focus here is possession equity. Sudden death kicks in after both teams have had the ball, meaning the next score—be it field goal, touchdown, or safety—ends it. Critics might argue this prolongs games unnecessarily, adding to player fatigue in a grueling 17-game slate. Still, the league insists it's about balance.
As teams navigate this first full season with the updates, one wonders if it'll truly even the odds or just extend the suspense.