NFL teams submit two separate proposals to adjust overtime

NFL teams have submitted two separate proposals to adjust overtime, the league announced Wednesday, following months of discussion about the advantage of winning the opening possession. The proposals have not yet been endorsed by the NFL's powerful competition committee, but by rule they can be put to a vote later this month during the annual league meetings.

The Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles have proposed that both teams be allowed at least one possession in overtime. The Tennessee Titans' proposal calls for both teams to get at least one possession unless the team that opens overtime with the ball scores a touchdown and then converts a two-point attempt.

Rule changes need approval from 24 of 32 teams to be enacted.

The league's existing overtime rule, last updated in 2017, is similar to the Titans' proposal but does not require the two-point conversion. It has come under scrutiny because of the advantage it gives teams that win the overtime coin toss, especially in the playoffs, and the issue returned to the public sphere when the Kansas City Chiefs eliminated the Buffalo Bills from the divisional playoff round last season by scoring a touchdown on the opening possession of overtime.

Bills general manager Brandon Beane said at the scouting combine this month that he favored a a set time for the overtime period, regardless of scoring, similar to basketball and other sports that eschew «sudden death.» But no such proposal was included in the packet the NFL made public Wednesday. There was also no indication that the Baltimore Ravens, who have made several overtime proposals in recent years, including an analytics-based «spot and choose» method, have made any submissions for 2022.

The competition committee