I'm fairly agnostic on this change to the NFL postseason rules:
The NFL owners voted to change an element in the overtime rule, giving the team that loses the coin toss at the start of overtime to get a possession if the coin-toss winning team scores a field goal with the first possession.
The proposal passed 28-4. As it is written, the rules change applies just for the postseason, but the owners also decided to discuss adopting the changes for the regular season at their next meeting, in May in Dallas.
Had the change taken place last year, the Vikings would have had a chance to counter the winning New Orleans field goal in the NFC Championship game earlier this year, but I have no sour grapes about that and it appears that the Vikings don't either, since they were one of four teams to vote against it. That was the rule and it could have worked for or against either team. I would have been content to leave the old rule in place, but I'm okay with trying the new one out. My only quibble is that the regular season and postseason rule should be the same and at this point the new one only applies to postseason.
The new rule:
• Both teams must have the opportunity to possess the ball once during the extra period, unless the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown on its initial possession, in which case it is the winner.• If the team that possesses the ball first scores a field goal on its initial possession, the other team shall have the opportunity to possess the ball. If [that team] scores a touchdown on its possession, it is the winner. If the score is tied after [both teams have a] possession, the team next scoring by any method shall be the winner.
• If the score is tied at the end of a 15-minute overtime period, or if [the overtime period's] initial possession has not ended, another overtime period will begin, and play will continue until a score is made, regardless of how many 15-minute periods are necessary.
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