Modified sudden death is in effect
Rules School Saturday, January 7, 2012 – 3:22 pm | 2 Comments
by Ben Austro
It is no secret that we are very much opposed to the NFL’s modified sudden death format for the postseason. (Rather than repeat, see our rant from last year and our other posts.)
Hopefully we won’t have to reference them, but here are the new overtime rules:
- Modified sudden death only applies in the cases where the team receiving the opening kickoff scores a field goal on the opening drive. In all other cases, standard sudden death will apply (a touchdown, a safety, or a field goal after first possession).
- If there is any change of possession or the receiving team does not recover the kickoff, they have surrendered the first possession, and standard sudden death applies.
- If a field goal is scored, the trailing team will receive the ensuing kickoff. Then, if the trailing team…
- …scores a touchdown, the game ends, and the touchdown decides the result.
- …loses possession, including on downs, the game ends immediately.
- …scores a tying field goal, the overtime reverts to a standard sudden death.
•
0 
0
What happens if, on the opening kickoff of OT, the receiving team fumbles the ball, the kicking team picks it up and begins to return it, and then they fumble it back to the receiving team? Does that then allow the receiving team to win it on a single field goal?
Scenarios like this are why this new format stinks.
•
0 
0
Once a team turns over the ball, the modified sudden death is completely off the table. Standard OT rules in that case.
The rule is that you have to have the “opportunity to possess,” so if the opening kickoff is a successful onside kick, the other team can still lose without touching the ball.