Only one Super Bowl has gone to overtime.
In Super Bowl LI, the New England Patriots overcame a 28-3 deficit to force overtime and won with a touchdown on the first possession of OT.
If Super Bowl LVIII goes to overtime and becomes the second Super Bowl to require overtime, the format will be a little different than it was a few years ago, thanks to one of the teams playing in this year’s big tournament. A game that will be seen.
Remember the AFC divisional round a few years ago? In that game, Patrick Mahomes and his guys needed just 13 seconds to force overtime against the Buffalo Bills, scoring a touchdown on the first possession of overtime to win. Many fans were frustrated that Josh Allen and the Bills didn’t get a chance to respond with their own motivation.
In the weeks that followed, as fans clamored for a different format for overtime, the NFL listened. Ultimately, the league’s owners approved a modification to the overtime format, ensuring each team had possession in overtime.
This format has been approved by the following organizations: 29-3 votes. It wasn’t quite the 28-3 vote that seemed like a full-circle moment for the league, but it was close.
Starting last season, all playoff games that go to overtime will follow this. Revised rulesThis includes the possibility of overtime in Super Bowl LVIII.
- If the game is tied at the end of regulation, the referee will flip a coin to determine which team will have possession first in overtime. The visiting team’s captain calls the toss.
- Both teams will have the opportunity to own the football. This is a big change. Previously, as we saw in the Kansas City-Buffalo game in the 2022 AFC Divisional Round and Super Bowl LI, the game ended when the team started with the football and scored a touchdown. Under the new rules, Buffalo (or Atlanta) would have a chance to match with a touchdown of their own in that scenario, and if they did, the game would continue. When both teams have possession of the ball, the game becomes sudden death. Additionally, if the team that started with possession scores and kicks an extra point to take a seven-point lead, the second team can win with a touchdown and two-point conversion.
- If the score is still tied at the end of overtime, or if the second team’s first possession is still in progress, both teams will play another overtime period. Play continues regardless of how many overtimes are required before a winner is determined.
- There will be a two-minute break between each overtime period. There will be no halftime break after the second period.
- If the game is still tied after two extra innings, the second half will be played. The captain who loses the first coin toss of extra time chooses to either have possession of the ball or choose which goal his team will defend, unless the team winning the coin toss postpones their choice.
- Each team gets three timeouts during the first half.
- The same timing rules that apply at the end of the second and fourth regulation periods also apply at the end of the second or fourth overtime period.
- If there is no winner after the fourth overtime, a third coin toss is held and play continues until a winner is declared.
- No instant replay coach challenges. All reviews are initiated by a replay representative.
These tweaks can lead to interesting strategic decisions for coaches. For example, the team that wins the first coin toss may choose to postpone. As seen in college football’s overtime rules, it makes sense to start with the defense since possession is guaranteed, and then figure out what the offense needs to score to win or extend the game. I know exactly.
Additionally, 2-point conversion opportunities are another strategic point to monitor. Will the team that scores first go for his 2 to force the second team’s hand? If the two-point try fails, only a touchdown and an extra point will be enough for the second team to win. This seems unlikely, as it would be necessary.
As for that second team, will the team scoring second choose to attempt a two-point conversion for the win, or will they settle for the extra point and take a chance in sudden death?
One can only imagine that these scenarios will be discussed in detail if/when extra time is played in this new format.
