Report: NFL Exploring Playoff OT Rule Change to Guarantee 1 Possession for Each Team

The NFL is reportedly considering a rule change for overtime in the playoffs to guarantee one possession for each team, according to ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio.

The process of changing the rule "remains in the early stages," Florio adds, ands teams have been asked for their opinions on OT through an annual survey. Owners of 24 teams must vote in favor of the overtime rule change for it to go into effect. 

Florio reports that the current overtime rules would remain for the regular season. If the team that wins the coin toss scores a touchdown, the game is over, and the team that lost the toss would still not be given a possession. 

In the playoffs, however, both teams would be guaranteed one possession, per Florio. If the team that wins the coin toss scores a touchdown, then the opposing team will have the opportunity to match before the game goes to sudden death. 

Florio's report doesn't necessarily come as a surprise following the way the Buffalo Bills were eliminated from the postseason by the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round. The game went to overtime, and Patrick Mahomes charged down the field for a touchdown to send the Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game for the fourth straight season. 

Josh Allen and the Bills offense was not given the opportunity to respond, which caused an uproar among many NFL fans. However, many fans also still believe that a team's defense must stop the opposing team's offense in order to earn a possession because that's how the rules have been. 

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid isn't opposed to a rule change, telling reporters on Jan. 25 that he could empathize with Bills head coach Sean McDermott, adding he "wouldn't be opposed" to change. 

"It was great for us last night, but is it great for the game which is the most important thing we should all be looking out for? To make things equal, it probably needs to be able to hit both offenses, both defenses," Reid said. 

Of course, Reid understands exactly how it feels to lose in overtime after not getting the chance to play on offense. During the 2018 season, the Chiefs and New England Patriots went to overtime in the AFC Championship Game, and Bill Belichick's side came out on top because it won the coin toss and scored on the opening drive of OT. 

The Chiefs then requested a change to the overtime rules during the offseason to "allow both teams the opportunity to possess the ball at least one time in overtime, even if the first team to possess the ball in overtime scores a touchdown."

Kansas City's proposal was denied, so it'll be interesting to see if it will be approved this offseason.