NFL Competition Committee Proposes Rule to Eliminate XP After Walk-off TD

A proposed rule change by the NFL's Competition Committee would end the need to attempt an extra point with no time remaining on the clock, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

Under the current rule, the extra point is mandatory even if the result has no bearing on the outcome of the game. A change would allow a walk-off touchdown in the fourth quarter to be the final play.

The confusion was seen in the recent NFL playoffs when the Minnesota Vikings beat the New Orleans Saints on a 61-yard touchdown by Stefon Diggs as time expired. The Saints left the field while the Vikings celebrated, but 11 players were forced to return for the meaningless extra point.

Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer called for his team to take a knee, leaving the final score 29-24.

As OddsShark noted at the time, this made a huge different for gamblers with the point spread at Saints plus-5.5.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post captured the drama of a kneel down during a conversion attempt:

A rule change takes this play, and others like it, out of the equation while also limiting possible injuries from an extra unnecessary down.

It also allows the losing team to get off the field more quickly and not have to suffer through the embarrassment of allowing more points on the scoreboard after time runs out, while the winning team can enjoy the moment without interruption.