NFL Playoff OT Scenarios

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by rulesmaven

Otherwise, I think the NFL has answered pretty much all the scenarios one can think of in their recent guidance on the issue. Here's the link: [url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81d817d7/article/postseason-overtime-rules]

If they have, they sure haven't done it well. Looking at those A.R.s, any of us could reverse engr. rules that are clearer than the rule given at the top -- if indeed that is the official rule (which must be Rule 16). I'd never get A.R. 16.19 from that Rule 16.

I'm going to guess that "opportunity to possess" is judged only after enforcements, not while they're pending. Therefore if team B accepts a penalty instead of taking the result of a play that would have left them in possession of the ball, that their chance to decline it is not such an "opportunity", and that their possession that was canceled by penalty enforcement did not count. Similarly if team A accepts a penalty whose declination would've resulted in possession by their opponents. And same regarding downs that are replayed due to fouls against both teams. But that's just a guess, figuring it's "the right thing".

[rulesmaven]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

If they have, they sure haven't done it well.

That's not the rule. The actual text of the rule follows. To answer the question whether the chance to have had the ball but for a non-enforced penalty is the "opportunity to possess," it is not. According to the rule, "[t]he opportunity to possess applies only during kicking plays." Otherwise, you default to definition of "possession," which is "firm grip and control." An an unenforced penalty that could have given you possession, you never had actual possession and it wasn't a kicking play -- although I guess one could manage a hypothetical in which the penalty enforcement issue arose on a punt. Otherwise, I think the ARs are pretty good at covering all the bases. Anyway, here's the text of Rule 16, Sec. 1, Art. 4:

Article 4 For postseason games, following a coin flip (Article 2 above) and an intermission
of no more than three minutes after the end of the regular game, the following shall
apply:
(a) Both teams must have the opportunity to possess the ball once during the extra period,
unless the team that receives the opening kickoff (Team B) scores a touchdown
on its initial possession, in which case it is the winner, or Team A scores a
safety on Team B’s initial possession, in which case Team A is the winner.
(b) If the team that possesses the ball first scores a field goal on its initial possession,
the other team (Team A) shall have the opportunity to possess the ball. If Team A
scores a touchdown on its possession, it is the winner. If the score is tied after Team
A’s possession, the team next scoring by any method shall be the winner.
(c) If the score is tied at the end of a 15-minute overtime period, or if Team B’s initial
possession has not ended, another overtime period will begin, and play will con -
tinue, regardless of how many 15-minute periods are necessary.
(d) Between each overtime period, there shall be a two-minute intermission, but there
shall be no halftime intermission after the second period. At the beginning of the
third overtime period, the captain who lost the coin toss prior to the first overtime
period shall have the first choice of the two privileges in Rule 4, Section 2, Article 2,
unless the team that won the coin toss deferred.
(e) At the end of the first and third extra periods, etc., teams must change goals in accordance
with Rule 4, Section 2, Article 3.
(f) A player is in possession when he is in firm grip and control of the ball inbounds
(3-2-7). The defense gains possession when it catches, intercepts, or recovers a
loose ball.
(g) The opportunity to possess applies only during kicking plays. A kickoff is the opportunity
to possess for the receiving team. If the kicking team legally recovers the
kick, the receiving team is considered to have had its opportunity. A punt or field
goal that crosses the line of scrimmage and is muffed by the receiving team is considered
to be an opportunity to possess for the receiving team. Normal touching
rules by the kicking team apply.
(h) Each team is entitled to three timeouts during a half. If there is an excess timeout
the usual rules shall apply (4-5).
(i) At the end of a second overtime period, timing rules shall apply as at the end of the
first half. At the end of a fourth overtime period, timing rules shall apply as at the end
of the fourth quarter.
(j) All replay reviews will be initiated by the replay assistant. Coaches’ challenges will
not be allowed.

[Robert Goodman]

OK, that's better. But here's one that would play out "funny": K's opening kickoff gets blown back and goes out of bounds thru K's end zone. Team R scores 2 pts. and K gets another free kick without having had a possession or opp'ty to possess the ball. But R has had their opp'ty.

[jchamp]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

OK, that's better. But here's one that would play out "funny": K's opening kickoff gets blown back and goes out of bounds thru K's end zone. Team R scores 2 pts. and K gets another free kick without having had a possession or opp'ty to possess the ball. But R has had their opp'ty.

Almost. But as Rulesmaven says a few posts above, any score that is not a field goal ends the game. Team R wins by 2 due to an Act of God.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by jchamp

Almost. But as Rulesmaven says a few posts above, any score that is not a field goal ends the game. Team R wins by 2 due to an Act of God.

But look at rulesmaven's most recent post. He says that's the official wording, 16-1-4, and you can look high and low for word that a safety ends it by sudden death notwithstanding the possession business, which I'm now taking to have been rumor disconfirmed by this actual wording. In most cases a safety would win, but apparently not if the opening kickoff (original or repeated following penalty) got blown back (or had extremely wicked backspin) for a safety.