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".