The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills played one of the more exciting playoff games in recent memory during the 2021 AFC Divisional Round. Entering the fourth quarter, the Chiefs led 23-21 and eventually held a 26-21 lead with just under nine minutes left in regulation.
The Bills scored a touchdown with 1:55 left in the fourth quarter, and it would be the first of four scores in the final two minutes. Buffalo took a three-point lead with 13 seconds left, but the Chiefs tied the game at 36 with a field goal as time expired in regulation.
In overtime, Kansas City won the coin flip and scored a touchdown on the first possession to win the game. The ending created an uproar because the Bills’ season ended without getting the ball in overtime.
What Rule Changed?
Three months after the Bills-Chiefs game, the NFL owners voted to change the rule to allow both teams to have at least one possession in overtime during postseason games.
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After both teams have one possession, the game moves into sudden death, with the first team to score winning the game. There was no postseason game last season that went to overtime, so the rule has not been used yet.
When the game was played, the rule for overtime ensured both teams would have possession unless the first team with the ball scored a touchdown. If the first team with the ball kicked a field goal, the other team would still get a chance with the ball.
If both teams kick a field goal, the game moves to sudden death, and the next team to score wins. This rule was changed in 2010 for overtime in the playoffs, and two years later, the rule was added for all games.
The current rule for the regular season is that the game ends if the first team with the ball scores a touchdown and the other team doesn’t get a chance to counter. If the first team kicks a field, the other team will get possession and can extend the game with a field goal or win with a touchdown.
Notable Playoff Games Under Old Rule
The first playoff game under the rules where both teams got possession unless the first team scored was in 2011. Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas connected for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The New England Patriots rallied from a 28-3 deficit against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. The game went to overtime to become the first Super Bowl that needed an extra period to decide the champion.
After New England won the coin toss, Tom Brady led the Patriots on a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended with James White scoring a touchdown to win the Super Bowl.
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