(TheSpread) – As the 2011 NFL Playoffs get underway today, I thought it would be good to take a look at the new NFL overtime rules for the playoffs so you can take those into consideration when placing your wagers.
View Current NFL Playoffs Odds
Unlike the regular season where there is a sudden-death situation in overtime for 15 minutes, the NFL has jazzed up the new playoff rules.
First, a coin toss determines who will get the ball first to begin the overtime. If the team that possess the ball first scores a touchdown, the game is over. However, if they only score a field goal on the first possession, the opposing team will receive a kickoff and have a possession to try and match that score or score a touchdown of its own to win the game.
If both teams score field goals on their first possessions of the overtime, then the old overtime rules apply and the first team to score any points wins. The team that won the coin toss initially would get the ball kicked to them to start the scenario.
If a team scores a defensive touchdown or picks up a safety at any point of the overtime, the game is over as well. If neither team has scored after 15 minutes, the game continues until someone does and plays carries over like it would from the first quarter to the second quarter.
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