In the NFL, where 70% of games (2023) come down to the wire, overtime is where legends are made. Just ask the 70,000-plus fans at Ford Field who witnessed the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams battle it out in a heart-stopping thriller. 

With the scoreboard deadlocked at 20-20, both teams were thrust into the NFL’s latest overtime format. Lions kicker Jake Bates played hero in regulation, nailing a 32-yard field goal to force extra time. But it was running back David Montgomery who delivered the final blow, punching in a 2-yard touchdown run to seal a 26-20 victory for Detroit.

So, what were the rules set in before Montgomery scored that jaw-dropping touchdown? Gone are the days of sudden-death coin flip roulette. Today’s NFL overtime rules aim for a balance of fairness and excitement. In regular season games, each team gets a chance to possess the ball – unless the first team scores a touchdown on their opening drive. That’s exactly how the Lions closed out their win over the Rams.

One supplement after another went into this manual for a long time. In 2010, the league modified the rules on post-season overtime; in 2012, they also applied those changes to regular-season scuffles. Back in 2017, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended shortening overtime from 15 to 10 minutes this way: “We think this is an important change, particularly for teams that may face a lengthy overtime situation and then have to play again on Thursday night.”

Postseason overtime is another case in point. In post-season games, although the first team to score a field goal wins the game by sudden death, both teams are assured of at least one possession. If the score remains tied after each team has had possession, play proceeds until a winner can be determined.

The change was recognized in 2022 after the dramatic Bills–Chiefs playoff game in which Buffalo never even had a chance to counter Kansas City’s opening-drive touchdown. But the Lion’s stunning victory today over the Rams was pure drama!

The Detroit Lions spark overtime drama!

The Lions’ game-winning drive was a demonstration of high-stakes football. It began with an 11-yard reverse by Kalif Raymond that had the Rams caught looking for a moment. Montgomery then powered through for 21 yards, followed by a 10-yard dash from Jahmyr Gibbs. Two more runs got Detroit to the two-yard line, and there Montgomery bolted through a gigantic hole opened by Penei Sewell.

For the Rams, the agony of defeat was amplified by never getting a chance to respond. It’s a scenario that continues to fuel debates. Should both teams always get a possession, even in the regular season? Or does the current format strike the right balance?

These rules add layers of strategy to time. Winning the coin toss is valuable, but no longer a golden ticket. Teams must weigh aggressive play-calling against the risk of giving their opponents good field position if they fail to score.

Memorable moments have shaped these rules. Take the 2019 AFC Championship, where the Patriots beat the Chiefs without Kansas City ever touching the ball in overtime. Chiefs GM Brett Veach voiced the frustration felt by many: “I think everybody wants a chance for guys to do what they do. I don’t really see the downside of having that. Especially when you have a player like Pat Mahomes.”

That game sparked change proposals, but it wasn’t until 2022 that the league guaranteed both teams a possession in postseason overtime. This came after another playoff heartbreaker – the Bills’ loss to the Chiefs where Josh Allen never got to counter Patrick Mahomes’ overtime heroics.

As we digest another nail-biting NFL overtime finish, one thing’s clear: these rules keep us on the edge of our seats until the final whistle. They’ve given us unforgettable moments, sparked heated debates, and reminded us why we love this game. So the next time you hear that overtime coin flip, remember – you’re witnessing the latest chapter in the NFL’s ever-evolving overtime saga.