Titans propose overtime rule with two-point conversion option

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane were among big-name NFL personalities who voiced their approvals for a change to league overtime rules in January. This came after the Chiefs got past the Bills during the playoffs when Kansas City scored a touchdown on the only offensive possession of the extra period of that memorable game. 

As Kevin Patra wrote for the NFL's website, the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles have jointly proposed a simple shift to overtime rules that would offer both teams involved opportunities to possess the football at least once in a so-called fifth period. However, the Tennessee Titans have gone in somewhat of a different direction by suggesting a rule change that would grant both teams offensive possessions unless the club with the first possession of the extra period scores a touchdown and then successfully converts a two-point try that would result in a walk-off score. 

Patra explains this could add excitement to overtimes in that a team that attempts a two-point try but fails could ultimately lose if it surrenders a touchdown and then cannot block the subsequent standard extra point. It would also provide head coaches chances to exploit exhausted defenses unable to stop opposing offenses on the opening possessions of overtimes and on two-yard plays. 

As Michael David Smith noted for Pro Football Talk, any change to current overtime rules would require three-fourths of the owners to vote in favor of the proposal at the owners’ meetings that, per Matt Dolloff of 98.5 The Sports Hub, get underway March 27.