The NFL has announced rule changes in overtime playoff contests starting this season. If a team wins the coin toss to start overtime and then proceeds tokick a field goal, the other team has the chance to come back and tie or win the game. If the game becomes tied again after that next possession, play will continue under the current sudden-death OT rules. However, if that team wins the toss and scores a touchdown, the game ends. Team owners voted 28-4 in favor of the proposal at the league's annual meetings on Tuesday. The dissenting teams were Buffalo, Cincinnati, Baltimore and Minnesota. The Vikings lost to the Saints in the NFC Championship Game on Garrett Hartley's 40-yard field goal 4:45 into overtime. The rule only applies to postseason games. During the regular season, games that end regulation in a tie will go into a sudden-death overtime with the first team to score winning the game. If neither team scores in the 15-minute extra period, the contest will be recorded as a tie.
