Overtime Question (1 Viewer)

[Anarchy99]

With the rule that both teams have to have the opportunity to possess the ball, what would happen if the team that received the overtime kickoff ran the ball every play, ran down the clock, and kicked a FG as time expired (or missed the kick as time expired)?

 

[bostonfred]

They would win. The rule isn't that both teams must possess the ball, the rule is simply that a field goal by the original receiving team in ot doesn't end the game.

 

[Deamon]

With the rule that both teams have to have the opportunity to possess the ball, what would happen if the team that received the overtime kickoff ran the ball every play, ran down the clock, and kicked a FG as time expired (or missed the kick as time expired)?

Not sure this would be possible? The team would have to start inside their own 20, be stopped on first and 2nd down, and make it not a yard further then the 1st down marker on every single third down. Even then, they'd make it all the way down to the goalline by the time the clock expired.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

With the rule that both teams have to have the opportunity to possess the ball, what would happen if the team that received the overtime kickoff ran the ball every play, ran down the clock, and kicked a FG as time expired (or missed the kick as time expired)?

Not sure this would be possible? The team would have to start inside their own 20, be stopped on first and 2nd down, and make it not a yard further then the 1st down marker on every single third down. Even then, they'd make it all the way down to the goalline by the time the clock expired.

Penalties could back them up (personal foul right after a 1st down sets up 1st and 10 fifteen yards back, or they could lose a bunch of yards and then get an automatic first with defensive holding or something while only getting moved forward 5 yards), but yes it's very improbable.

 

[GregR]

With the rule that both teams have to have the opportunity to possess the ball, what would happen if the team that received the overtime kickoff ran the ball every play, ran down the clock, and kicked a FG as time expired (or missed the kick as time expired)?

It's covered in the overtime rules. For a regular season the game, there is a max of one 15-minute overtime period. The game would be over regardless of whether the 2nd team has had their opportunity to possess the ball.

But for a playoff game, if the 2nd team's possession hasn't happened yet or even if it hasn't ended then they would go into additional 15-minute periods.

ARTICLE 4. OVERTIME IN PRESEASON AND REGULATION SEASON. The following shall apply to overtime games in the

preseason and regular season.

(a) There shall be a maximum of one 15-minute period, even if the second team has not had an opportunity to possess the

ball or if its initial possession has not ended. If the score is tied at the end of the period, the game shall result in a tie.

(b) Each team shall be entitled to two time outs, and if there is an excess time out, the usual rules shall apply (4-5). The

general provisions for the fourth quarter of a game, including timing, shall apply.

ARTICLE 5. OVERTIME IN POSTSEASON. The following shall apply to overtime games in the postseason:

(a) If the score is tied at the end of a 15-minute overtime period, or if the second team’s initial possession has not ended,

another overtime period will begin, and play will continue, regardless of how many 15-minute periods are necessary.

 

[GregR]

By the way, the longest NFL drive by time was apparently a 21 play, 90 yard drive by the Titans in 1997 that took 13:27.

Navy had a drive that lasted 14:26 in the 2004 Emerald Bowl.


Here's the Titan's drive:

Quarter Time Down ToGo Location Detail
3 13:21 DAL 30 Toby Gowin kicks off 70 yards. Kevin Mathis fumbles, recovered by Mike Archie
3 1 10 OTI 9 Eddie George left for 2 yards (tackle by Tony Tolbert)
3 2 8 OTI 11 Eddie George right for 2 yards (tackle by Brock Marion)
3 3 6 OTI 13 Timeout #1 by Tennessee Titans
3 3 6 OTI 13 Steve McNair middle for 8 yards (tackle by Chad Hennings)
3 1 10 OTI 21 Eddie George right for 3 yards (tackle by Tony Casillas and Tony Tolbert)
3 2 7 OTI 24 Steve McNair right for 9 yards (tackle by Omar Stoutmire)
3 1 10 OTI 33 Eddie George middle for 4 yards (tackle by Omar Stoutmire and Fred Strickland)
3 2 6 OTI 37 Eddie George left for no gain (tackle by Fred Strickland)
3 3 6 OTI 37 Rodney Thomas left for 12 yards (tackle by Kevin Mathis)
3 1 10 OTI 49 Eddie George right for 4 yards (tackle by Omar Stoutmire)
3 2 6 DAL 47 Penalty on Brad Hopkins: Illegal Use of Hands, 10 yards (no play)
3 2 16 OTI 43 Steve McNair pass complete middle to Frank Wycheck for 11 yards (tackle by Kevin Mathis and Dexter Coakley)
3 3 5 DAL 46 Steve McNair pass complete left to Rodney Thomas for 12 yards (tackle by Kevin Mathis)
3 1 10 DAL 34 Eddie George middle for 3 yards (tackle by Tony Tolbert)
4 11:37 2 7 DAL 31 (no play)
4 2 17 DAL 41 Steve McNair pass incomplete right intended for Chris Sanders
4 3 17 DAL 41 Steve McNair pass complete right to Frank Wycheck for 22 yards (tackle by Omar Stoutmire)
4 1 10 DAL 19 Eddie George middle for 5 yards (tackle by Fred Strickland)
4 2 5 DAL 14 Eddie George middle for 4 yards (tackle by Broderick Thomas)
4 3 1 DAL 10 Eddie George middle for 3 yards (tackle by Broderick Thomas)
4 1 7 DAL 7 Eddie George middle for no gain (tackle by Dexter Coakley)
4 2 7 DAL 7 Rodney Thomas middle for 6 yards (tackle by Brock Marion and Randall Godfrey)
4 3 1 DAL 1 Timeout #2 by Tennessee Titans
4 3 1 DAL 1 Steve McNair middle for no gain (tackle by Tony Casillas)
4 4 1 DAL 1 Al Del Greco 19 yard field goal good
4 11:37 OTI 30 Al Del Greco kicks off 65 yards, returned by Herschel Walker for 22 yards. Penalty on Vinson Smith: Holding, 10 yards

 

[Insein]

By the way, the longest NFL drive by time was a 21 play, 90 yard drive by the Titans in 1997 that took 13:27.

That had to be agonizing for a defense. Eddie George right?And they were actually still the Oilers that year.

 

[GregR]

By the way, the longest NFL drive by time was a 21 play, 90 yard drive by the Titans in 1997 that took 13:27.

That had to be agonizing for a defense. Eddie George right?And they were actually still the Oilers that year.

Yep, I added the play by play from PFR to my post. George had 10 rushes in it. Only 1 penalty on the drive, too.