The NFL overtime rules have long been criticized but after Sunday’s absurd ending between the Chiefs and Bills in the divisional round, those criticisms once again started the battle cry to change them. One staggering statistic illuminates what appears to be a major advantage in the outcome of a coin flip.
According to the current overtime rules, a coin flip decides who gets the ball to start the extra period and sudden death will not be enforced unless the team that gets the ball first scores a touchdown on the opening drive. Per NFL research, teams who won the coin toss have won 10 of the 11 playoff games since these rules have been enforced.