OT Coin Toss = 49'ers Demise?
https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/nfl-overtime-rules/
OVERTIME RULES FOR NFL POSTSEASON GAMES
Unlike regular season games, postseason games cannot end in a tie, so the overtime rules change slightly for the playoffs.
- If the score is still tied at the end of an overtime period — or if the second team’s initial possession has not ended — the teams will play another overtime period. Play will continue regardless of how many overtime periods are needed for a winner to be determined.
- There will be a two-minute intermission between each overtime period. There will not be a halftime intermission after the second period.
- The captain who lost the first overtime coin toss will either choose to possess the ball or select which goal his team will defend, unless the team that won the coin toss deferred that choice.
- Each team will have an opportunity to possess the ball in overtime.
- Each team gets three timeouts during a half.
- The same timing rules that apply at the end of the second and fourth regulation periods also apply at the end of a second or fourth overtime period.
- If there is still no winner at the end of a fourth overtime period, there will be another coin toss, and play will continue until a winner is declared.
https://www.foxsports.com/stories/n...-new-nfl-overtime-rules-ahead-of-the-playoffsPlayoff Overtime Rules
How does it work, and can a playoff game end in a tie?
Unlike regular-season games, which can end in a tie, postseason games can't.
Overtime rules in the postseason consist of as many 15-minute periods as are necessary until there is a winner, instead of the single 10-minute overtime period in the regular season. Both teams will now get at least one possession, even if the team that has the first possession scores a touchdown. If the team that got the ball first doesn't score a touchdown, or if the score is tied after each team has possessed the ball, the next score would end the game.
If the score is still tied at the end of an overtime period — or if the second team’s initial possession has not ended — the teams will play another overtime period. Play will continue regardless of how many overtime periods are needed for a winner to be determined.
If the team that possesses the ball first commits a safety on the initial possession, the kickoff team would win and the game would end there, which is also true in the regular season.
Other details to keep in mind:
- There are no coaches’ challenges in overtime. All replay reviews will be initiated by the replay official.
- Each team gets three timeouts during a half (two overtime periods), as opposed to two timeouts during overtime in the regular season.
- The intermission between the end of regular time and the first overtime period is no more than three minutes.
- There’s a two-minute intermission between each overtime period, but no halftime intermission after the second.
- At the beginning of the third overtime period, the captain who lost the first overtime coin toss will either choose to possess the ball or select which goal his team will defend, unless the team that won the coin toss deferred.
- If there’s still no winner at the end of a fourth overtime period, there will be another coin toss.