isn't the overtime period is like the 1st and 3rd quarter? the play would continue, you would just change sides.
Hal: Technically, you can keep getting penalties over and over again, but if the defence is the one incurring the penalty, there is always one play left. Even if the clock got to zero, and the defence commits a penalty, the offence can run one more play. Defensive penalties cannot end a game (unless declined by the offence). Here is the timing rule for overtime in the NFL: 3. Following a three-minute intermission after the end of the regulation game, play will be continued in 15-minute periods or until there is a score*. There is a two-minute intermission between subsequent periods. The teams change goals at the start of each period. Each team has three time outs per half and all general timing provisions apply as during a regular game. Disqualified players are not allowed to return. So each 15 minute time period is treated as a "half", so there would have been another kick-off if the Jets had missed their field goal. At the end of the second overtime, there would have been ANOTHER kick-off, and so on and so on. The teams would alternate kick-offs and ends every quarter. Interesting tidbit from the same rules: 1. The sudden death system of determining the winner shall prevail when score is tied at the end of the regulation playing time of all NFL games. The team scoring first during overtime play shall be the winner and the game automatically ends upon any score (by safety, field goal, or touchdown) or when a score is awarded by Referee for a palpably unfair act. Wow. I'd like to see a referee invoke THAT portion of the rule some day. I'm guessing that's the "player on the sidelines interfers with wide receiver on his way (untouched) to the endzone" provision.
Thanks grum- the timing issue wasn't what interested me (unless it was as goddam suggested, that the Jets would just get the ball in the same spot on the other end of the field); the idea being if the Chargers could possibly stop the clock and force the sudden death to start fresh: even if they had to kick off to the Jets again, they'd have a better chance of stopping them on a fresh drive than trying to block a punt from 28 (?) yards. But from what you say, the time can be at 0:00 and the offense still gets to run the play they're set up for (a field goal). Interesting tidbit too: I suspect such a rule is one of those "it's there, but it will never be invoked" rules; I cannot foresee a team of refs awarding actual points for even the grossest of misconduct, in a playoff game (excepting maybe homicide, such as in "The Last Boyscout"). Extreme penalties, etc, sure, but not points. It's almost like umps refusing to call a hit-by-pitch on a batter if the umpire feels the batter did not make a true effort to avoid the ball; it's in the rules, but you almost never see an ump call it, even though many players clearly lean in with that elbow armor and take one for a free base. Anyway, thanks for your knowledge dump: my paucity of football knowledge makes my SpoFi 2004 NFL Playoffs Prediction crown all the more hollow. *sob* I'd like to say I'm strongly opposed to sudden death in NFL: it defeats the purpose and spirit of the game! Much like basketball, soccer, and hockey, the game is played according to the clock, not by innings or rounds, a la baseball. The full 15-minute OT should be played out completely, simple as that. The victor is whomever has the most points at the end of the fifth quarter (or sixth, etc). Alternately, the college method is interesting; start each team at a specific spot on the field, and let them each make alternate best efforts score, until one "blinks" and doesn't equal the score of the other after that round.
*orders beer* *cries in it*
I told you all not to go against my Mom. Fortunately, despite her fangirl nature, she is not picking the Jets over the Steelers.
the chargers choke but still a great game i bet the superbowl is goin to look like this game
