Skip to main content
Join Now

NFL using new playoff rules for first time in Super Bowl LVIII

On3 imageby: Sam Gillenwater02/12/24samdg_33
Super Bowl
James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

Super Bowl LVIII between Kansas City and San Francisco is headed to overtime in Las Vegas. That means it’s the first playoff game to utilizes the league’s new rules for an extra period.

The NFL Operations as well as ESPN’s Adam Schefter both shared clarifications of the new rules for overtime. They’re worth noting ahead of what could be a fantastic finish between the Chiefs and 49ers.

These rules went into effect following an AFC Divisional matchup between Kansas City and the Buffalo Bills in 2022. Buffalo did not get to possess the football due to the previous rules and ended up losing 42-36 in Arrowhead Stadium.

The NFL has seen 28 playoff games since the amendments to the rule and none had needed an extra period. That changed tonight in Allegiant Stadium with a Lombardi Trophy on the line.

Overtime will still last 15 minutes like an additional quarter. However, unlike the previous procedures, both teams will get an opportunity to have a possession in the extra time unless the opening kickoff leads to a safety for the kicking team. If either team leads after those two possessions, they are the winner of the contest.

If neither team scores on their possession, it becomes a next-score-wins scenario, regardless of if it comes by safety, field goal, or a touchdown of any kind.

It’s incredible that these rules are going to see their debut with a championship up for grabs. It could be a part of league history, though, depending on who can capitalize on them and win the Super Bowl in extra time.

Streakers interrupt Super Bowl LVIII during third quarter

Two streakers interrupted Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers during the middle of the third quarter.

The fans ran onto the field after a third-and-eight for the Chiefs from their opponents’ 41-yard line, doing so behind the action. The incident briefly halted play inside Allegiant Stadium as officials handled the matter.

Since the streakers were on the opposite end of the field from play, the broadcast’s cameras didn’t catch them live. BCBS announcers Jim Nantz and Tony Romo were interrupted during their call and briefly noted it before saying they weren’t allowed to talk about it.

Cameras on the broadcast never panned to the streaker but some intrepid filmers inside the building caught footage of it.

You can check out the tail end of it below.