Chiefs vs. Bills Finish Reignites NFL Overtime Rules Debate

Buffalo never got a shot to respond to Kansas City’s game-winning overtime drive, which left a bitter taste in the mouths of many viewers.

Kansas City and Buffalo took part in the greatest NFL game in recent memory on Sunday. But the ending left a bitter taste in a lot of people’s mouths.

After Patrick Mahomes conducted a miraculous game-tying drive in just 13 seconds at the end of regulation, the Chiefs won the overtime coin toss and marched down the field for a game-ending touchdown. Since NFL overtime rules dictate that the game ends if the team who receives the ball first scores a touchdown, Josh Allen and the Bills never touched the ball again after scoring a go-ahead touchdown and ensuing two-point conversion to go ahead by three points with 13 seconds left, which would’ve been a surefire win in almost any other scenario.

Kansas City was on the other side of this situation in the 2017 AFC championship when Tom Brady and the Patriots scored on the first possession of overtime to head to Super Bowl LIII. The only Super Bowl to ever go to overtime, New England’s historic comeback over Atlanta in Super Bowl LI, also ended after the Patriots scored on the first possession of overtime.

Many observers on Twitter felt the Bills didn’t get a fair shot, and were calling for a change to the NFL’s overtime rules.

Once again a season decided by a coin flip. Worst rule in sports

— Mike Lupica (@MikeLupica) January 24, 2022

Great game by both teams 🤯🤯 but the overtime rules have got to change!! No coin flip should have that much power

— Amon-Ra (@amonra_stbrown) January 24, 2022

This is the biggest indictment of the NFL overtime rules. Bills deserve to return serve

— Jawn Gonzalez (@JohnGonzalez) January 24, 2022

As much as I love the NFL I hate the overtime rules. Feels so unfair Buffalo doesn’t get a chance to answer that.

— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) January 24, 2022

Josh Allen didn’t even get a chance…and that’s why the NFL overtime is the worst overtime of any sport in the world.

— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) January 24, 2022

I am politely suggesting that the architect of the NFL overtime rules go to jail, or at least to, like, a lengthy period of time stuck in a DMV waiting room

— Emma Baccellieri (@emmabaccellieri) January 24, 2022

To save his presidency, Joe Biden must fix the NFL overtime rules.

— New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon) January 24, 2022

hear me out: nfl overtime should be like soccer except instead of PKs it's 35-yard field goals with different players taking each kick

— Zander Craik, Doonhamer (@cdgoldstein) January 24, 2022

Never liked that OT coin toss garbage in the NFL no matter the team. Especially on this level.

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) January 24, 2022

The Chiefs rock
The Bills rock
The NFL OT sucks

— David Gardner (@byDavidGardner) January 24, 2022

This game was ruined by a coin flip. Please change this @NFL.
-Sincerely, Everyone.

— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) January 24, 2022