Cowboys Break In the NFL’s New Overtime Rule — and This Time the League Got It Right

When the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants went to overtime tied 37–37 in Week 2 of the new NFL season, it wasn’t just another chapter in this rivalry — it was the NFL’s first test of its new overtime rules.

The broadcasters pointed it out, and I had the same reaction a lot of fans probably did: “Okay, what’s different now?”

For the first time in the regular season, both teams are guaranteed a possession in overtime, even if the first team scores a touchdown. And wouldn’t you know it — the Cowboys, Texas’ most-watched team, were the ones to break it in.

Why the New Overtime Works

I like this change. It answers years of fan frustration over games ending without one offense ever seeing the field. Lose a coin toss, and sometimes you were done. Who wants to go into overtime, see one team win the toss, and then watch a Peyton Manning or Patrick Mahomes sit on the bench without ever getting a chance to touch the ball?

That’s not just unfair — it robs fans of the very matchup they tuned in to see.

It also preserves the parts of the game I value most. Kickoffs matter. Punts matter. Field position still swings outcomes.

That’s where I think the NFL model is better than what you see in high school or college. Starting every possession at the 25-yard line feels like a red-zone drill instead of a full game, and the two-point shootouts that drag on forever are more gimmick than football.

If the NCAA or NFHS ever wanted to adopt the NFL’s system — even with the possibility of a tie after one overtime — I’d be all for it.

When the NFL Gets It Wrong

I feel like I need to say when I think the NFL gets it right, because I don’t always think they get it right when it comes to new rules or rule changes. The current kickoff rules are a mess.

What bothers me most is how they’ve stripped away almost all the element of surprise. An onside kick used to be one of the most dramatic, game-changing plays in football — now you have to declare your intent before you even try it. That takes away the chess-match strategy and reduces it to a formality.

I understand the need for player safety and the desire to mitigate injuries, but the league hasn’t found a good solution. In the process, they’ve turned one of football’s most unpredictable moments into something bland and telegraphed.

That’s the contrast here: the overtime rule change makes the game fairer and keeps the drama alive, while the kickoff changes feel like they’ve drained the game of something essential. If the league could apply the same common-sense balance it found in overtime to kickoffs, we’d all be better for it.

Final Word

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a Cowboys fan. And maybe it says something about the state of the franchise that it took them until the final seconds of overtime to finally squeak past the Giants with a field goal.

But grudgingly, I’ll also admit this: they gave us a wildly entertaining overtime game and the very first look at the NFL’s new era of overtime. And this time, the league got it right. Let’s just hope the same common sense eventually makes its way to other parts of the rulebook.