MDS and I have wondered over the last few weeks what happens if there is a safety in the now accepted overtime format.
We assumed a safety would win the game, and Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times confirms that’s correct.
Yes, it’s strange that two points could win the game if an initial possession field goal won’t win the game. But it would be far, far stranger to keep playing.
The idea here is that both teams get a chance to score unless the first team to get the ball scores a touchdown. That would be the case when a safety happens.
If a safety occurs, both teams will have had their chance. The team on offense that started with the ball instead gave points to the other team. It makes no sense to give that team another chance with the ball, just to perform a free kick down 2-0.