The NFL unveils a new set of overtime rules when playoffs begin in two weeks.

But the results of this season's overtime games -- when both teams have had at least one possession in 16 of 18 contests -- give credence to critics who suggest the NFL moved too quickly to create the postseason modified sudden-death format.

The new rules -- which go into effect when wild-card weekend kicks off Jan. 8 -- require both teams to have an opportunity to possess the ball unless the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown.

They were adopted in March by NFL owners, who declined to adopt the rule change for the regular season.

Less than a year later, both teams have had at least one possession in 89% of sudden-death overtime games this season, a sharp increase over the 61% of such games with at least two possessions from 2000-2009 (via the Elias Sports Bureau).

"I think there was a big overreaction," NFL Network analyst Charles Davis said. "It was the (Brett) Favre factor, and people overreacted."

Favre and the Minnesota Vikings lost last season's NFC title game -- without possessing the ball in overtime -- to the New Orleans Saints, who won on a field goal.

New York Giants owner John Mara said in March that preventing a Super Bowl from being decided on a single-possession overtime was a key factor for the change.

Ross Tucker, a former player who's now an analyst for Sports USA Radio network, argued the change was motivated by media attention.

"Any team that goes to overtime and loses, I don't think there's much to complain about," Tucker said.

"One, there were 60 minutes where you had a chance to win. And two, the defense had the chance to (make a) stop."

-- Sean Leahy