Quote:
The new system is designed to eliminate the biggest iniquity of sudden death overtime: A team wins the toss, drives 35 yards, and kicks a game-winning field goal. Under the new rules, whoever wins the toss (and therefore gets the ball first) wins the game if they score a touchdown on the first possession. If they just kick a field goal, the other team gets one possession to tie with a field goal of their own or win with a touchdown. If the team with the ball first doesn't score at all, the old sudden death rules kick in.
http://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2010/08/nfls-new-overtime-rule-making-football-fair-again/61799/