To kick or receive? NFL coaches still haven't figured out the overtime coin toss

Winning the overtime coin toss used to be cause for celebration under the NFL's previous rules. The receiving team gained the opportunity to secure victory without its opponent touching the ball if it scored a touchdown on its opening possession.

The optimal strategy is far murkier now that the NFL's overtime system guarantees both teams possession of the ball. Winning the coin toss now means choosing between taking the ball first to chase a potential possession advantage or playing defense first to know exactly how many points are required to win.

The presence of quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the opposing huddle influenced Steichen's decision to give the Kansas City Chiefs the ball to start Sunday's overtime. As Steichen told reporters after the game, "If we go first with it, Mahomes gets four downs going the other way, so we wanted to play defense there and know we had four downs."