Do I Really Understand This?

The picture you see is of former Denver Broncos kicker Rich Karlis. He is jumping because he hit a field goal to beat the Cleveland Browns in overtime to send the Broncos to Super Bowl XXI in one of the most legendary games ever played in NFL History (See "The Drive").

Now that the overtime rule in the NFL has been changed for the postseason, my question is, would this even HAPPEN under the current system? The rule states (in case you're not familiar yet) that if the team that wins the coin toss kicks a field goal on the first possession, the team that lost the coin toss gets the ball for a subsequent possession. If that other team kicks a field goal on the subsequent possession to tie the game, it will then go to the traditional sudden death rules.

So lets take the example above of the 1987 AFC Championship Game. After Elway's miraculous drive, the Cleveland Browns won the toss in overtime. The Browns took the ball first, but eventually punted to the Broncos. The Broncos drove 60 yards, and Karlis kicked the field goal to win it (even though my friend Brad still thinks he missed it...take a look at the replay and you'll see what I mean). Game over.

From what I can tell (bear with me because debating these scenarios might make your penis hurt), under the current rule change it's not clear if the Browns get the ball back with a chance to tie it? The rule only addresses what happens if the team that wins the coin toss kicks a field goal on their FIRST possession. It doesn't specify why there is a difference between kicking a field goal on the first possession of overtime, versus the first field goal kicked by EITHER team in overtime. Why should one field goal count as "sudden death" and another field goal doesn't count?

Help me out with this one if you can and/or feel like it. I'm sure I'm missing something here, but nevertheless I feel it's worth exploring. Again, if you're going to have sudden death in overtime, leave the system the way it was. If you want both teams getting a possession, then adopt the NCAA Overtime Rules. Don't half-ass it by splitting the difference NFL.