Cris Collinsworth Seemed to Forget NFL's Overtime Rules During Rams-Lions Game

The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams battled it out on Sunday Night Football in what was the first overtime game of the 2024 NFL season.
Cris Collinsworth and Mike Tirico were in the booth for NBC, but Collinsworth appeared to have a lapse in his memory during the overtime period. As the Lions marched down field, leaning heavily upon their running back tandem of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, Collinsworth began to suggest that Detroit would look to kick a field goal in order to seal the win.
Collinsworth appeared to be operating under the impression that the NFL had sudden death overtime rules and spoke as if the Lions would look to win the game with a field goal. In reality, the game would only be over if Detroit scored a touchdown. If they kicked a field goal, the Rams would have an opportunity to possess the football and answer back.
"You start thinking about it, right? You start thinking about how much do you need before you're gonna go line up and kick it? You start thinking about which side do you want your kicker to be able to kick it from?" said Collinsworth as the Lions marched down field.
"Try to score, don't let the Rams have a chance to even touch the ball," responded Tirico, seemingly trying to remind Collinsworth of the rules.
"You start thinking about it, right? You start thinking about how much do you need before you're gonna go line up and kick it? You start thinking about which side do you want your kicker to be able to kick it from?"
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 9, 2024
Cris Collinsworth seemed to think it was sudden death OT. pic.twitter.com/2b78jnA3QQ
The minor gaffe didn't go unnoticed by NFL fans, who were quick to question if Collinsworth was aware of the league's overtime rules.
Cris Collinsworth not knowing the NFL overtime rules is special
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 9, 2024
Did Cris Collinsworth just forget the overtime rules?
— scott pianowski (@scott_pianowski) September 9, 2024
Cris Collinsworth 100% just forgot that you don’t win the game on a field goal in overtime anymore 😂🤣😂🤣
— Eric Lindquist (@EricLindquist) September 9, 2024
Cris Collinsworth very vividly forgot the overtime rules.
— Dustin Baker (@DustBaker) September 9, 2024
Cris Collinsworth forgot the overtime rule.
— Jeremy Branham (@JeremyBranham) September 9, 2024
Hey Cris Collinsworth if you kick a field goal in overtime the other team gets the ball. It’s been that way for like 5 years
— Paul Erlick (@perlick29) September 9, 2024