<P> An onside kick is usually a desperation technique used when the kicking team trails in the score with little time left in the game, in order to regain the ball and score again . The trade - off is that, in the usual case that the receiving team does get possession of the ball, it will have better field position and will need to advance the ball fewer yards in order to score . However, in the desperation situation, initial field position becomes less relevant, as the receiving team may focus on running the clock out and ending the game . If the kicking team succeeds in retaining possession, then the clock does not automatically stop as it would if the ball were transferred between teams (though it may stop for other reasons). </P> <P> Occasionally, football coaches attempt surprise onside kicks to catch their opponent's players off guard and without the "hands team" on the field . Notable examples from championship games include Super Bowl XXX, where Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher called an onside kick early in the fourth quarter when trailing 20 - 10, which was successfully recovered, and Super Bowl XLIV, where the New Orleans Saints executed an onside kickoff to start the second half and successfully converted the possession into a touchdown . In the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship, with the score tied at 24 - 24 in the middle of the fourth quarter, the Alabama Crimson Tide successfully executed an onside kick against the Clemson Tigers, which led to a touchdown that gave Alabama the lead and eventual victory . </P> <P> An onside kick is considered successful if the kicking team regains the ball . Between 2001 and 2010, surprise onside kicks were successful 60% of the time, while expected onside kicks were successful less than 20% of the time . Another study of just the 2005 and 2006 seasons also found similar disparities depending on whether the defense expects an onside kick . Accordingly, some analysts have suggested that the surprise onside kick is underutilized . In 2014, the Indianapolis Colts routinely used the onside kick, with three in the first 6 games of the season, often at the start of the game . Each of these was successful . </P> <P> Teams that run a one - platoon system sometimes use the onside kick regularly, as it conserves players' energy by not requiring them to run down the length of the field to cover a kick . </P>

Odds of recovering an onside kick in the nfl
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