NFL games often come down to the final moments. While blowouts do occur, close finishes are far more common, with teams battling until the final seconds. Occasionally, though, two evenly matched teams end regulation tied on the scoreboard.
When that happens, the game enters a 10-minute overtime period, which follows a different set of rules than the regulation game. Here’s a look at how winners are determined once a game reaches overtime.
How Does Overtime Work?
When the scores are tied, NFL games go into overtime. However, the rules differ depending on the type of game, with regular-season and playoff encounters governed by distinct standards.
Regular Season
As the rulebook currently stands, each team has the opportunity to gain possession of the ball and score. A coin toss decides the order of possessions. Unless a safety occurs on the first offensive possession of the period, both teams get a chance to score.
After both teams have had one possession, the team with the higher score is declared the winner. If neither team scores on its opening drive, the next team to score wins immediately.
Each team receives two timeouts in overtime, and coaches’ challenges are not permitted. The replay official must initiate all reviews.
READ MORE: NFL Overtime Rules 2026: Playoffs vs. Regular Season Rules, Possession, Scoring, and More
If the scores remain tied at the end of the overtime period, then the game is officially declared as a draw in the results column.
Postseason
Postseason overtime rules closely resemble those used in the regular season, but with one important distinction: a winner must be decided.
Instead of ending after a single overtime period, playoff games continue in additional 10-minute periods, separated by two-minute breaks. If the game reaches a third overtime, there is no halftime intermission.
At the start of each new overtime period, the captain who lost the original coin toss gets the choice of possession or field side, unless that decision was deferred in the first half. Each team also receives three timeouts per half.
Standard timing rules for the second and fourth quarters apply to the second and fourth overtime periods. If the game is still tied after four overtimes, a new coin toss is held, and play resumes until a winner is decided.
Here’s a breakdown of the NFL’s overtime rules for playoff games:
- If the score is still tied at the end of an overtime period — or if the second team’s initial possession has not ended — the teams will play another overtime period. The play will continue regardless of how many overtime periods are needed to determine a winner.
- There will be a two-minute intermission between each overtime period. There will not be a halftime intermission after the second period.
- The captain who lost the first overtime coin toss will either choose to possess the ball or select which goal his team will defend, unless the team that won the coin toss deferred that choice.
- Each team will have an opportunity to possess the ball in overtime.
- Each team gets three timeouts during a half.
- The same timing rules that apply at the end of the second and fourth regulation periods also apply at the end of a second or fourth overtime period.
- If there is still no winner at the end of a fourth overtime period, there will be another coin toss, and play will continue until a winner is declared.
Can an NFL Game End in a Tie?
Yes, there are ties in the regular season. However, he only time an NFL game cannot end in a tie is during the postseason, as additional overtime periods will be played until a winner is determined.
