Many fans don’t realize that the NFL‘s overtime rules actually differ depending on whether the game is in the regular season or playoffs.
Famously, even the San Francisco 49ers didn’t know the new overtime rules in Super Bowl 58. Let’s break down the NFL’s overtime rules, how they work, what happens if the game is still tied after one overtime period, and more.
NFL Overtime Rules for Regular Season Games
Overtime begins when the game is tied at the end of regulation. During the 2023 NFL season, approximately 70% of all games were within one score (eight points) in the fourth quarter, so it’s important to understand the overtime rules.
The NFL set a guideline of rules outlining exactly how the overtime period works:
- At the end of regulation, the referee will toss a coin to determine which team will possess the ball first in overtime. The visiting team captain will call the toss.
- No more than one 10-minute period will follow a three-minute intermission. Each team must possess, or have the opportunity to possess, the ball. The exception: if the team that gets the ball first scores a touchdown on the opening possession.
- Sudden death play — where the game ends on any score (safety, field goal, or touchdown) — continues until a winner is determined.
- Each team gets two timeouts.
- The point after try is not attempted if the game ends on a touchdown.
- If the score is still tied at the end of the overtime period, the result of the game will be recorded as a tie.
- There are no instant replay coach’s challenges; all reviews will be initiated by the replay official.
How Does Overtime End in the NFL?
After initially having 15 minutes in overtime, the NFL changed the period’s length in 2017 to just 10 minutes.
If the team that receives the ball first scores a TD on their opening drive, the game automatically ends, and the scoring team wins. The point-after try is not attempted, and the score remains as is and becomes final.
The rule has sparked controversy because the team that begins with the ball is decided by the flip of a coin. Simply, if the team that wins the coin flip scores a touchdown first, the loser never even gets a chance to possess the ball.
Many have suggested that overtime rules are slanted in favor of the team possessing the ball first and believe it isn’t fair. However, some argue that defense is an equal part of the game, and stopping your opponent from scoring gives you a leg up as a field goal wins the game at that point.
However, if the team that receives the ball first drives down the field and kicks a field goal, then the other team receives possession on the ensuing kickoff and has a chance to win with a touchdown or extend overtime with a field goal, tying the game again within the 10-minute quarter.
The overtime rules weren’t always this way, though; the rules were changed in 2012. Before that, all a team needed to do to win the game in overtime was to march down the field and kick a field goal.
Finally, if the score between both teams is still tied at the end of overtime in the regular season, the game will finish as a tie.
The scoring rules are the same, but there are some other differences between regulation time and overtime. First, each team is given only two timeouts. Secondly, there are no coach challenges allowed during an overtime period, with the replay official being the only one who can call for an instant replay review.
NFL Overtime Rules for Postseason
As previously mentioned, the NFL’s postseason overtime rules are different than the regular-season overtime rules. Obviously, there can’t be any ties, so a new overtime period will begin when the first ends. Play will continue until a winner is determined.
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. Play will continue regardless of how many overtime periods are needed for a winner to be determined.
- 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.
How Does Overtime End in the Playoffs?
While the team that receives the ball in regular-season overtime can win the game outright, that’s not the case anymore. Why? The Buffalo Bills-Kansas City Chiefs 2021 playoff thriller ended without the Bills touching the football.
That ending left many fans feeling unfulfilled, and the NFL adopted a change to their playoff overtime policy as a result.
Now, both teams are guaranteed an opportunity to touch the ball before a winner is declared during the overtime period in the playoffs. The winner of the coin toss typically decides to receive the ball first; if they score a touchdown, the other team is allowed a chance to do the same. If they don’t score, then the game is over.
If the winner of the coin toss kicks a field goal, the other team can win by scoring a touchdown on the following possession. Once both teams have touched the ball, the next score wins. This means that even if a team kicks a field goal, they are the winners.
The new rules do, however, open the possibility that a team may opt not to receive the ball first. If they are guaranteed to get the ball, they could choose to wait and see what the other team does — whether they score a touchdown, kick a field goal, or don’t score at all. Then, they would be able to go forward knowing what they need to do to win or stay alive.
Can an NFL Game End in a Tie?
Yes. There are ties in both the preseason and regular season.
Since the overtime period was shortened in 2017, there have only been six regular-season games that have ended in ties.
The only time an NFL game cannot end in a tie is during the postseason.