NFL Overtime Rules: In a standard NFL game, the team with the most points is declared the winner when the clock runs out at the end of the 4th quarter. But what happens if the score is tied?
In such cases, the game proceeds into an overtime period. The overtime rules differ slightly from regulation play and vary depending on whether it’s a regular-season game or a playoff game. Below is a complete breakdown of NFL overtime rules for both scenarios.
NFL Overtime Rules: Regular Season
During the regular season, overtime consists of a single 10-minute period. Here’s how it works:
Coin Toss to Start Overtime
- Overtime begins with a coin toss.
- The team winning the toss chooses to either receive the kickoff or kick to the opposing team.
- Teams cannot defer their choice since there’s only one overtime period, unlike the two halves of regulation.
Possession Rules
- Both teams must possess the ball at least once unless the team receiving the kickoff scores a touchdown on their first possession. In that case, the game ends immediately.
- Previously, any score on the first possession (touchdown or field goal) would end the game, giving the coin toss winner a significant advantage. However, the rules now ensure fairness by granting each team an opportunity to score.
How Overtime Progresses
If the team receives the kickoff:
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- Scores a touchdown: They win immediately.
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- Punts or turns the ball over: The opposing team gains possession, and the game enters sudden death (the first score wins).
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- Scores a field goal: The opposing team has a chance to win with a touchdown or tie the game again with a field goal, turning the game into sudden death.
If both teams fail to score or the score remains tied at the end of 10 minutes, the game ends in a tie.
Additional Regular Season OT Rules
- Each team gets two timeouts during overtime.
- There are no coach-initiated instant replay challenges; the replay official initiates all reviews.
NFL Overtime Rules: Playoffs
Overtime rules in the playoffs differ to ensure a decisive outcome. The key differences are:
No Ties Allowed
- Playoff games cannot end in a tie. If the score remains tied after the first overtime, additional 15-minute overtime periods are played until one team wins.
Equal Possession Opportunity
- Both teams are guaranteed at least one possession, regardless of whether the receiving team scores a touchdown on their opening drive.
- The coin toss winner may choose to receive, kickoff, or defer the choice to the other team.
NFL overtime rules aim to balance fairness while keeping the game exciting. Whether it’s the one-period format of the regular season or the extended play in the playoffs, these rules ensure teams have a fair shot at securing victory.
Additional Playoff Overtime Rules
In playoff overtime, the format closely resembles a regular game, with some key differences:
- Timeouts: Each team is granted three timeouts per “half” during overtime.
- Structure of Overtime: Overtime in the playoffs restarts the game as a new four-quarter contest.
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- The first two overtime periods are treated as the first half and the next two as the second half.
- Two-Minute Warnings: There will be a two-minute warning at the end of the second and fourth overtime periods if the game lasts that long.
- Subsequent Overtime: If the game is still tied after four overtime periods, another coin toss will occur, and play will continue until a winner is determined.
Why Are Regular Season and Playoff Overtime Rules Different?
The primary reason for the difference is that regular season games can end in a tie, while playoff games must have a winner.
- Regular Season: A tied game at the end of overtime results in both teams receiving a tie in their season standings.
- Playoffs: The game continues until a winner is declared, as one team must advance to the next round.
Conclusion
The NFL updated its overtime rules to ensure fairness by allowing both teams a chance to possess the ball during the extra period. While the rules differ slightly between the regular season and playoffs, the playoff structure prioritizes determining a definitive winner, reflecting the high stakes of postseason play.
