The NFL has specific rules that they apply any time a game goes to overtime. These rules have changed over the years, but they are still important to know. Without further ado, here is a simple guide to current NFL overtime rules.
NFL Overtime Rules: The Basics
It makes sense to start with the basics when discussing the rules of NFL overtime games. As with other sports, an NFL game goes to overtime when the two teams are tied at the end of regulation. This doesn’t happen all that often in the NFL. It happens enough that knowing overtime rules is useful, though.
NFL Overtime Rules for Regular Season Games
Another similarity between the NFL and other professional sports leagues is that overtime works differently in the regular season compared to the playoffs. As a result, it is sensible to begin with overtime in regular season games. After regulation is over, the referee tosses a coin in order to determine which of the two teams first possesses the ball in overtime. The captain of the visiting team calls the toss.
How Long is Overtime?
There will be a three-minute intermission between the end of regulation and the start of overtime. After that, the two teams play one 10-minute overtime period. Each team will either possess or have the chance to possess the ball.
There is only one exception to this rule. That exception is if whichever team possesses the ball first manages to score a touchdown on their opening possession. If that happens, the game is over and the team that scored the touchdown wins.
This exact scenario has played out sometimes. However, this is usually not how the game ends. Most of the time, each team gets at least one possession before the end of the overtime period. Sudden death rules are in place in NFL overtime periods.
Sudden Death Rules
The meaning of this is quite simple. Sudden death, in this context, means that the game ends as soon as one team scores in any way. This can mean a touchdown, field goal, or even a safety. Sudden death rules apply until one team wins the game.
How Many Timeouts Does Each Team Get?
Also, it is critical to mention the number of timeouts each team receives in overtime. Both teams have two timeouts according to NFL overtime rules. This helps make the game fair for both teams. However, it also means that each team has to use their timeouts wisely.
Considering that the overtime period lasts ten minutes, two timeouts isn’t that many. There are also different rules about what happens after a touchdown. A team does not attempt the extra point if the game ends on a touchdown. This is a major difference compared to regulation time in regular season games, where teams always either attempt the extra point or go for two points after a touchdown.
What if It’s Tied at the End of Overtime?
It is possible that the score could still be tied when the overtime period ends. If this happens, then the game is officially a tie. No instant reply coach’s challenges happen in overtime. The replay official initiates all reviews.
NFL Overtime Rules for Postseason Games
As previously mentioned, there are different rules for overtime in NFL postseason games than for overtime in NFL regular season games. The reason for this is quite simple. One team has to win in an NFL playoff game, so ties do not exist in the NFL postseason.
If the two teams are tied at the end of overtime, the teams have to play a second overtime period. Teams also play a second overtime if the second team’s initial possession is still ongoing at the end of the first overtime period. This ensures that each team has a chance to score.
In any case, the game continues until one team wins the game. As a result, it is possible for there to be two or more overtime periods in an NFL playoff game. NFL playoff games with multiple overtime periods are not the norm, but they do happen from time to time. Some Super Bowl games have even gone to overtime, although not the most recent Super Bowl at the time of writing.
After the end of each overtime period, there is an intermission that lasts a total of two minutes. Typically, there is a halftime intermission in between the end of the second quarter and the start of the third quarter. However, this only applies to regulation in regular season games. When it comes to overtime in an NFL playoff game, there is no halftime intermission following the second overtime period. The game simply continues with the start of the third overtime period.
It is important to mention that the coin toss rules are a bit different in overtime in an NFL playoff game. The captain that lost the initial coin toss in overtime will either choose which goal his team has to defend or make the choice to possess the ball. This is also intended to make the game as fair as possible. The only instance in which this is not how the coin toss works is if the team who won the coin toss deferred their choice.
NFL overtime rules also state that each of the teams will have a chance to possess the ball at some point during the overtime period. That is one more difference between overtime in the NFL regular season and overtime in the NFL playoffs. Each team receives a total of three timeouts per half.
Also, the NFL applies the same timing rules to the conclusion of a second or fourth overtime period as it does to the conclusion of a second or fourth regulation period. That is important to know. It is extremely rare that a winner has yet to be determined after four overtime periods.
Usually, it takes far less time to determine a winner. However, if neither team has won at the end of the fourth overtime period, another coin toss will take place. The game then resumes until one team wins.
That concludes our simple guide to current NFL overtime rules.