NFL Overtime: New Rules Ensure Every Play Matters

The National Football League has significantly revised its overtime procedures over the years to enhance game fairness and excitement. Initially, tie games were settled with a 15-minute sudden-death period. This evolved into a modified sudden-death system in 2010, where a touchdown on the first possession ended the game, but a field goal allowed the other team a chance.

More substantial changes have occurred recently. Following a thrilling 2022 playoff game, owners approved a rule ensuring both teams possess the ball in postseason overtime. Starting in 2025, regular season overtime will adopt this same principle, guaranteeing each team a possession within a 10-minute period, regardless of whether the first team scores a touchdown.

Regular season games concluding regulation tied will play a single 10-minute overtime period. If the score remains tied after both teams have possessed the ball, the next score wins. Ties are possible in the regular season. Playoff games, however, cannot end in a tie, with overtime periods continuing until a winner is determined, with each team receiving at least one possession.

Postseason overtime involves multiple periods if necessary, with a two-minute intermission between each. Teams get three timeouts per half in playoffs, and if no winner emerges after four overtime periods, another coin toss determines possession for continued play until a victor is decided. Instant replay challenges are not permitted in overtime; all reviews are initiated by the replay official.