The clock hits zero, the score is tied, and your whole living room asks the same question: what happens now? NFL overtime has changed in the last few years, and plenty of fans still aren't sure how it works. Here's a simple guide.
The Big Change: Both Teams Get the Ball
For years, a touchdown on the first drive of overtime ended the game. The other team never touched the ball. That's over. The NFL now guarantees both teams at least one possession in overtime, in the regular season and the playoffs.
How Regular Season Overtime Works
- Coin toss: The visiting captain calls it. The winner picks whether to receive or kick.
- One 10-minute period: Regular season overtime lasts 10 minutes, not a full 15-minute quarter.
- Both teams possess: Even if the first team scores a touchdown, the other team gets its own shot.
- Sudden death after that: If the score is still tied after both teams have had the ball, the next score of any kind wins.
- Two timeouts each: Each team gets two timeouts in overtime.
- Ties can happen: If it's still tied when the 10 minutes run out, the game ends in a tie.
There's one exception. If the defense scores a safety on the first possession, the game ends right there.
How Playoff Overtime Is Different
Playoff games can't end in a tie. Overtime periods are a full 15 minutes, both teams still get a possession, and they keep playing extra periods until someone wins. Each team's timeouts reset at halftime of overtime, just like a regular game.
Receive or Kick? The Strategy Debate
Receiving used to be an easy call. Now, some coaches think kicking first is smarter, because the team with the second possession knows exactly what it needs: a field goal, a touchdown, or maybe a two-point try. Watch for this choice at the coin toss. It tells you a lot about a coach.
Quick Answers for Game Day
- Does a first-drive touchdown win? No. The other team gets the ball.
- Does a first-drive field goal win? No. The other team gets the ball.
- Can a regular season game end in a tie? Yes, if it's still tied after 10 minutes.
- Can a playoff game end in a tie? Never.
Know the Game, Love the Game
Overtime is one of the most exciting parts of football, and now you can explain it to the whole room. Want more football basics? Read our guide to what 3rd-and-long means and the NFL rules that make Sunday football click.
Ever wonder why linemen wear the 70s? Read our guide to NFL jersey numbers explained.
Saw a flag fly on a deep pass? Read pass interference explained, the NFL's most argued call.
Gear Up for the Next Big Game
Win or lose in overtime, show up in style. Shop NFL jerseys, game-day apparel, and fan favorites at the Paradise Dreams Athletic Outfitters eBay store, with new items added every day.