NFL Overtime Rules: Playoffs Vs Regular Season

After two games in the NFL Playoffs required overtime to decide a winner on Saturday and Sunday, we thought it would be best to outline all the overtime rules for the postseason and what differs from the regular season. Since adding an extra period for tied games in 1974, 574 games have been decided in overtime.

Overtime Rules for NFL regular season, according to NFL.com:

• 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.
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Because a playoff game cannot end in a tie, there are some differences listed below.

Overtime Rules for NFL playoffs, according to NFL.com:

• 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 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.