How Does A Tie Happen In The NFL?
Contents
We all know that the Super Bowl is the biggest event in the NFL, but how does a team actually make it to the big game? It all comes down to the tiebreaker system used by the league. Here’s a look at how it works.
Introduction
A tie, or draw, in American football happens when the score is equal at the end of regulation time. This usually occurs when both teams have scored the same number of touchdowns, field goals or Safety points. If only one team has scored, the result is a shutout.
When the score is equal at full-time, each team gets one additional chance (or “possession”) to score from scrimmage. These extra possessions happen in what is called “overtime.” If both teams score on their overtime possessions, or if neither team scores, the game ends in a tie.
What is a Tie?
A tie is a result of the game ending in a draw. If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, then the game will go into overtime. If the score is still tied after overtime, then the game is declared a tie.
Definition of a Tie
In the National Football League (NFL), a tie occurs when the score between two opponents is identical at the end of regulation time. If the score is tied after four quarters, overtime rules will apply to determine a winner. During the regular season, each game is worth one point in the standings, regardless of whether it ends in a tie. In postseason play, however, tied games are broken using a set of pre-determined tiebreakers.
How a Tie is Determined
In the NFL, a tie happens when the score is the same at the end of regulation time, which is four quarters of 15 minutes each. If the score is tied after four quarters, the game goes into overtime. Overtime in the NFL is one quarter of 15 minutes with each team getting a chance to possess the ball. If the score is still tied after one overtime quarter, then the game ends in a tie.
The History of Ties in the NFL
A tie in the NFL happens when both teams have the same score at the end of regulation time. This can happen in any situation where both teams have the same score, whether it be at the end of the game, or at the end of a quarter.
Early Years
The first ever NFL game was played on October 3, 1920, between the Akron Pros and the Buffalo All-Americans. At this time there was no such thing as overtime, and so the game ended in a tie, with a score of 0-0. This would be the first of many ties in NFL history.
One of the most famous early ties in NFL history took place on November 28, 1921, between the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Cardinals. This game was played at Chicago’s Cubs Park, which was also home to the MLB’s Chicago Cubs. The game went into overtime, and ended with a score of 6-6.
The NFL’s first ever playoff game was also its first ever tie game. On December 18, 1932, the New York Giants and the Chicago Bears played to a score of 0-0 at New York’s Polo Grounds. The game went into overtime, but neither team was able to score. This would be the first of three consecutive NFL playoff games that ended in a tie.
Recent Years
The most recent NFL tie game occurred on November 16, 2016, between the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals. The game ended in a 6-6 final score after both teams missed field goals in overtime. It was only the second tie in Seahawks franchise history, and the first since they joined the NFL in 1976.
The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers also played to a tie earlier that season, on October 6, 2016. That game ended in a 20-20 final score after both teams missed field goals in overtime. It was the first tie for the Cardinals since they joined the NFL in 1920, and just the third in 49ers franchise history (the other one coming back in 1986).
Prior to 2016, the last NFL tie game had occurred way back on November 10, 2002, between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons. That game ended in a 34-34 final score after both teams missed field goals in overtime.
Why Ties Happen
A tie in the NFL can happen when both teams have the same score at the end of regulation time. This can happen if both teams score a touchdown in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, or if one team scores a touchdown and the other team kicks a field goal. If the score is still tied, the game will go into overtime.
Lack of Scoring
There are a number of reasons why NFL games might end in a tie, but the most common one is simply a lack of scoring. If both teams are struggling to put points on the board, the game could very well end in a tie.
Another reason ties might happen is if both teams have strong defenses that are shutting down the opposition’s offense. If neither team can manage to score any points, the game will end in a tie.
Finally, weather conditions can sometimes lead to ties in the NFL. If a game is played in blizzard conditions and neither team can manage to score, the game will likely end in a tie.
Time Expired
In the NFL, a tie game happens when the score is equal at the end of regulation time, which is 60 minutes. If the score is still tied at the end of overtime, the game ends in a tie. In the regular season, each team has 16 games, so there are a total of 256 games. On average, about two games per season end in a tie. NFL overtime rules state that each team must have the opportunity to possess the ball at least once in overtime if it has not already done so in regulation time. However, if both teams have already had possession in regulation time and one team scores a touchdown on its first possession of overtime, the game ends immediately and that team wins.
Conclusion
In the NFL, a tie happens when both teams have the same score at the end of regulation time. This can happen if both teams score the same number of points in four quarters, or if one team scores more points than the other in three quarters but the fourth quarter ends in a tie. If a game is tied at the end of regulation time, each team gets one possession to try and score. If neither team scores, or if both teams score the same number of points on their possessions, the game ends in a tie.
