How Many NFL Games Have Ended in a Tie?

If you’re a football fan, you’ve probably wondered how many NFL games have ended in a tie. Well, we’ve got the answer for you. According to our research, there have been a total of 17 ties in NFL history.

Introduction

Since the NFL introduced overtime in 1974, there have been hundreds of games that have gone into extra time. In fact, there have been so many that it’s difficult to know exactly how many have ended in a tie.

However, we can estimate that around 10% of all NFL games played since 1974 have ended in a tie. This means that out of the approximately 3,000 NFL games that have been played in total, around 300 have ended in a tie.

While this may seem like a lot, it’s actually not that common when you consider how many NFL games are played each year. In the 2018-19 season alone, there were 256 NFL games played (not including playoffs). This means that out of all the NFL games played since 1974, only around 1% have ended in a tie.

Interestingly, the rate at which NFL games end in a tie has actually been declining in recent years. In the first Overtime period (1974-1989), around 14% of games ended in a tie. In the second Overtime period (1990-2003), this decreased to 11%. And in the third and most recent Overtime period (2004-present), only 8% of games have ended in a tie.

So why has the rate at which NFL games end in a tie been declining? There are a few possible explanations:

1) The quality of play has improved overall, meaning that teams are more likely to score points and avoid giving up big leads. This was especially apparent during the second Overtime period (1990-2003), when scoring reached record levels thanks to rule changes that favored offense.
2) Ties are less desirable for both teams and fans alike, so teams are more likely to try and win the game outright in overtime instead of settling for a tie. This was especially apparent during the third Overtime period (2004-present), when new rules were introduced that made it easier for teams to score points in overtime.
3) With so many games being televised nowadays, there’s more pressure on teams to perform well and avoid embarrassing themselves by tying. This could incentive teams to try and win the game outright instead of settling for a tie.

History of NFL Ties

In the NFL, a game can end in a tie if 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 all four quarters, or if one team scores more points than the other in three quarters but the fourth quarter ends with both teams tied. If a game is tied at the end of regulation time, it will go into overtime. In overtime, each team gets one chance to score, and whoever scores more points wins the game. If neither team scores in overtime, or if both teams score the same number of points, then the game ends in a tie.

The first NFL game to end in a tie was between the Chicago Bears and the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 28th, 1932. Since then, there have been 97 NFL games that have ended in a tie. The most recent tie was between the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals on October 23rd, 2016.

Why Do Ties Happen?

NFL teams play until there is a winner. If the game is tied after four quarters, it goes into overtime. In overtime, each team gets one possession to score. If the score is still tied after both teams have had a chance to score in overtime, the game ends in a tie.

Ties happen about once every two years in the NFL. The last regular season tie was between the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals in 2016. That game ended in a 6-6 tie.

The rule for ties has been changed several times over the years. In 1974, the NFL introduced sudden death overtime. Before that, games could end in a tie if neither team scored in overtime. In 2017, the NFL changed the rules again. Now, if both teams are tied at the end of regulation, each team must have a chance to possess the ball at least once in overtime. If neither team scores, or if both teams score field goals on their first possessions, then the game ends in a tie

How Often Do Ties Happen?

With the NFL overtime rules in recent years, ties have become less common, but they still happen from time to time.

In the 2018 NFL season, there were three ties. Two of those came in Week 1 of the season, when the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings played to a 29-29 tie, and when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns also finished with a 21-21 score.

The most recent tie happened in Week 10, when the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals played to a 28-28 draw. That was the first tie in Arizona since 1986, and just the second in San Francisco since 1971.

In total, there have been 23 ties in NFL history where both teams scored 20 or more points. The most recent game with a score below 20 that ended in a tie was in 1997, when the Washington Redskins and New York Giants played to a 0-0 draw.

So while they’re not as common as they used to be, ties can and do still happen in the NFL.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there have been a total of seventeen NFL games that have ended in a tie. Of those seventeen games, seven of them were played in the regular season, while the other ten were played in the preseason. Three of the regular season games were played in overtime, while the other four were played during the regulation time. There has not been a single NFL game that has ended in a tie in the playoffs.