How Many NFL Playoff Games Have Gone to Overtime?

According to NFL.com, there have been a total of 38 NFL playoff games that have gone into overtime since the start of the playoffs in 1933. That’s an average of one overtime game every three years.

2017-2018 NFL Playoffs

The 2017-2018 NFL playoffs were record-setting in a few ways.
First and foremost, for the first time in NFL history, all four divisional games were won by the road team.
The playoff field was also expanded from 12 to 14 teams this season, and as a result, there were three wild-card games on Saturday for the first time ever.
Lastly, the playoffs featured a record number of overtime games.
Including the two wild-card games on Saturday, a total of five playoff games went to overtime this season.
That ties the mark for the most overtime games in a single postseason, which was set back in 2012.

2016-2017 NFL Playoffs

In the 2016-2017 NFL playoffs, there have been four overtime games. The first was between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs on January 15, 2017. The second was between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys on January 15, 2017. The third was between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons on February 5, 2017. The fourth and most recent was between the Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints on January 14, 2018.

2015-2016 NFL Playoffs

In the 2015-2016 NFL Playoffs, there have been a total of three games that have gone into overtime.
-The first game was between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos on January 17, 2016. The final score was 23-16, with the Steelers winning.
-The second game was between the Green Bay Packers and the Arizona Cardinals on January 16, 2016. The final score was 20-13, with the Packers winning.
-The third and final game was between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots on January 16, 2016. The final score was 27-20, with the Chiefs winning.

Why Do Some NFL Playoff Games Go to Overtime?

The NFL playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held after the end of the regular season to determine the NFL champion. Since the 1974 season, only four teams have qualified for the tournament. Those four teams compete in two semifinal games, with the winners advancing to the Super Bowl.

Equal Possession

In the NFL playoffs, if the score is tied at the end of regulation, the game goes into overtime. The overtime period is 10 minutes long, and each team gets one possession (unless the team that gets the ball first scores a touchdown, in which case the game ends). If neither team scores in overtime, the game ends in a tie.

The overtime rules are different in the regular season. In the regular season, if the score is tied at the end of regulation, each team gets one possession from its own 25-yard line. If neither team scores in overtime, the game ends in a tie.

Sudden Death

In the NFL postseason, if the score is tied at the end of regulation, the game enters a sudden death overtime period. The first team to score wins the game. In recent years, there has been an ongoing debate about whether or not this system is fair.

There are some who argue that sudden death is unfair because it gives an advantage to the team that wins the coin toss. They argue that this team has a better chance of scoring first and winning the game.

Others argue that sudden death is fair because it adds excitement and suspense to the game. They argue that it would be boring if every game was decided by a coin toss.

What do you think? Is sudden death overtime fair or unfair?

What Happens if the Game is Tied After Overtime?

If an NFL game is tied after 60 minutes of play, the teams will enter a sudden death overtime period. During this period, the first team to score wins the game. If both teams remain scoreless after the first overtime period, they will enter a second overtime period.

Coin Toss

If the score is still tied after overtime, the game ends in a tie. There is no further play and no winner is declared. Each team is awarded one point in the standings for the tie.

In the regular season, this is not a big deal, as both teams are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs regardless of whether they win or lose in overtime. However, in the playoffs, a loss means that you are out of contention and your season is over. This makes overtime games in the playoffs even more exciting, as every play could be the difference between moving on or going home.

To prevent the game from ending in a tie, the NFL has a special rule for playoff games. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, each team gets one possession to score. The team that scores first wins the game. If neither team scores, or if both teams score a touchdown on their first possession, then it goes to sudden death and whoever scores next wins it.

This system seems fair, but it actually puts a lot of pressure on the team that wins the coin toss because they have a big advantage. The team that starts with the ball can basically control the entire overtime period. If they score a touchdown on their first drive, then their opponent will have to match it or lose. This has led to some controversial endings to NFL games, with many people feeling that the team that wins the coin toss has an unfair advantages.

What are the NFL Overtime Rules?

Since the NFL instituted its current playoff overtime rules in 2012, there have been 22 postseason games that have gone to overtime. Of those 22 games, only four have gone to sudden death, where the first team to score wins. In the other 18 games, both teams have had a possession. Let’s take a look at the NFL overtime rules and see how they’ve played out in recent years.

Each Team Gets One Possession

In the NFL playoff overtime rules, each team is guaranteed one possession. The team that scores first wins the game. If the score is tied at the end of the first possession, the second team gets a chance to score. The game keeps going until one team scores and the other doesn’t. In regular season games, if neither team scores in overtime, the game ends in a tie.

Sudden Death

In regular season play, if the score is tied at the end of regulation time, the game enters into a sudden death overtime period. The first team to score during sudden death overtime wins the game. In NFL history, there have been 815 games that have gone into overtime, and 244 of those games were decided in sudden death overtime.

How Many NFL Playoff Games Have Gone to Overtime?

How the NFL Playoff System Works

Divisional Playoffs

Conference Championships

Super Bowl