What Are NFL Playoff Overtime Rules?

If a game is tied at the end of regulation, then overtime rules will apply. Both teams will get a chance to possess the ball, and the first team to score wins the game.

Introduction

In the NFL, the rules for overtime are simple: each team gets one possession. If the score is tied after each team has had one possession, then the game ends in a tie.

There are no special rules for overtime in the playoffs. The same rules apply as during the regular season.

What Happens When the Score is Tied at the End of Regulation?

In the NFL, if the score is tied at the end of regulation, the game will go into overtime. The overtime period is 10 minutes long, and each team gets one possession to score. If the score is still tied after each team has had one possession, the game will end in a tie.

Both Teams Get the Ball

In the NFL, if the score is tied at the end of regulation, the game goes into overtime. Each team gets one possession to score points. The team that scores the most points in overtime wins the game.

If both teams score field goals on their first possession, the game goes into sudden death. This means that the first team to score a touchdown or field goal wins the game. If both teams are still tied after sudden death, the game ends in a tie.

First Possession Starts on the 25-Yard Line

In the NFL, if the score is tied at the end of regulation, the game will go into overtime. The first team to score during overtime will win the game. However, if neither team scores during overtime, the game will end in a tie.

The overtime rules are as follows:
-The team that wins the coin toss can choose to either start on offense or defense.
-If the team on offense scores a touchdown, they win the game. If they score a field goal, they get 3 points and possession of the ball goes to the other team.
-If the team on defense scores a touchdown, they win the game. If they score a field goal, they get 3 points and possession of the ball goes to the other team.

Sudden Death

If the score is still tied at the end of the extra period, the game ends in a tie. In the regular season, this is unusual but not unheard of — it happened twice in 2016, once in 2015, and three times in 2014. In the playoffs, however, it has never happened. That’s because the NFL has what’s known as sudden death overtime in the postseason.

In sudden death overtime, the first team to score wins, regardless of how long it takes or what happens after that. So if one team scores a touchdown on its first drive of overtime, and then neither team scores again, that team wins. Likewise, if one team kicks a field goal on its first drive of overtime, and then neither team scores again, that team wins. In either case, the game would end immediately after that secondteam failed to score.

How Long is an NFL Playoff Overtime?

NFL playoff overtime rules are simple. Each team gets the ball once. If the score is still tied after both teams have had the ball, then the game goes into sudden death. That means the first team to score wins, no matter how many points they score by.

There is No Time Limit

While the NFL regular season features four quarter games with 15 minutes each, NFL playoff overtime games have no set time limit. This means that the game will continue until one team scores and the other team does not match or exceed that score, thus ending the game. Given that there is no time limit, an NFL playoff overtime game could theoretically go on forever. However, there have been only four NFL playoff overtime games in which neither team scored (all of which occurred prior to 1974 when sudden death rules were enacted), and none since legislation was put into place in 2010 guaranteeing each team a possession.

What Happens if the Score is Still Tied After the First Possession?

If the score is tied at the end of regulation in an NFL playoff game, the game enters into a sudden death overtime period. The first team to score wins the game. If the score is still tied after the first possession, the game continues with each team getting a chance to score on their own offensive drives.

Each Team Gets a Possession

If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, the game will go into overtime. During the playoffs, overtime periods are 15 minutes long, compared to the regular season when they are 10 minutes long. The team that wins the coin toss can choose to either start on offense or defense.

If the team that starts on offense scores a touchdown, they win the game. If they score a field goal, the other team gets a chance to respond. If they don’t score at all, or if they score a safety, then the other team will have a chance to win with their possession.

If neither team scores during their first possession, or if both teams score field goals, then each team gets another chance on offense. This process continues until one team scores more points than the other during an overtime period, and thus wins the game.

What if the Score is Still Tied After Both Teams Have Had a Possession?

If the score is still tied after both teams have had a possession, the game enters sudden death. In sudden death, the first team to score wins, regardless of how much time is left on the clock. If the score is still tied at the end of regulation, the teams will play overtime periods until one team scores.

Sudden Death

If the score is still tied after both teams have had a possession, the overtime period will continue in sudden death fashion. In sudden death, the first team to score any points automatically wins the game. This can be done by scoring a touchdown, field goal, or safety. Unlike in the regular season, there are no coin tosses to decide who gets the ball first in overtime. Instead, the team that won the coin toss at the start of the game chooses whether to kick or receive first. The other team gets whichever option the first team does not choose.

What is the Two-Point Conversion Rule in NFL Playoff Overtime?

In the NFL playoffs, if a game is tied at the end of regulation, the teams will play an overtime period. The overtime period is 10 minutes long, and each team gets one possession to try and score. If both teams are still tied after one overtime period, they will keep playing until one team scores and the other doesn’t.

In regular season games, if the score is still tied after one overtime period, the game ends in a tie. But in the playoffs, there is a different rule called the “two-point conversion rule.” This rule says that if one team scores a touchdown in overtime, they can choose to go for a two-point conversion instead of kicking an extra point. If they make the two-point conversion, they win the game. If they don’t make it, or if they choose to kick an extra point, then the other team gets a chance to score and either tie the game or win it with a two-point conversion of their own.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that the NFL playoff overtime rules favor the team that wins the coin toss. That team gets the ball first, and if they score a touchdown, the game is over. The other team then gets a chance to score, but if they don’t, they lose. If both teams score touchdowns on their first possessions, or if neither team scores, then there are more overtime periods until someone finally wins.