What Are The Rules For NFL Overtime?

Wondering what the rules are for NFL overtime? We’ve got you covered with this quick and easy guide.

How NFL Overtime Works

NFL overtime rules are simple. In the regular season, if the score is tied after four quarters, the game goes into overtime. Each team gets the ball at the 25-yard line, and they have four downs to score. If they don’t score, the other team gets a chance. This keeps going until someone scores.

The Field Position Rule

he Field Position Rule is in effect for any regular season or postseason game that goes into overtime. The Rule states that if the team that wins the coin toss scores a touchdown on its initial possession, the game is over. However, if the team that wins the coin toss scores a field goal on its initial possession, the other team gets a chance to possess the ball. If that team also scores a field goal, then the teams continue to play “sudden death” overtime until one team scores a touchdown and the other team does not.

The Two-Minute Drill

With the score tied at the end of regulation, each team is given one possession to try and score. The team that scores a touchdown wins the game. If neither team scores, or if both teams score field goals, the game ends in a tie.

This system was put in place before the 2017 season and has been used in all regular season and postseason games since then.

Under the two-minute drill, each team is given one possession to try and score. The team that scores a touchdown wins the game. If neither team scores, or if both teams score field goals, the game ends in a tie.

This system was put in place before the 2017 season and has been used in all regular season and postseason games since then.

How NFL Overtime Is Different Than College Football

In NFL overtime, both teams get the ball at least once unless the team that receives first scores a touchdown. College football overtime works a little differently, with each team getting a possession until one team outscores the other. In both cases, the game ends as soon as one team is ahead after an extra period.

The Sudden Death Rule

In the NFL, if the score is tied at the end of regulation, the game will go into overtime. In overtime, each team gets one possession to score. If neither team scores, or if both teams score a touchdown on their first possession, the game ends in a tie.

In college football, there is no overtime during the regular season. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, the game ends in a tie.

During the playoffs, both NFL and college football use overtime to determine a winner. In both cases, each team gets one possession to score. If neither team scores, or if both teams score a touchdown on their first possession, the game goes into sudden death. In sudden death, the first team to score wins the game, even if it’s just a field goal.

The First Possession Rule

In the NFL, the team that wins the coin toss can choose to either:

-Receive the ball
-Defer to the second half (giving the other team the ball first in OT)

If the team that wins the coin toss chooses to defer, then it can choose to either:

-Receive the ball to start the second half of OT
-Start on defense

The team that loses the coin toss has two choices:

-Receive the ball to start OT
-Start on defense

When NFL Overtime Happens

Once the regular 60 minutes of an NFL game has elapsed, the game enters a brief intermission before heading into what is known as overtime. NFL overtime rules are simple and have been in place for many years. If the score is still tied after both teams have had an opportunity to possess the ball in the extra period, the game ends in a tie.

During the Regular Season

During the regular season, if a game is tied at the end of regulation, each team has the opportunity to possess the ball for one offensive series, provided that series starts with a first down. These “series” can end in a touchdown, a field goal or a turnover. If one team scores a touchdown and the other team only scores a field goal, or doesn’t score at all, the game is over. If both teams score touchdowns, or both teams kick field goals, or one team kicks a field goal and the other team doesn’t score at all, possession will alternate and each team will get another chance to score. This process is repeated until one team has more points than the other at the end of a completed possession.

Possession of the ball to start overtime is determined by a coin toss. The winner of the coin toss can choose to play offense or defense first, or which end of the field they want to defend. The loser gets the remaining option. If you win the coin toss and elect to take possession of the ball first, you have two choices: 1) You can try to score a touchdown; if you don’t make it into the end zone or if you turn over the ball on downs, your opponent will then get their chance to either tie or win the game with their offensive series; OR 2) You can choose to punt (or attempt an onside kick) and play defense. If your opponent doesn’t score or if they turn over the ball on downs during their offensive series then you win!

During the Playoffs

Overtime in the NFL playoffs is sudden death — the first team to score wins. Because of this, there’s a chance that the game could end on the first play from scrimmage. In order to prevent this scenario, both teams must have the opportunity to possess the ball at least once in overtime, unless the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown on its first possession.

If the team that has the ball first scores a field goal, then both teams have had an opportunity to score, and if the second team scores a touchdown on its ensuing possession, it wins. However, if the second team also kicks a field goal, then play continues as sudden death.