NFL Overtime Rules

NFL overtime rules have been among the most hotly contested and controversial in professional sports. Though many argue that games should not be decided by a coin flip, the NFL has employed the same overtime rules throughout the Super Bowl era. The 15 minute, sudden death overtime in the NFL regular season is capable of ending in a tie. This rule has led many to support the implementation of NCAA-style overtime rules in the professional league.

Function

NFL overtime is played if a game is tied at the end of regulation. In the regualr season, one extra 15-minute sesion is played. The game ends as soon as one team scores, by any means. If the score remains tied, the game ends in a tie.

Identification

In the playoffs, overtime cannot end in a tie. If no team has scored in the first overtime session, successive periods are played for 15 minutes until the contest is determined.

Features

A coin flip is used at the beginning of overtime to determine who will receive the ball. The winner of the coin flip may chose to either receive the ball or choose which goal to defend.

Scoring

Although overtime can end in a touchdown, field goal, or safety, many are ended in field goals, and many teams will choose to kick these on second or third down, as an insurance measure.

Fun Fact

Ties in NFL games are extremely rare, happening only 17 times in the 25 years from 1974 to 2009. There was a six year period, 2002 to 2008, without a single game ending in a tie.

History

NFL matches in the playoffs rarely reach a second overtime quarter. The longest game in NFL history ended 7:40 into the second overtime. No game has lasted as long as two overtimes.

Famous Ties

After an integral 2008 game, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and coach Andy Reid drew media criticism for claiming that they were unaware that NFL games could end in a tie.