OT – Overtime rules in the NFL

By Matt Stuart | Published November 2, 2022 | No Comments

When an NFL game ends tied at the end of regulation (end of the 4th quarter), the game goes into overtime. The NFL has set the following rules for the additional overtime period.

Coin Toss

Possession in overtime is determined by a coin toss. Just as at the start of the game, the designated road(away) team gets to call the toss. Whichever team wins the coin toss will have the option of receiving the ball or defer possession to the opposing team.

Official Timing

The overtime period will consist of TEN minutes (10:00). Each team gets two timeouts. Coaches are not permitted to challenge any plays, as all replay reviews are handled via a booth review. Fourth quarter timing rules apply in overtime, meaning that the clock will stop at the two-minute warning.

Scoring rules

Both teams will get an opportunity to posses the ball at least once, except under the following conditions:

• The team that possesses the ball first scores a touchdown
• The team on defense scores a touchdown on a turnover or safety.

If the team that possesses the ball first scores a touchdown the game is over.

If the team that possesses the ball first scores a field goal, punts, fails to score due to a turnover, including a turnover on downs, a second possession shall occur.

Second possession

The team on offense in the second possession wins the game if any of the following occur,

• They score a touchdown
• They score a field goal, in the event the team that possessed the ball first did not score, punted, or turned the ball over, including a turnover on downs.

Sudden Death rules

Sudden death overtime rules will apply in the following situations,

• If the team that possesses the ball first fails to score any points, and a change of possession occurs, then the next team that scores any points will win the game.
• If each team has had at least one possession and neither team has scored or both teams score only a field goal, then additional possessions shall be granted and the next score of any type wins the game.

Ties

If neither team has won, according to above scoring rules, and the ten minute overtime period has expired, the game shall end in a tie.

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