A tied NFL game after four quarters goes to overtime. The rules changed in recent years, so many fans aren’t sure how it works now. Here’s the simple version.
The quick answer
| Regular season | Playoffs | |
|---|---|---|
| Length of overtime | One 10-minute period | 15-minute periods, as many as needed |
| Does each team get the ball? | Yes | Yes |
| Can the game end in a tie? | Yes | No |
| Timeouts | 2 per team | 3 per team per half |
| Coach’s challenges | No — the replay official starts all reviews | No — the replay official starts all reviews |
Regular-season overtime, step by step
- Coin toss. The visiting team’s captain calls heads or tails. The winner usually chooses to receive the kickoff.
- Both teams get a possession. Since a rule change approved by owners in 2025, both teams are guaranteed the ball, even if the first team scores a touchdown.
- After both teams have had the ball: If the score is still tied, the next team to score wins. This is "sudden death".
- Special case — a safety: If the defense scores a safety on the first possession, the defense’s team wins right away.
- If time runs out: The game ends in a tie. Ties are rare, but they happen.
Why did the NFL change the rule?
Under the old rule, a team could win in overtime by scoring a touchdown on the first drive, and the other team never touched the ball. Fans and players felt that was unfair. The most famous example came in the 2022 playoffs, when the Chiefs beat the Bills 42-36 in overtime without Buffalo getting the ball. The league changed playoff overtime first, in 2022, and then made the regular-season rule match it in 2025.
Playoff overtime
Playoff games cannot end in a tie, so overtime continues until there is a winner.
- Each overtime period is 15 minutes.
- Both teams get a possession, just like in the regular season.
- After that, the next score wins.
- There is a two-minute break between overtime periods, with no halftime-style break.
- If there is still no winner after the fourth overtime period, there is another coin toss.
Common questions
How long is NFL overtime? 10 minutes in the regular season and 15-minute periods in the playoffs.
Can an NFL game end in a tie? Yes, in the regular season, if no one wins in overtime. Never in the playoffs.
Does a tie count as a win or a loss? Neither. In the standings, a tie counts as half a win and half a loss. That’s why you’ll see records like 4-2-1.
Does a field goal on the first drive win the game? No. The other team gets a chance to answer. If it scores a touchdown, it wins. If it kicks a field goal too, the game continues.
Want to understand the rest of the postseason? Read our guide to the NFL playoff format.
