After the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs this past weekend, the league’s overtime rules received renewed scrutiny. In an epic game that was instantly regarded as one of the best ever, the Chiefs won the overtime coin toss and prevailed with an opening-drive touchdown. The Bills never got possession of the ball.
The Washington Post’s Mark Maske subsequently reported that the NFL and its competition committee expect to consider changes to the overtime format this offseason, particularly as it relates to postseason games, but it is far from certain that any modifications will be enacted.
For now, heading into the conference championship games, here’s a refresher on what happens when teams are tied at the end of regulation.
PLAYOFF OVERTIME RULES
Postseason games cannot end in a tie, and so the rules are slightly different in the playoffs than they are during the regular season.
- At the end of regulation, a coin toss will determine which team gets the ball first in overtime. The visiting team captain will call the toss.
- Each team must possess, or have the opportunity to possess, the ball. There is one exception: If the team that gets the ball first scores a touchdown on the opening possession, as the Chiefs did against the Bills, the game is over.
- Sudden death play — where the game ends on any score (safety, field goal or touchdown) — continues until a winner is determined.
- The extra point is not attempted if the game ends on a touchdown.
- There are no instant replay coach’s challenges; all reviews will be initiated by the replay official.
- If the score is still tied at the end of a 15-minute overtime period — or if the second team’s initial possession has not ended — the teams will play another period. The teams will continue to play no matter how many overtime periods are required to determine a winner.
- A two-minute intermission will be taken between each overtime period. There is no “halftime,” however.
- The captain who lost the first overtime coin toss will either choose to possess the ball or select which goal his team will defend in the second overtime, unless the team that won the coin toss deferred that choice.
- The same timing rules that apply at the end of the second and fourth regulation periods also apply at the end of a second or fourth overtime period.
- If there is still no winner at the end of a fourth overtime period, there will be another coin toss, and play will continue until a winner is declared.
REGULAR SEASON OVERTIME RULES
- At the end of regulation, a coin toss will determine which team gets the ball first in overtime. The visiting team captain will call the toss.
- No more than one 10-minute period will follow a three-minute intermission. Each team must possess, or have the opportunity to possess, the ball. There is one exception: If the team that gets the ball first scores a touchdown on the opening possession, the game is over.
- Sudden death play — where the game ends on any score (safety, field goal or touchdown) — continues until a winner is determined.
- Each team gets two timeouts.
- The extra point is not attempted if the game ends on a touchdown.
- If the score is tied at the end of overtime, the game ends in a tie.
- There are no instant replay coach’s challenges; all reviews will be initiated by the replay official.