Tie Breaker Rules in the NFL Playoffs

With the accuracy of NFL kickers, the team that won the coin toss had prevailed as the winners in 59.8 of contests since 1994. The NFL owners moved to even the playing field, making it more balanced.



The spring of 2010 brought about that change. By a vote of 28-4 by the NFL owners, alterations were made to the sudden death playoff overtime.

  1. Touchdowns

    • The NFL overtime policy used to be called sudden death. Now, scoring a touchdown is the only way it will look like the sudden death way of old.

      After the game has ended in a tie, there will be another coin toss. If the winner of the coin toss scores a touchdown--and only a touchdown--on its first possession, that team will be declared the winner.

    Field Goals

    • If the first team with possession of the ball scores a field goal, the game continues.

      The other team gets a possession to either match or exceed the production of he first team. If the second team scores a touchdown, it is the winner. If it scores a field goal, the game continues.

    After One Possession Each

    • After each team has had one possession, the old rules of sudden death apply, where the first team to score a touchdown, field goal or safety is declared the winner.

      The overtime period is 15 minutes in length, and if necessary, additional 15-minute periods will be added until there is a winner. Unlike in the regular season, a game cannot end in a tie.