NFL Sudden Death Overtime Rules

NFL sudden death overtime rules are only slightly different than the rules for regulation play. The game rules remain the same, but there are specific rules to decide possession and determine the winner. With the exception of NFL playoff games, it is possible for sudden death to end in a tie.

  1. Possession

    • Ball possession in sudden death overtime is determined by a midfield coin toss similar to the coin toss at the beginning of the game. The visiting team's captain calls "Heads" or "Tails" before the referee flips the coin. If call is correct, the visiting team decides whether they want to receive the ball or kick it away to the opposing team. Due to the first-to-score-wins rule, the winner of the coin toss almost always chooses to receive the ball.

    Time

    • NFL sudden death overtime lasts one quarter, which lasts 15 minutes of game clock. If the sudden death quarter ends without either team scoring, the game ends in a tie.

    Time Outs

    • During regulation play, each time has three time outs per half. In sudden death overtime, each team has two time outs. Unused time outs from regulation play do not carry over into sudden death overtime.

    Scoring

    • The first team to score in sudden death overtime, whether it be by field goal, touchdown or safety, wins the game. It is not uncommon for a team to win a game in sudden death overtime without the opposing team's offense ever touching the ball. If a touchdown is scored, the Point After Touchdown (PAT) or extra point is not attempted; the game simply ends.

    Playoff Exceptions

    • The NFL modified its sudden death overtime rules for postseason play (the playoffs) in March 2010. If the initial team to receive the ball scores a touchdown, they win the game. If the initial team scores a field goal, the opposing team has a possession opportunity. If the opposing team scores a touchdown instead, they win the game; if they do not score at all, the initial team wins. If they score a field goal to match the points produced by the initial team, possession reverts back to the initial team and the process starts over.

      Sudden death overtime in the postseason cannot end in a tie. If neither team scores, the game continues on until one does.