NFL overtime now guarantees each team an opportunity to possess the ball even if the first team scores a touchdown, subject to the timing and safety exceptions in the rulebook. Regular-season overtime remains shorter than postseason overtime.
At a glance
- Regular-season overtime is a 10-minute period.
- Both teams generally get a possession, regardless of the first possession’s result.
- Postseason games continue until a winner is determined.
How overtime starts
After a short intermission, the teams conduct a coin toss. The winner chooses among the options permitted by the rulebook, such as receiving or selecting a goal to defend. The clock and timeout rules differ from an ordinary quarter, so late-game strategy can change quickly.
What the possession guarantee means
Under the NFL’s featured overtime rule, both teams generally have an opportunity to possess the ball even if the first possession ends in a touchdown. If the score is tied after both teams possess the ball, the next score wins.
There are important exceptions. A defensive score can end the game, and the official rulebook controls unusual situations involving safeties, enforcement and the expiration of the regular-season overtime period.
Regular season versus postseason
Regular-season overtime lasts 10 minutes. If the score remains tied when that period ends, the game ends in a tie. The postseason cannot end in a tie. Additional periods are played as needed until the rules produce a winner.
Why the details matter
Coaches must balance possession, clock and field position. A team receiving second may know the result it needs to match or beat, while the team receiving first can influence the choices that follow. For edge cases, the NFL rulebook—not a broadcast graphic or social post—is the authoritative reference.
Sources
AskNovus links readers to the original official sources so you can review the underlying information directly.
This is an original AskNovus explanation based on the linked sources. It does not reproduce a publisher’s article. Featured image: Thomas Park via Unsplash. Information may change after publication; check the official sources for the latest details.
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