SRSport Rules
American football

NFL overtime depends on the season stage.

NFL overtime is one of the most searched football rules because regular-season and postseason games are handled differently, and the opening possession does not always end the game.

Quick ruling: in current NFL overtime, both teams normally get a possession opportunity unless the first possession ends with a defensive score or safety; regular-season games can still end tied after the overtime period.
Decision path

How overtime is sorted

  1. Check whether the game is regular season or postseason.
  2. Start with the overtime coin toss and first possession.
  3. Track whether each team has had a possession opportunity.
  4. If both teams have possessed, the next score can end the game.
  5. If the game is postseason, continue overtime periods until there is a winner.
Regular season

Ties are still possible

Regular-season overtime has a fixed extra period. If the score remains tied after that period, the game ends as a tie. That is why end-of-overtime clock management can matter almost as much as field position.

Postseason

No playoff ties

Postseason overtime continues until a winner is decided. Teams switch ends between overtime periods like between regulation quarters, and the game cannot end tied.

Exceptions

Defensive scores change everything

  • Defensive touchdown: if the defence scores on the opening possession, the game ends.
  • Safety: a safety can end the game because the scoring team did not receive the opening kickoff possession in the ordinary way.
  • After both possessions: once both teams have had the opportunity, sudden death applies.
Common argument

"The first touchdown always wins"

That used to be an easier shortcut, but it is no longer reliable. The current overtime structure is built around possession opportunity first, then sudden death once both teams have had their chance or an exception ends it.