Categories: What are the NFL overtime rules in the 2025 playoffs?

What are the NFL overtime rules in the 2025 playoffs?

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What are the NFL overtime rules in the 2025 playoffs?

With the NFL playoffs underway, there’s always the possibility that a game could head into overtime. Unlike in the past, where one team could score in the extra period without giving their opponents a chance to respond, the rules have changed. Now, both teams are guaranteed at least one possession in overtime—a welcome update for fans seeking a fairer finish.

This change stems from the unforgettable Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs playoff game a few years ago, which prompted the NFL to adopt new rules for postseason overtime. Here’s a breakdown of the current playoff overtime rules, as outlined by the NFL’s Football Operations site:

What are the NFL overtime rules in the 2025 playoffs?

Unlimited Overtime Periods:-

If the score remains tied at the end of an overtime period—or if the second team’s initial possession hasn’t ended—additional overtime periods will be played until a winner is determined.

Intermissions: –

There will be a two-minute intermission between overtime periods, but no halftime break after the second period.

Coin Toss Rules:-

The team that lost the coin toss to start the first overtime gets the choice to possess the ball or pick which goal to defend at the start of the next overtime, unless the initial coin toss winner deferred their choice.

Guaranteed Possessions:-

Each team is guaranteed at least one opportunity to possess the ball in overtime, regardless of how the first possession ends.

Timeouts:-

Each team has three timeouts per half during overtime play.

Timing Rules:-

The same timing rules that apply at the end of the second and fourth quarters in regulation also apply at the end of the second and fourth overtime periods.

Further Tie-Breaking:-

If the game is still tied after the fourth overtime, another coin toss will occur, and play will continue until a winner emerges.

The key takeaway: Regardless of how the first team scores in overtime, the other team will always have a chance to respond, ensuring a more balanced and exciting conclusion.

The NFL playoff field begins with 14 teams and just 13 games to determine this year’s champion at Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans. Not all of them will be decided in regulation.

Last year’s Super Bowl came down to overtime with the Kansas City Chiefs winning 25-22 over the San Francisco 49ers. It was the first overtime postseason game since the 2022 AFC championship game.

There have been five overtime playoff games in the last five seasons. That track record means one postseason game could take more than 60 minutes to decide.

ALSO READ –Which teams have been eliminated from the 2024-25 NFL playoffs?

Here’s what to know about the overtime rules in the NFL playoffs:

NFL playoff overtime rules-

If the score is tied after regulation, there’s another coin toss. Here’s what the rules are:

The overtime period is 15 minutes long.
- It is 10 minutes in the regular season.
Each team gets three timeouts per half (two overtime periods).
Each team will have a possession but the game does not automatically end if the first team scores a touchdown.
- If the score is still tied after each team gets one possession, the next score wins.
- An exception is made if the team that has the ball first commits a safety. The kickoff team wins in this scenario, the same as in the regular season.
Extra points are not attempted if the game ends in a touchdown.
All replays are initiated by the replay official and not by coach’s challenge.