NFL overtime rules have been hotly debated in the 2020s and it's not hard to see why, especially when it comes to the NFL Playoffs. Obviously, when it comes to the postseason, we can't have games that end in a tie. There has to be a winner that advances to the next round. However, with the overtime rules evolving over recent years in the regular season, so have the playoff OT rules, just with a few tweaks that come along with the nature of the postseason.
But what exactly are the playoff overtime rules for the NFL? More importantly, what are the things that football fans will need to adjust mentally to from the regular season procedures? Let's check in on what fans need to know for the postseason.
Overtime rules for the NFL Playoffs and the Super Bowl
Here's a look at the quick-hitting rules that you need to know for overtime in the NFL Playoffs:
- Both teams are guaranteed a possesion
- If game is still tied after both possessions, game becomes sudden death
- Second and subsequent OTs will be played if game remains tied, still sudden death
- Teams will get three timeouts in an overtime half (two overtime periods)
- Three-minute intermission between end of regulation and overtime
- Two-minute intermission between overtime periods
- Two-minute warnings will be in effect for second and fourth overtime periods
- Loser of the initial coin toss will choose possession or end to defend in the second OT
- Should a game play four overtimes and is still tied, there will be another coin toss
When a game reaches overtime for the NFL Playoffs, there will be a coin toss to determine possession. However, both teams now get a possession in overtime, without question, which is one of the major changes that we've seen in the extra frame beyond regulation in recent years. Furthermore, since a playoff game can no longer end in a tie, that also means that double overtime (and triple, and so on) are actually a thing in the postseason.
The big key, though, is that overtime once again becomes a sudden-death affair once both teams have had their possession, as long as the game is still tied at that point. Furthermore, should the game go into double overtime or beyond, there will only be a two-minute intermission before play will resume.
And perhaps the most interesting wrinkle — if a game were to ever last four overtimes (can you even imagine how grueling that would be?!), there would actually be a third coin toss of the game to determine possession moving forward. We've never seen a game reach double overtime, but man, things could get ultra weird if that were to ever happen.
NFL overtime replay rules
One other unique NFL Playoffs overtime rule pertains to instant replay. There will be no coach's challenges in overtime games in the postseason. All instant replays of close plays, spots of the ball and so on will be initiated by the replay officials and reviewed by the officiating crew.
Recent history of overtime games in the NFL Playoffs
NFL Playoffs and Dates | Matchup and Final Score |
|---|---|
Super Bowl LVIII (Feb. 11, 2024) | Chiefs 25, 49ers 22 |
AFC Championship (Jan. 30, 2022) | Bengals 27, Chiefs 24 |
AFC Divisional Round (Jan. 23, 2022) | Chiefs 42, Bills 36 |
NFC Wild Card Round (Jan. 5, 2020) | Vikings 26, Saints 20 |
AFC Wild Card Round (Jan. 4, 2020) | Texans 22, Bills 19 |
Put simply, we haven't seen many overtime games in the playoffs overall, which the recent history shows us quite clearly. While we saw the ever-elusive overtime game in Super Bowl LVIII when the Chiefs prevailed over the 49ers to capture the Lombardi Trophy, there have only been five instances of extra football in the playoffs dating back to the 2019-20 playoffs, which includes no games in the 2021, 2023 or 2025 postseasons where we went into overtime.
Beyond that, it's also just fun to note that the AFC's two most dominant forces in recent memory, the Bills and Chiefs, have been involved in the majority of those overtime affairs. That includes the all-time classic matchup in the 2022 Divisonal Round, with Kansas City ripping the heart out of everyone in Buffalo's chest.