NFL playoff OT rules, explained

There have been some changes to the overtime rules in this year’s NFL playoff games. Here is what the league agreed upon.

Last year, the overtime rules in the NFL came under scrutiny following the epic Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs AFC Divisional Round game. The lead went back and forth between both teams late in the game, and the Chiefs were able to tie the game in the closing seconds of regulation to force overtime. Kansas City won the coin toss to receive possession first in overtime, and they scored a touchdown, winning the game. Buffalo never received a chance to try and tie the game up, and was subsequently eliminated.

This was a heavily debated topic ever since the game went final and the Chiefs advanced to the AFC Championship Game. Well, the debate led to some change, as the league and 29-out-of-32 owners agreed to new rules.

Let’s take a look at the new rules, courtesy of NFL Operations.

NFL playoff OT rules, explained

The biggest change in overtime rules is that both teams will have a chance to receive possession in overtime. So even if a team who receives possession first scores a touchdown, their opponents will have a chance to tie it up.

If the game remains tied after the first two possessions, then the game becomes sudden death. That means the next score wins.

NFL Operations states in their rules that if the game is still tied after an overtime period, then they will play however many as needed to determine a winner.

There will be a two-minute break in between overtime periods, and the captain of the team that lost the first coin toss will have the choice of getting possession first, or choose which end zone they defend. But, that is all dependent on the team that won the first coin toss didn’t defer the choice.

Timing rules at the end of the second and fourth quarter will apply to second and fourth overtime periods.

Each team will receive three timeouts per half.

There you have it. There will be no more “game over” after the team that receives the opening possession in overtime scores a touchdown. Now, the opponent has a chance to extend overtime by tying it up.