how does ot in nfl work

Overtime in the NFL is basically a short extra period with special rules to decide a winner after regulation ends in a tie. The exact mechanics are slightly different for regular season vs. playoffs, but the core ideas are coin toss, at least one possession each, and then sudden death.

Basic idea

• If the game is tied after four quarters, it goes to overtime.
• There’s a coin toss to see who gets the ball first; visiting team calls it.

• Teams then play an extra period with modified timing and possession rules until someone wins (or it ends in a tie in the regular season).

Regular season overtime

• Length: One overtime period of up to 10 minutes after a short break.

• Possessions:
  • Each team must get a chance to have the ball; the only exception is if the defense scores a safety on the first drive.

* After both teams have had the ball, it becomes sudden death: any score (field goal, TD, safety) ends the game.

• Timeouts: Each team gets two timeouts in the overtime period.

• Ties: If it’s still tied after the 10 minutes, the game ends in a tie.

• No coach’s challenges; all reviews are initiated by the replay official.

Playoff overtime

In the postseason, they can’t end in a tie, so overtime keeps going until someone wins.

• Format:
  • Periods are played in 15-minute chunks and can continue for multiple overtimes if needed.

* There’s a brief intermission between OT periods, but no “halftime” in overtime.

• Possessions:
  • Both teams are guaranteed a possession, even if the first team with the ball scores a touchdown on its opening drive.

* Once both teams have had the ball, it turns into sudden death: next score wins.

• Timeouts: Each team gets three timeouts per “half” of overtime (two OT periods).

What actually decides it?

• A game can end in OT on:
  • Any score after both teams have had a possession (TD, FG, safety).

* A defensive safety on the first possession (the team that kicked off wins immediately).

• In regular season, the clock can also “win” by expiring with the score still tied, which makes it an official tie.

Quick story-style example

• Regulation ends 24–24.
• Coin toss: Team A receives first.
• Team A drives and kicks a field goal (27–24).
• Team B now must get a possession; if they:
  • Score a TD → they win (27–30).
  • Kick a field goal → still tied, and now the game becomes sudden death on the next possessions.
  • Fail to score → Team A wins.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.