NFL Playoffs Overtime Rules Explained

What are the NFL's playoff overtime rules? How are those rules different than the NFL's regular season overtime rules?

It's playoff time in the NFL. While the rules for the NFL playoffs are almost essentially the same as the rules for the NFL regular season, there is one place where the rule books differ.

That place is overtime. Because of various changes to the game, overtime in the NFL postseason features some notable differences from overtime in the NFL regular season.

Let's explain what the NFL's overtime rules look like.

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What Are The NFL Playoff Overtime Rules?

There are several differences between the NFL's regular season and overtime playoff rules, but there are really two of those rules that are most notable.

The first is that playoff games can not end in ties. During the regular season, a 10-minute overtime period is played. If the score is still tied at the end of those 10 minutes, the game ends in a tie.

You can't have ties when you need a team to advance to the next round, though. In the postseason, another overtime period is played if the score is tied after the first one. This continues until there is a winner.

However, only six NFL playoff games have ever required multiple overtimes, so this is a rare occurrence.

The other major difference between the regular and postseason is that both teams get to possess the ball in overtime.

In the regular season, if the first team to possess the ball scores a touchdown, the game is over. If they score a field goal, the other team gets a chance to answer.

In the playoffs, both teams get a possession regardless of the result of the first one, unless that first one results in a defensive score. After both teams have had the ball, it becomes sudden death if the score is still tied.

Each team gets three timeouts in the playoff overtime. All reviews are initiated by the replay officials.

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