What happens if an NFL team receives the kickoff to start overtime, then uses the entire 15-minute overtime period before kicking a field goal as time expires? Does the game go into a second overtime so that the other team has a chance to score, or is the game over?
It depends when the game takes place. In the preseason or regular season, the game would end with the team kicking the field goal winning; in the playoffs, the game would go into a second overtime with the other team getting an opportunity to possess the ball. (Also, as of 2022, a postseason game would continue if the first possession ended in a touchdown.)
Rules that apply:
16-1-3-a
Both teams must have the opportunity to possess the ball once during the extra period, unless the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown on its initial possession, in which case it is the winner, or if the team kicking off to start the overtime period scores a safety on the receiving team’s initial possession, in which case the team that kicked off is the winner.
16-1-4-a
The following shall apply to overtime games in the preseason and regular season … There shall be a maximum of one
1510-minute period, even if the second team has not has an opportunity to possess the ball or its initial possession not ended. If the score is tied at the end of the period, the game shall result in a tie.
16-1-5-a
The following shall apply to overtime games in postseason … If the score is tied at the end of a 15-minute overtime period, or if the second team’s initial possession has not ended, another overtime period will begin, and play will continue, regardless of how many 15-minute periods are necessary.
Notes:
- To the best of my knowledge, there has never been a 15-minute drive in NFL history.
- The longest drive in NCAA history lasted 14 minutes and 26 seconds: Navy (of course) vs. New Mexico in the 2004 Emerald Bowl.
- Beginning in the 2017 season, regular-season and preseason overtime will be one 10-minute period.
Also see: Longest NFL drives by total yardage.
Longest NFL drives by time, 1978-2024
Minimum 11:30
| Team | Date | Opponent | Drive Length |
Plays- Yards |
Start Time | Start LOS | Result | Score before drive |
Final |
| Tennessee Oilers | 11/27/97 THANKSGIVING |
Dallas | 13:27 | 21-90 | 8:11 3Q | Own 9 | Field Goal | 24-14 | W 27-14 |
| San Francisco | 11/21/21 | Jacksonville | 13:05 | 20-87 | 15:00 1Q | Own 11 | Field Goal | 0-0 | W 30-10 |
| N.Y. Giants | 11/7/10 | Seattle | 13:00 | 19-71 | 13:34 4Q | Own 20 | Downs | 41-7 | W 41-7 |
| N.Y. Giants | 1/14/01 NFC CHAMP |
Minnesota | 12:53 | 19-53 | 12:53 4Q | Own 20 | End of Game | 41-0 | W 41-0 |
| New England | 12/12/82 | Miami | 12:42 | 19-79 | 2:19 1Q | Own 20 | Missed FG | 0-0 | W 3-0 |
| Atlanta | 12/30/90 | Dallas | 12:39 | 19-74 | 7:33 3Q | Own 20 | Field Goal | 16-0 | W 26-7 |
| Houston Oilers | 10/22/89 | Pittsburgh | 12:33 | 17-73 | 12:57 1Q | Own 27 | Touchdown | 0-0 | W 27-0 |
| L.A. Raiders | 11/18/84 | Kansas City | 12:31 | 21-75 | 2:38 3Q | Own 20 | Field Goal | 14-0 | W 17-7 |
| Miami | 1/1/12 | N.Y. Jets | 12:29 | 21-94 | 7:56 3Q | Own 6 | Touchdown | 6-10 | W 19-17 |
| Jacksonville | 9/21/08 | Indianapolis | 12:18 | 18-82 | 14:51 4Q | Own 14 | Field Goal | 17-14 | W 23-21 |
| San Francisco | 9/25/88 | Seattle | 12:17 | 18-85 | 1:24 3Q | Own 15 | Touchdown | 31-7 | W 38-7 |
| Kansas City | 11/13/88 | Cincinnati | 12:15 | 22-87 | 14:12 2Q | Own 8 | Field Goal | 6-7 | W 31-28 |
| L.A. Raiders | 12/24/94 | Kansas City | 12:14 | 22-86 | 4:16 1Q | Own 2 | Field Goal | 0-7 | L 19-9 |
| New England | 12/27/09 | Jacksonville | 12:12 | 20-73 | 12:41 4Q | Own 20 | Downs | 35-7 | W 35-7 |
| Atlanta | 10/13/85 | Seattle | 12:07 | 19-89 | 4:11 1Q | Own 3 | Field Goal | 0-7 | L 30-26 |
| Minnesota | 11/3/85 | Detroit | 12:07 | 19-79 | 9:18 1Q | Own 12 | Field Goal | 0-3 | W 16-13 |
| San Francisco | 12/30/02 | St. Louis Rams | 12:07 | 20-81 | 15:00 1Q | Own 18 | Field Goal | 0-0 | L 31-20 |
| Cleveland | 12/27/15 | Kansas City | 12:01 | 20-61 | 5:27 3Q | Own 20 | Field Goal | 10-17 | L 17-13 |
| Cincinnati | 12/16/01 | N.Y. Jets | 12:00 | 20-81 | 13:56 1Q | Own 19 | Touchdown | 0-0 | L 15-14 |
| Tampa Bay | 11/4/07 | Arizona | 11:59 | 19-86 | 8:46 3Q | Own 6 | Missed FG | 17-3 | W 17-10 |
| Chicago | 11/20/94 | Detroit | 11:54 | 20-71 | 12:46 3Q | Own 23 | Field Goal | 10-10 | W 20-10 |
| Seattle | 10/11/09 | Jacksonville | 11:53 | 16-52 | 11:53 4Q | Own 26 | End of Game | 41-0 | W 41-0 |
| San Diego | 12/8/91 | Kansas City | 11:52 | 18-80 | 11:15 1Q | Own 20 | Touchdown | 0-0 | L 20-17 (OT) |
| Oakland | 12/16/07 | Indianapolis | 11:49 | 20-99 | 14:55 2Q | Own 1 | Touchdown | 0-10 | L 21-14 |
| Philadelphia | 12/30/18 | Washington | 11:49 | 19-87 | 12:19 2Q | Own 13 | Touchdown | 3-0 | W 24-0 |
| Jacksonville | 9/23/07 | Denver | 11:44 | 18-80 | 9:53 1Q | Own 20 | Touchdown | 0-0 | W 23-14 |
| New Orleans | 11/20/88 | Denver | 11:43 | 18-97 | 14:50 4Q | Own 3 | Touchdown | 35-0 | W 42-0 |
| Pittsburgh | 12/18/22 | Carolina | 11:43 | 21-93 | 15:00 3Q | Own 7 | Touchdown | 14-0 | W 24-16 |
| Houston Oilers | 9/12/93 | Kansas City | 11:40 | 18-80 | 10:33 1Q | Own 20 | Touchdown | 0-0 | W 30-0 |
| Minnesota | 9/21/08 | Carolina | 11:34 | 19-75 | 5:41 3Q | Own 11 | Field Goal | 17-10 | W 20-10 |
| Atlanta | 11/3/91 | San Francisco | 11:30 | 18-75 | 4:53 3Q | Own 25 | Touchdown | 0-7 | W 17-14 |
So would the team that kicked the field goal win? The rule does not answer that question
The rule does answer the question. The FG team would win, there would be no second OT
Did you not read anything? If the game is regular season then the game ends, if it is postseason then the second team gets a possession.
I could swear I remember the Chargers playing the Dolphins in the 80's having a drive that was easily 13 plus minutes long, I do not see that here. Is my memory incorrect?
The longest drive in any of the six Chargers-Dolphins games (including playoffs) in the 80's lasted 10 minutes, 6 seconds.
It was memorable in that:
1) the 1984 Dolphins were 11-0 at the time;
2) the drive began with the Chargers down 7 with 10:57 left in the 4th quarter and ended the Chargers scoring the tying touchdown with just 51 seconds left;
3) the Dolphins didn't have enough time to drive the field, missing a 44-yard field goal as regulation expired;
4) the Chargers won the toss in overtime and drove for the winning touchdown.