Differences between NFL regular season and postseason overtime rules:
| Regular Season | Postseason | |
| Number of periods | 1 | unlimited |
| Length of periods | 10 minutes | 15 minutes |
| Timeouts per team | 2 | 3 per 2-period “half” |
| Timing rules | 4th quarter | 1st quarter for 1st overtime, etc. |
| If the first possession ends in a field goal … | Opponent gets a follow-up possession subject to the time remaining | Opponent gets a follow-up possession |
| If the first possession ends in a touchdown … | The game ends with the score at that point | Opponent gets a follow-up possession* |
| If a safety is scored at any time… | Score the 2 points and the game ends | Score the 2 points and the game ends |
| If the 1st overtime ends with the teams still tied … | The game ends in a tie. | 2-minute break, switch sides of field typical of a 2nd quarter |
| If time expires in the 1st overtime when a follow-up possession is in progress … | The game ends with the score at that point. | The game continues into a 2nd overtime. |
| If the 2nd overtime ends with the teams still tied … | What’s a 2nd overtime? | 2-minute “halftime”, kickoff typical to start of a 2nd half |
| If the 4th overtime ends with the teams still tied … | Seriously, a 4th overtime? | 2-minute intermission, new coin toss, and follow typical procedures for 1st overtime |
*as of 2022
NFL Double Overtime Games
| Winner | Loser | Date | Final Score | Total OT length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Texans | Houston Oilers | 12/23/1962 AFL CHAMP |
20-17 | 17:54 | “We’ll kick to the clock.” |
| Miami Dolphins | Kansas City Chiefs | 12/25/1971 AFC DIV |
27-24 | 22:40 | Longest game in NFL history |
| Oakland Raiders | Baltimore Colts | 12/24/1977 AFC DIV |
37-31 | 15:43 | Ghost to the Post |
| Cleveland Browns | New York Jets | 1/3/1987 AFC DIV |
23-20 | 17:02 | Browns came back from 10 down in final 4:14 of regulation. |
| Carolina Panthers | St. Louis Rams | 1/10/2004 NFC DIV |
29-23 | 15:10 | Rams came back from 10 down in final 6:29 of regulation. |
| Baltimore Ravens | Denver Broncos | 1/12/2013 AFC DIV |
38-35 | 16:42 | Ravens tied score with 0:30 left in regulation. |
Home teams in italics.
The longest game in professional history was a 1984 USFL playoff game between the Michigan Panthers and Los Angeles Express that ended 3 minutes, 33 seconds into triple overtime.
Photo: Baltimore Ravens
