NFL OT Rules 2024: Explaining Overtime Rules For The Regular Season And Playoffs

The NFL continues to adjust its overtime rules. What do the rules exactly state? Below are the NFL’s OT rules for the 2024 regular season and playoffs.

NFL OT Rules 2024 Regular Season

Week 1’s matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions went to overtime, with the latter winning on a 1-yard rushing touchdown from David Montgomery.

The regular season overtime rules are as follows:

• At the end of regulation, a coin toss is used to determine which team will possess the ball first. The visiting team’s captain will call the toss.
• A 10-minute overtime period will begin after a three-minute intermission.
• Each team will have the opportunity to possess the ball unless the team with the first possession scores a touchdown.
• If the opening possession does not end in a touchdown, the sudden death rule is in effect to determine a winner, meaning the game can end on any score (safety, field goal, or touchdown).
• If the game ends on a touchdown, there will be no extra point try.
• Each team receives two timeouts.
• The replay official initiates all reviews. There are no coach’s challenges.
• If the score is still tied after the overtime period, the game will end in a tie.

Because Detroit scored a touchdown on the opening possession, the game ended in a Lions’ 26-20 victory.

NFL OT Rules 2024 Playoffs

The postseason overtime rules are slightly different than the regular season. The biggest change is that both teams will possess the ball at least once.

The postseason overtime rules are as follows:

• Each team will have an opportunity to possess the ball in overtime.
• Each team gets three timeouts.
• The game cannot end in a tie. If the score is tied after the overtime period or if the second team’s initial possession has not ended, the game will continue with as many overtime periods as it takes until a winner is declared.
• If the score is still tied after both teams possess the ball, sudden death rules will apply.
• There is a two-minute intermission between each overtime period.
• The captain who lost the first overtime coin toss will either choose to possess the ball or select which goal his team will defend, unless the team that won the coin toss deferred that choice.
• Timing rules at the end of the second and fourth quarters also apply to the second and fourth overtime periods.
• If there is no winner at the end of the fourth overtime period, there will be another coin toss, and play will continue until a winner is declared.