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What are overtime rules in the NFL Playoffs? (Updated 2023)

By Patrick Allen

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers talks with referee Tony Corrente before the start of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers talks with referee Tony Corrente before the start of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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The NFL overtime rules will be different for the playoffs this year so 49ers fans had better be ready for the new format should San Franciso head to overtime this Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

If we’re being honest, the NFL will probably never devise a set of overtime rules that will truly make all teams and fans happy. Still, that hasn’t stopped the league from tinkering with the overtime format a bit over the years. This year, the overtime rules will be different in the postseason than they were in the regular season. During the regular season, both teams had a CHANCE to possess the ball but if the team that got the ball first scored a touchdown on its first possession, it won the game. That will not be the case this year during postseason play.

These new changes stem from last year’s incredible AFC Divisional round game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills. In an epic back-and-forth, the Bills and the Chiefs ended up tied at the end of regulation. Both defenses looked absolutely gassed and it seemed that whichever team won the coin toss was going to win the game and that is exactly what happened. The Chiefs won the toss and marched right down the field, with Patrick Mahomes throwing a game-sealing touchdown pass to Travis Kelce. Bills QB Josh Allen, who had played brilliantly all evening, never touched the ball in overtime.

Though he was a beneficiary of the overtime rules against the Bills, Mahomes suffered the same fate as Allen in 2019. The Chiefs and Patriots met in the AFC Championship game that featured similar offensive fireworks. The Patriots won the toss and Brady led a touchdown drive, while Mahomes watched helplessly from the sideline. After that game, the Chiefs actually advocated for a change to the overtime rules but no motion was adopted. After the Chiefs and Bills tilt from last year, however, teams had seen enough and changed the rules but only for postseason overtime.

Revised rules from NFL Operations:

What are the overtime rules for NFL postseason games?

    • At the end of regulation, the referee will toss a coin to determine which team will possess the ball first in overtime. The visiting team captain will call the toss.
    • Both teams will have an opportunity to possess the football.
    • If the score is still tied at the end of an overtime period — or if the second team’s initial possession is still in progress — the teams will play another overtime period. Play will continue regardless of how many overtime periods are needed for a winner to be determined.
    • There will be a two-minute intermission between each overtime period. There will not be a halftime intermission after the second period.
    • If the game remains tied after two overtime periods, there will be a second half. 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.
    • Each team gets three timeouts during a half.
    • The same timing rules that apply at the end of the second and fourth regulation periods also apply at the end of a second or fourth overtime period.
    • If there is still no winner at the end of a fourth overtime period, there will be a third coin toss, and play will continue until a winner is declared.
    • There are no instant replay coach’s challenges; all reviews will be initiated by the replay official.

The big, important change here is that “both teams will have an opportunity to possess the ball. So even if the team that wins the toss goes down and scores a touchdown, the opponent’s offense will still get a chance to match them.

This opens up some interesting strategic possibilities. Under the regular season rules, teams that win the toss almost always take the ball because they know they can win the game with a touchdown without their defense ever having to take the field. Under the new playoff format, however, it is likely that we will see coin toss winners opt to start on defense. By having their opponent get the ball first, the coin toss winner can find out exactly what it will need to do to win or extend the game.

The team that possesses the ball first is flying blind. Say the first team is facing 4th and 1 on its opponent’s 25-yard line. The coach will have to decide whether or not to kick the field goal or to be aggressive and go for the touchdown. A team that is confident in its defense, like the 49ers, might opt to kick the field goal whereas a team with a poor defense might decide to be aggressive and go for the touchdown.

Additionally, if the first team scores a touchdown and the second team also scores a touchdown on its possession, the coach will have to determine whether or not they want to go for two and win the game or kick the extra point and move on to sudden death.

I think these new rules benefit a team like San Francisco that has a strong defense. Think about it. Under the regular season system, the 49ers would need to be somewhat conservative starting overtime on defense because if they were to blow a coverage and give up a big play for a touchdown, they would lose the game.

Under the new rules, the 49ers’ defense can be more aggressive because while giving up a touchdown wouldn’t be ideal, it wouldn’t end the game. Brock Purdy and the offense would still have a chance to possess the ball.

The old rules somewhat neutralized great defensive teams like the 49ers and really gave a massive advantage to offenses in a league that already slants the rules to help teams score more points.

No doubt 49ers fans would rather win playoff games in regulation but it is nice to know that should San Fransico find itself in overtime, the team’s fate won’t come down to a coin toss.