American Football games are divided into four quarters at fifteen-minute intervals. Sometimes, a game may need additional time to determine a winner. Overtime is the extra time in a football game. Both sides will be able to possess the ball in Overtime starting in 2022. This rule change is something. This rule change will be effective in 2022.
This is the complete guide for Overtime in the NFL.
What happens when a game goes into Overtime?
After four quarters, if the game is tied, the game goes into Overtime. Both sides will meet in the middle of the field to play a coin toss. The visiting team decides the flip. If they (visiting teams) have the correct answer, they can choose to kick or receive the ball to begin Overtime.
What are the NFL’s Overtime Rules for Football?
There are several rules that the NFL uses to allow Overtime depending on the season. If neither team scores during the extra period, the regular season rules will enable the game to be tied.
However, in the postseason, there will always be a winner. The new rules for postseason Overtime allow both teams to take possession of the ball starting in 2022.
To limit injury chances, Overtime is also eliminated in the preseason.
What are the Regular Season Overtime rules?
Overtime begins with a coin toss. This determines who gets the ball first in the regular or postseason season. The coin toss ends with a 10-minute time limit. If there is no winner in a regular season match, the game can tie.
Each team will be given two timeouts in addition to the rules regarding scoring. The NFL bans coaches from disputing calls during Overtime. Replay officials can only overturn or review plays within the time limit of 10 minutes.
In the NFL Playoffs, Overtime is a Rule
Because playoff games cannot end in a tie (or even a draw), the main difference between the regular season and postseason Overtime is the possibility of multiple overtime periods at each end. Each Overtime has a two-minute intermission.
The captain, the loser in the coin toss at Overtime’s beginning, can choose where the ball should be received or what end zone to defend. The back-and-forth continues until the end of the fourth Overtime. At that point, another overtime coin throw and play will continue until there’s a winner.
Both teams must score touchdowns in the postseason. The defense can counter the touchdowns that the receiving team scored on their drives, which was the case in previous years.
What was the previous way to win in Overtime before 2022?
In 2019, the sudden-death rules were in hot water when Tom Brady’s New England Patriots beat the Kansas City Chiefs in a touchdown. This was on the first drive of the period. Patrick Mahomes (the opposing quarterback) didn’t touch any ball until the end of the game. Many people petitioned pro football to adopt overtime rules for college football.
Super Bowl LI was the first Super Bowl to finish in Overtime. To send the game into Overtime, the New England Patriots scored 19 points against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter. The coin toss was won by the Patriots, who chose to get the ball first. They marched down the field with the ball on their first possession, scoring a touchdown and winning by six.
Conclusion: How does an NFL Overtime work?
A game tied at regulation ends will be decided by the NFL overtime period. Different rules apply to Overtime depending on whether the game is a regular-season or playoff match. If the competition takes place during the regular season, there will only be a 10-minute overtime period. The game ends in a tie if it is not resolved. The postseason will see teams continue to play until the winner is determined.