What Are New NFL Playoff Overtime Rules?

The new NFL playoff overtime rules, which debuted during the 2023 postseason, are designed so that each team has the opportunity to possess the football.

The change occurred partly because of the way the Chiefs-Bills AFC divisional round game ended in 2022 when the Chiefs scored a touchdown on the opening possession of overtime and therefore won the game.

Because the Bills lost the coin toss, they did not get a chance to possess the football.

Read More: How Many Super Bowls Have Gone to Overtime?

New NFL Overtime Playoff Rules

Both teams now have the opportunity to possess the football. If the game is tied after each team’s first possession, the next score wins.

For example in Super Bowl LVII: If the Philadelphia Eagles score a touchdown (plus an extra point) on their first possession of overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Chiefs have one possession to score at least seven points.

If the Chiefs don’t score or score fewer than seven points, the game is over and the Eagles win.

If the Chiefs score eight points (i.e., a touchdown and two-point conversion), the game is over and the Chiefs win.

If the Chiefs score exactly seven points, the game continues and is played until the next score.

If the team that kicks off in overtime scores on special teams (safety or touchdown) or defense (safety or touchdown), the game is over.

If the game is tied at the end of one overtime period – or the second team’s first possession is still happening – a second overtime will begin where the first period left off, i.e., it’s treated like the transition from the first to second quarter (or third to fourth quarter) in a regular-season game.