How Does American Football Overtime Work?

Introduction

American football is a fast-paced and exciting sport, and overtime can be even more thrilling. But how does overtime work in American football? In this article, we will explain the rules of overtime and how they have changed over time.

Sudden Death Overtime

The sudden death format was used in the NFL from 1974 to 2010. In sudden death overtime, the first team to score any points wins the game. If the game is tied after the first overtime period, the game goes into a second overtime period, and so on. There is no limit to the number of overtime periods that can be played. The sudden death format was often criticized for being too one-sided. If a team won the coin toss and got the ball first, they had a significant advantage. In 2010, the NFL changed the rules of overtime to make it more fair.

Current Overtime Format

The current overtime format was adopted by the NFL in 2010. In the current format, each team gets one possession in overtime. The team that scores the most points in their possession wins the game. If the game is tied after both teams have had one possession, the game goes into a second overtime period, and so on. The current overtime format is more fair than the sudden death format. Each team has an equal chance to win the game, regardless of who wins the coin toss. Additionally, the new format limits the number of overtime periods that can be played.

Other Rules of Overtime

There are a few other rules that apply to overtime in American football. First, the team that receives the ball first in overtime cannot punt. Second, the team that has the ball last in overtime can end the game with a field goal. Third, if the game is tied after the first overtime period, subsequent overtime periods start with the ball at the 50-yard line.

Conclusion

The rules of overtime in American football have changed over time, but the goal has always been to create a fair and exciting format. The current overtime format is the most fair and exciting format yet, and it is likely to remain in place for many years to come.