Super Bowl LX has already broken new ground, as the New England Patriots have become the first team to reach this premier event after coming off a season with 13 losses. That’s quite something, isn’t it?
But the question lingering in the air is whether we’ll see more milestones with the new overtime rules. These rules were implemented following the thrilling AFC Divisional Round matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills in 2022. So, will they come into play this time around?
Interestingly, Super Bowl LIX didn’t actually go into overtime, thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles’ impressive win over the Chiefs. However, it’s wise to be prepared for the possibility of overtime, especially if the Patriots face off against the Seattle Seahawks.
Here’s what you need to know:
What are the rules for overtime in the NFL playoffs?
Any playoff game that goes to overtime will follow these updated guidelines:
- If there’s a tie at the end of regulation, the referee will flip a coin to decide which team gets the ball first in overtime. The visiting team’s captain will call the toss.
- Both teams will have a chance to possess the ball. This is a significant shift from the previous approach where the team that received the kickoff could end the game by scoring a touchdown without giving the opposing team a chance. Now, both teams will have the opportunity to score before sudden death rules kick in. If the first team to score gets an extra point and leads by seven, the other team can still win with a touchdown and a two-point conversion.
- If the game remains tied at the end of an initial overtime, or if the second team’s possession hasn’t concluded, another overtime period will be played. This continues until a winner is found.
- There will be a two-minute break between overtime periods, but no halftime after the second period.
- If there’s still no winner after two overtime periods, the regular game rules for the second half will apply, including a second coin toss, where the losing captain can decide either possession or which goal to defend, unless the winning team from the toss opts to defer.
- Each team is allowed three timeouts during the first half.
- The timing rules that apply at the end of the second and fourth Regulation periods also apply during the second or fourth overtime period.
- If no winner emerges after four overtimes, a third coin toss is conducted, and the game continues until a winner is declared.
- There are no instant replay challenges from coaches; all reviews are initiated by the replay representative.
What happened in overtime of Super Bowl V?
Super Bowl LVIII made a bit of history by being the first playoff game to utilize these revised overtime rules.
It marked the first time teams had an equal chance in overtime, especially after the San Francisco 49ers scored a field goal. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs then made a touchdown run that clinched their victory.
This was unique as it was the first Super Bowl where the lead changed on the game’s final play.
Reflecting on that moment, some are left questioning if the 49ers might have taken a different approach.
Even though it seemed logical to defer, the 49ers won the coin toss and opted to receive the kickoff. Given the new rules, having insight into scoring needs creates a strategic edge. It’s kind of like how college teams operate in overtime.
However, the 49ers could only manage a field goal, giving the Chiefs an opportunity to win the game, which they seized.
In his post-game comments, San Francisco’s head coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned they considered various scenarios and thought they’d benefit from starting with the ball if it ever required more than two possessions.
“None of us have much experience with this kind of situation,” Shanahan said. “We reviewed everything, and chose to take the ball because, in a tie scenario, we wanted that chance.”
But there’s a catch—the game never reached that third overtime.
What happened during the 2025-2026 playoffs?
This season, two games went to overtime under the new regulations.
Both games followed a somewhat familiar pattern.
The first was the AFC Divisional Round showdown between the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos, which went into overtime after Buffalo’s kicker made a 50-yard field goal as time expired.
Buffalo opted to kick first, allowing them to strategize for their next possession. After forcing a punt, they had a chance to take the game, but a controversial interception by Jaquan McMillian handed the ball back to the Broncos, who scored a game-winning field goal.
The next day’s NFC divisional round game had the Chicago Bears facing off against the Los Angeles Rams, sending the game into overtime after a clutch touchdown from Caleb Williams to tight end Cole Kmet in the closing seconds.
Similar to Buffalo, Chicago won the toss and chose to defend. They forced a quick three-and-out but faltered on offense, leading to a crucial interception that allowed the Rams to drive down and secure the win with Harrison Mavis’s field goal.
What will the 2025 regular season look like?
Looking ahead to the 2025 NFL season, the league decided to align its regular-season rules with the playoff overtime regulation—except it will include just 10 extra minutes.
So, as opposed to playoff games, regular season games can still end in ties.
This season’s lessons appear to have influenced how regular overtime is approached. A good example is when the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys went into overtime in September. The Packers won the toss but chose to kick, aware they’d still have a possession opportunity regardless of a Dallas touchdown.
Green Bay managed to hold Dallas to a field goal, which set them up for a game-winning drive. However, they faltered just short and settled for a field goal, leading to a 40-40 tie.
Other previous regular-season examples show teams adapting their strategies under the new rules. In October, the 49ers faced the Rams, with Los Angeles winning the toss and choosing to kick, allowing San Francisco first possession.
While the 49ers got a field goal, they managed to stop the Rams on the subsequent drive, ending the game right there.
In November, the Panthers and Falcons went into overtime with Carolina winning the toss, but a referee mishap allowed the Panthers to declare their choice improperly. Nevertheless, they started on defense, forced a punt, and then won the game with a field goal.
But what’s still untested? The potential impact of two-point conversions during overtime. The Chiefs suggested opting for a two-point conversion instead of an extra point after Super Bowl V, should that situation arise.
If the Super Bowl heads into overtime, will a two-point conversion still be valid?
I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see.
