The stage is set for the NFL playoffs, with only 13 games remaining to determine the champion of Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans. The postseason kicks off with a six-game wild card round, where the Los Angeles Chargers, seeded fifth in the AFC, face the fourth-seeded Houston Texans in the opening matchup. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings, seeded fifth in the NFC, clash with the Los Angeles Rams, seeded fourth, to wrap up the wild card action.
In a thrilling conclusion to last year’s Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs emerged victorious in overtime, defeating the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 25-22. This Super Bowl marked the first overtime postseason game since the 2022 AFC championship game. Over the past five seasons, there have been a total of five overtime playoff games, indicating the potential for extended play in this year’s postseason.
When it comes to overtime rules in the NFL playoffs, here’s what you need to know:
If the score remains tied after regulation, another coin toss determines possession for the overtime period, which lasts for 15 minutes, in contrast to the regular season’s 10-minute overtime. During overtime, each team is allowed three timeouts per half, with each team guaranteed a possession. However, the game does not automatically end if the first team scores a touchdown. If the score is still tied after each team has had the opportunity for one possession, the next score will determine the winner.
An exception is made if the team in possession first commits a safety. In this scenario, the team that kicked off during overtime is declared the winner, mirroring the regular season rule. Notably, extra points are not attempted in the case of a game-ending touchdown. Additionally, all replays during overtime are initiated by the replay official rather than through coach’s challenges.
Looking ahead, here is the schedule for the upcoming NFL playoff matchups:
– Wild card round: Saturday, January 11 to Monday, January 13, 2025
– Divisional round: Saturday, January 18 to Sunday, January 19, 2025
– Conference championship: Sunday, January 26, 2025
– Super Bowl: Sunday, February 9, 2025
For more information on NFL overtime rules and how the format changes for the playoffs, refer to the original article on USA TODAY.
