NFL games go to overtime far less often than fans might expect, but when they do, the pressure couldn’t be higher. Only a small percentage of matchups extend beyond regulation, and ties are even rarer.
Below, I look at how often NFL games go to overtime, how often they end in a tie, and what’s changed under the 2025 rules. It also covers how these outcomes influence betting markets and where to find overtime and tie props this season!
What Percentage of NFL Games Go to Overtime?
Since the introduction of overtime in 1974, roughly 5-6% of NFL games have required extra time. That works out to approximately one in every 20 games. Most seasons finish with between 14 and 20 overtime games across 272 regular-season matchups.
In 2024, 16 games went to overtime, landing right around the long-term average. The total changes from year to year: 2021 saw 21 overtime games, while some seasons have had fewer than ten.
Playoff overtimes are less common but often more memorable, with several recent postseason matchups inspiring key rule changes.
Updated Overtime Rules for 2025
The 2025 NFL season added a major overtime rule change for regular-season games. Now, both teams get at least one possession, even if the first team scores a touchdown right away. Overtime still lasts 10 minutes, and each team gets two timeouts.
If the game is still tied when time runs out, it ends as a draw in the regular season. This rule makes the regular season match the postseason format, where both teams already had a guaranteed possession.
According to analyst Nate Silver, ties are likely to rise up to roughly 0.5% of all NFL regular season games under the new rules.
First 40-40 tie in NFL history (and therefore a Scorigami!). Since I've spent way too much time trying to model this stuff, we do expect the new OT rules to increase the frequency of ties to about ~0.5% of all games, about 2x the historical average.
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) September 29, 2025
Effect of the Coin Toss
In the past, winning the overtime coin toss gave teams a big edge. From 2004 to 2008, the team that got the ball first won about 64% of overtime games. The new rule mostly removes that advantage. Now, both sides get a fair shot to score, making overtime more about strategy and execution than luck.
Are There Ties in the NFL?
Ties are possible in the NFL, but very rarely and only in the regular season. A tie happens when both teams are still even after the 10-minute overtime period in the regular season.
There are no ties in the playoffs, since every game must end with a winner. That’s why teams can play multiple overtime periods if the game is still tied, while the regular season includes only one.
Ties only occur when neither team can break the tie during the overtime period, which makes them extremely rare. Most modern NFL seasons finish without a single tied game.
In 2024, all 272 regular-season games produced a winner, as there were no ties under the updated overtime rules. The 2025 season finally saw the streak end when the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys finished 40-40 in Week 5, marking the first tie under the updated overtime rules.
How Does a Tie Happen in the NFL?
For a NFL game to end in a tie, several factors need to line up.
- Regulation ends with both teams tied. The game moves to overtime.
- The overtime period expires tied. If neither team is ahead after 10 minutes, the game ends in a draw.
- The game is played in the regular season. Only regular season games can end in tie, there’s always a winner in the playoffs, as teams play multiple overtimes if the first one is tied.
How Many Ties Are There in NFL History?
There have been a total of 320 ties in NFL history. 290 of them occurred before the league implemented the overtime rule in 1974.
The NFL has produced only 30 ties since adding overtime. Across nearly 18,000 games since 1974, that represents fewer than one-half of one percent.
The most ties recorded in a single season with the overtime rule is two, which has occurred in years such as 1986, 1997, 2016, 2018, and 2022. Before 1974, when games ended after regulation regardless of score, ties were far more common.
In recent years, better kicking, bolder late-game play-calling, and the shorter 10-minute overtime period have all influenced when ties happen. Four of the last five ties before 2025 took place in September, usually early in the season when teams are still getting into rhythm.
Ties are possible in the NFL, but very rarely and only in the regular season. A tie happens when both teams are still even after the 10-minute overtime period in the regular season. There are no ties in the playoffs, since every game must end with a winner.
Ties only occur when neither team can break the tie during the overtime period, which makes them extremely rare. Most modern NFL seasons finish without a single tied game.
In 2024, all 272 regular-season games produced a winner, there were no ties under the updated overtime rules. The 2025 season finally saw the streak end when the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys finished 40-40 in Week 5, marking the first tie under the updated overtime rules.
Summary of Key Facts about NFL Overtime and Ties
- Around 5–6% of NFL games go into overtime.
- Roughly 30 ties have occurred since 1974.
- The 2025 rule now guarantees both teams a possession in regular-season overtime.
- Overtime remains 10 minutes long in the regular season; games tied after that end as draws.
- Overtime is 15 minutes long in the postseason, and there can be multiple overtimes until there’s a winner.
- The change may increase tie frequency to about 0.5% of all games, according to analysts.
How Overtime and Ties Affect NFL Betting?
NFL overtime and ties can heavily impact your betting results since most NFL betting markets are resolved based on the outcome after the overtime.
For example, if you bet on the total points market, the points scored in overtime count for this wager and could ruin your under wager. The same applies to spreads, moneyline bets, team totals, player props, and most NFL markets.
While overtime and ties are rare in the NFL, you should consider them, especially when you’re betting on close games.
Can You Bet on NFL Overtime and Ties?
Most NFL sportsbooks online offer overtime and tie bets as special options. The most common options are for individual games to end in a tie or go to overtime. However, some betting sites offer futures like the following:
- Will any NFL game go to overtime this week?
- Will there be a tie during the NFL season?
- Total number of overtime games in the season (Over/Under).
Because these outcomes are rare, the odds on overtime and tie bets are usually high. A “yes” bet on overtime in a selected usually pays around +500 to +100, while a tie can be over +5000.
The odds change based on the matchup. Low-scoring teams, strong defenses, or bad weather can make overtime or ties a little more likely. Still, these results are uncommon, so most bettors treat them as fun side bets rather than regular betting options.
Where to Bet on NFL Overtime and Ties?
Many online bookies offer NFL overtime and tie props, but Bovada is the Spots Geek’s top choice. The site offers excellent odds on overtime and ties for all NFL regular-season games, among other props. You can also bet on these live.
New players at Bovada can claim a 100% welcome bonus of up to $1,000 with a bonus code BV1000.
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