In the National Football League (NFL), a tied game occurs when a regular season game ends with both teams having an equal score after one 10-minute overtime period. Ties have counted as a half-win and half-loss in league standings since 1972; before that, ties were not counted in the standings at all. Tie games were once frequent in the NFL, but have become increasingly uncommon due to a rule change in 1974 that extended the existing sudden-death overtime for post-season games into the regular season. Unlike in soccer, where teams routinely play for ties due to the benefit of a point in the standings, NFL teams never play for ties; ties are most often the result of mishaps or mistakes from the teams involved. Tied games are considered to be the least desired outcome a football game can produce. From 1920 to 1973, there were a total of 256 tied games. Only three seasons prior to the rule change went without a tied game, while five seasons had at least ten ties. The most ties, 17, occurred in the 1920 season. Since overtime was introduced in 1974, there have been 29 tied games. The most ties recorded in a season since the introduction of overtime is two; this has happened in five seasons (1986, 1997, 2016, 2018, and 2022). The most recent tie game occurred on December 4, 2022, when the New York Giants and Washington Commanders played to a 20–20 draw. The Jacksonville Jaguars, who joined the NFL in 1995, are the only current NFL team that has never recorded a tied game.

Tied games (1920–1973)

National Football League

American Football League (1960–1969)

Tied games (1974–2011)

In 1974, the NFL introduced a single sudden death 15-minute overtime period for all games that were tied at the end of regulation. During these seasons, a total of 494 regular season games went to overtime, 17 (3.4%) of which ended in ties.

Tied games (2012–2016)

In 2012, the league instituted a modified sudden death overtime system. A total of 83 regular season games went to overtime during these seasons, 5 (6.0%) of which ended in a tie.

Tied games (2017–present)

In 2017, the NFL shortened overtime from 15 minutes to 10 minutes for regular season games with the intent of reducing the risk of injury. Through Week 10 of the season, a total of 107 regular season games went to overtime under these rules, 7 (6.5%) of which ended in a tie.

General references