More overtime, please.
There's nothing quite like the drama of a winner-take-all overtime period, and even more so when the games start to mean a bit more. In NFL history, a single Super Bowl has gone to overtime: The Patriots' Super Bowl 51 win over the Falcons, orchestrated by none other than one Thomas Edward Brady.
MORE: Live updates, highlights from Chiefs-Eagles
With how evenly matched the Chiefs and Eagles are entering Super Bowl 57, there's a decent chance that the game could be the second matchup to hit overtime come Sunday.
Not only would that be a second for the Super Bowl, but it'd be something of a rarity in recent history. Just 12 games have gone to overtime since 2010, but none have yet to be played under the new OT rules that were introduced prior to the 2022 season.
MORE: Watch Super Bowl 57 live with fuboTV (free trial)
Here's what you need to know about the rules for an overtime period for Super Bowl 57:
NFL Super Bowl overtime rules 2023
Prior to the start of the 2022 season, the NFL amended the overtime rules for this year's playoffs, which, obviously, includes the Super Bowl 57 matchup between the Eagles and Chiefs.
The change largely came off the heels of the thrilling 2022 AFC divisional playoff game between the Chiefs and the Bills, in which the Chiefs scored a touchdown on their first possession of the overtime period.
Owners voted to change the rules this offseason. Here's how OT works for playoff games, including Super Bowl 57 (NFL rulebook):
- Following an intermission of no more than three minutes after the end of the regular game, an extra period of 15 minutes shall commence.
- Both teams must have the opportunity to possess the ball at least once during the extra period, unless the team kicking off to start the overtime period scores a safety on the receiving team’s initial possession, in which case the team that kicked off is the winner.
- After each team has had an opportunity to possess the ball, if one team has more points than its opponent, it is the winner.
- If the team that has the ball first does not score on its initial possession, or if the score is tied after each team has had a possession, the team next scoring by any method shall be the winner.
- If the score is still tied at the end of an overtime period — or if the second team’s initial possession has not ended — the teams will play another overtime period. Play will continue regardless of how many overtime periods are needed for a winner to be determined.
- There will be a two-minute intermission between each overtime period. There will not be a halftime intermission after the second period.
- The captain who lost the first overtime coin toss will either choose to possess the ball or select which goal his team will defend, unless the team that won the coin toss deferred that choice.
- Each team gets three timeouts in a half.
- The same timing rules that apply at the end of the second and fourth regulation periods also apply at the end of a second or fourth overtime period.
- If there is still no winner at the end of a fourth overtime period, there will be another coin toss, and play will continue until a winner is declared.
The bolded part is the most important thing, and the biggest change and difference from the regular season and pre-2022: Regardless of if the team who receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown, the other team is guaranteed a possession.
The game is, however, over if a safety or defensive touchdown (pick 6, scoop-and-score) is scored.
So if Team A scores a touchdown on its first overtime drive, then Team B has an opportunity to match. If the game is tied after both teams possess the ball once, then the next score wins.
MORE: NFL overtime history — The 12 playoff games that have gone to OT since 2010
NFL overtime rules for the regular season
This is how the overtime rules work for regular-season games:
- At the end of regulation, the referee will toss a coin to determine which team will possess the ball first in overtime. The visiting team captain will call the toss.
- No more than one 10-minute period will follow a three-minute intermission. Each team must possess, or have the opportunity to possess, the ball. The exception: if the team that gets the ball first scores a touchdown on the opening possession.
- Sudden death play — where the game ends on any score (safety, field goal or touchdown) — continues until a winner is determined.
- Each team gets two timeouts.
- The point after try is not attempted if the game ends on a touchdown.
- If the score is still tied at the end of the overtime period, the result of the game will be recorded as a tie.
- There are no instant replay coach’s challenges; all reviews will be initiated by the replay official.
