NFL Playoff Overtime Rules

The NFL Playoffs are less than a month away, which means the cream of the crop from both conferences will soon do battle for the right to earn a spot in Super Bowl LIV.

Fans surely remember that last season's AFC Championship required extra time, as the New England Patriots defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in OT -- and the latter team never touched the ball. Rex Burkhead's goal-line touchdown prevented KC quarterback and league MVP Patrick Mahomes from having the chance to respond, just like in any regular season game, thus sending the Patriots to Super Bowl LIII. But if the game had gone back and forth, it would have been done under special set of rules that only applies to the postseason,

With that in mind, we're going to do you a solid and explain the NFL's official playoff overtime rules.

NFL Playoff Overtime Rules

• The overtime period lasts for 10 minutes.
• If the score is tied, or if the second team's initial possession has not concluded, an additional overtime period will be added. There will be an unlimited amount of overtimes until a winner is determined.
• The team who lost the initial coin toss will have the option of gaining possession of the ball, or defer to kick to the other team. That option is only available if the winner of the initial toss didn't defer to the loser.
• Teams will each receive three timeouts per half.
• Two-minute intermissions will take place in between each overtime period. However, there won't be a halftime intermission taking place after the second period.
• Two minute warnings will take place in the second and fourth overtime periods, if necessary.
• If there is still no winner at the end of the fourth overtime period, a new coin toss will take place.

There you have it. If any playoff game is to go to overtime this winter, stick with us -- you'll go far.