Football is one of the most popular spectator sports in the United States. So when a game ends in a tie, fans at the stadium and at home on the couch tend to feel disappointed with the result. Yet it still happens --- as of March 2011, National Football League rules allow a game to finish in a tie after an overtime period if neither team has scored.
Overtime Rules
When a preseason or regular-season NFL game is tied at the end of regulation, one overtime period is used. This overtime period lasts 15 minutes, as long as a regulation quarter. The two teams participate in a coin flip to determine who will receive the ball first. The winner of the coin flip chooses to kick or receive the ball. The first team to score in any way --- on a field goal, touchdown or safety --- before the end of the overtime period is the winner. If neither team scores before time expires, the result is a tie.
Tied Games
Tie games aren't the norm in the NFL. There have been several famous --- or infamous --- tied games in the NFL, much to the chagrin of the respective fan bases involved. In 1997, for example, the New York Giants and Washington Redskins clashed in a defensive game that finished in a 7-7 tie at the end of the overtime period. The Redskins ended up finishing outside the playoff picture in a close division race as a result of that game. In 2008, Yahoo! Sports reports, Donovan McNabb, the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback, came under criticism after a game against the Cincinnati Bengals ended in a 13-13 tie. McNabb said after the game he had no idea an NFL game could end in a tie --- drawing fire from his fan base for not understanding league rules.
Rules for Tie in Standings
According to the NFL, tied games count as one half win and one half loss for each team involved. Teams' individual win/loss percentages are used to determine final standings for playoff positions. For example, if a team has a record of 8-7-1, it would have a winning percentage of .531, since the tied game counts as half a win.
Playoff Overtime Rules
Since the playoffs are designed to eliminate teams on the way to crowning the NFL champion, regular-season overtime rules don't suffice, because they allow a game to end in a tie. Not only are there unlimited overtime periods until a winner is determined, but the rules are slightly changed. If the team that receives first possession makes a successful field goal, the opposing team is entitled to receive possession of the ball. If that team scores a touchdown, it wins. If it scores a field goal to re-tie the game, the next team to score wins. If the team receiving the second possession scores a touchdown, it wins.
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