Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

The overtime rules for playoff games (each team gets a possession) got me thinking about the possible margins of victory for overtime playoff games. It looks like all margins from 1 to 14, except 11, are possible. Here's a list, with an example for each (for some margins, there are several possibilities).

In all of these examples, team A receives the overtime kickoff.

1 point: Team A scores a TD, kicks a 1 point PAT. Team B scores TD, goes for 2 - whether they make it or not, the result is a 1-point victory.
2 points: One team gets a safety - game is immediately over.
3 points: One team kicks a FG, the other doesn't score
4 points: Team A scores a TD. They go for 2, and on the conversion there is a turnover, returned for a 2-point conversion score. A now leads by 4 points. B gets the kickoff and fails to score.
5 points: Team A kicks a field goal. Team B gives up a safety.
6 points: Team A punts. Team B scores a TD
7 points: Team A scores, kicks conversion. Team B fails to score
8 points: Team A scores, makes 2-point conversion. Team B fails to score.
9 points: Team A kicks a field goal. Team B throws an interception, returned for TD by team A.
10 points: Team A scores, makes a 2-point conversion. Team B gives up a safety.
11 points: Not Possible?
12 points: Team A scores a TD, fails conversion. Team B throws an interception, returned for TD by team A.
13 points: Team A scores a TD, kicks PAT. Team B throws an interception, returned for TD by team A.
14 points: Team A scores a TD, makes a 2-point conversion. Team B throws an interception, returned for TD by team A.

Interesting---never really thought about a team winning an OT game by 14 points. Nice work!

When I read the intro paragraph of this post, my immediate thought was "no way that's all possible.". But sure enough. Very interesting!