Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

The recent tie between the Giants and Commanders got me thinking about the interesting nature of overtime ties since 1974. They are rare but not impossible which is intriguing to me. My unpopular opinion is that regular season overtime should be eliminated.

Some quirky facts ...

Giants/Washington and Packers/Vikings are the only pairs of teams to tie each other 3 times during the OT era. Off the top of my head, I don't think any other pair of teams have done it twice.

The only teams to never tie after OT are the Bills, Patriots, Chargers, Bears and Saints.

I like ties. They're quirky-looking in the standings.

I have a question. In the 10-minute overtime period, both teams are to get the ball right? The Steelers yesterday had a long drive that ate up most of the 10-minute overtime period. If the Steelers maintained possession throughout those 10 minutes and kicked a field goal with no time left. Is that it? The Buccaneers never would have had an opportunity to match or exceed the Steelers score?

Truly rare I grant you but in theory, it could happen.

Thank you in advance.

If the Steelers maintained possession throughout those 10 minutes and kicked a field goal with no time left. Is that it?

Yes. Either that or a safety scored by the defense on the opening drive of OT are the only ways OT can end without both teams possessing the ball.

ChrisBabcock wrote: ↑Mon Oct 19, 2026 5:10 pm

If the Steelers maintained possession throughout those 10 minutes and kicked a field goal with no time left. Is that it?

Yes. Either that or a safety scored by the defense on the opening drive of OT are the only ways OT can end without both teams possessing the ball.

Thank you. I didn't know that.

Ties also simplify potential end-of-season tiebreaker scenarios (fewer teams all clogged up with the same W-L-T record).

Tie games allowed the Raiders to rally and beat out the Chiefs for the division in 1970. Especially when Madden's coaching decisions allowed the Raiders to escape a defeat and have a tie in the first matchup against KC.

What’s better: Our current overtime rules or sudden death overtime?

I like ties. Never cared for OT in regular seasons games, in football or hockey.

I like the old overtime rules with the simple coin-flip. Either platoon had to do its job, regardless ...

RichardBak wrote: ↑Wed Oct 21, 2026 2:28 pmI like ties. Never cared for OT in regular seasons games, in football or hockey.

Exactly how I feel, both sports.