Quick answer: In the 2026 NFL regular season, overtime lasts 10 minutes. Both teams generally get an opportunity to possess the ball, even if the team with the opening possession scores a touchdown. If the score remains tied after each team has had its opportunity, the next score wins. If the 10-minute period ends with the score tied, the game is a tie.
The Denver Broncos’ 17–14 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks on October 15, 2026, gave fans a timely example of how the current rules work. Seattle had the first overtime possession, but Sam Darnold was intercepted by Ja’Quan McMillian. Denver then moved into range for Wil Lutz’s 53-yard game-winning field goal. The turnover ended Seattle’s possession, and the Broncos’ kick settled the game. The NFL’s official 2026 rulebook is the primary reference for the league’s current rules.
How NFL regular-season overtime works in 2026
1. A coin toss decides who gets the first choice
When regulation ends in a tie, the referee conducts an overtime coin toss. The visiting team captain calls the toss. The winner chooses the usual kickoff or receiving option, and the extra period begins after a short intermission.
2. The overtime period is 10 minutes
Regular-season overtime is one 10-minute period. Each team receives two timeouts during the extra period, and the general game-clock rules continue to apply. Unlike the playoffs, the regular season does not keep adding overtime periods until a winner is found.
3. Both teams usually get a possession opportunity
The team receiving the overtime kickoff gets its chance first. Under the current format, an opening-possession touchdown does not automatically end the game. The opponent normally gets an opportunity to answer. The special exception in the rulebook is a safety scored by the kicking team during the receiving team’s initial possession.
A possession opportunity can end without a score. An interception, a fumble recovery by the defense, or a failed drive can give the other team its chance. That is what made the Seahawks-Broncos finish so direct: Seattle’s opening drive ended with Darnold’s interception, and Denver took over with an opportunity to win.
4. After both teams have had their chance, the next score wins
If the team that goes first does not score, the other team can win with a field goal or touchdown. If the first team scores a field goal, the opponent can win by scoring a touchdown, tie the score with a field goal, or lose if it fails to score. If the score is still tied after each team has had an opportunity, the next score by either side wins.
5. A regular-season game can end in a tie
If the 10-minute overtime period expires and the score is still even, the game ends in a tie. A regular-season matchup does not automatically continue into a second overtime period.
Why the Broncos-Seahawks finish made sense under the rules
Seattle and Denver finished regulation tied 14–14 after the Seahawks rallied late. In overtime, Darnold’s pass was intercepted by McMillian at Seattle’s 43-yard line. The turnover meant the Seahawks’ first possession had ended without points. Denver needed only to move into field-goal range, and Lutz converted from 53 yards to win 17–14.
The key point is that the Broncos did not win simply because Seattle lost the overtime coin toss or because an interception automatically ends every overtime game. The interception ended Seattle’s possession; Denver then scored after getting the ball. Under the regular-season rules, once the opening team’s possession ended without a score, the opposing team could win by scoring.
The game was also a reminder that overtime is a team effort. Denver’s offense struggled after halftime, but the defense delivered the turnover. The Broncos recorded five sacks and 17 quarterback hits, while Lutz completed the final step. Seattle had rallied from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime, but could not protect the ball on its first extra-period drive. See the Broncos’ official recap and the Seahawks’ postgame report for both teams’ perspectives.
Regular-season overtime vs. playoff overtime
- Regular season: One 10-minute overtime period; a game can end in a tie if time expires with the score level.
- Playoffs: Overtime periods are 15 minutes, and play continues until a winner is determined.
- Possession opportunity: In both formats, each team generally must have an opportunity to possess the ball, with the rulebook’s specific safety exception.
- After both teams’ opportunities: If the score is still tied, the next score wins.
Because postseason games cannot end in a tie, playoff overtime can continue through additional periods. Fans should check the league’s official rulebook for the exact wording and any rule updates, rather than relying on older explanations that describe the previous sudden-death format.
Common NFL overtime questions
How long is NFL overtime in the 2026 regular season?
Regular-season overtime is 10 minutes. If the game remains tied when the period expires, it ends in a tie.
Does a touchdown on the first overtime possession automatically win?
No. Under the current NFL format, both teams generally get an opportunity to possess the ball. The rulebook contains a specific exception involving a safety during the receiving team’s initial possession.
Can an NFL regular-season game end in a tie?
Yes. If the score is tied at the end of the 10-minute overtime period, the regular-season game ends in a tie.
Why did Denver win after Seattle’s overtime interception?
Ja’Quan McMillian intercepted Sam Darnold on Seattle’s opening overtime possession. Denver then took over and Wil Lutz made a 53-yard field goal to win 17–14.
Is playoff overtime the same as regular-season overtime?
No. Playoff overtime periods are 15 minutes and continue until a winner is determined. Regular-season overtime lasts one 10-minute period and can end in a tie.
Official sources and highlights
For the full rules, consult the official 2026 NFL rulebook. For the game that brought the overtime discussion back into focus, visit the Broncos game-day recap, watch the Seahawks’ official highlights, or browse the Week 6 game-action photo gallery.
By Shivam Das