List of NFL tied games

The List of NFL tied games includes all regular season and postseason games in the National Football League (NFL) that have ended in a tie. The NFL has employed various rules regarding tie games over its history, including different overtime rules which have influenced how ties occur.

History

In the early years of the NFL, ties were not uncommon and were more accepted than in the modern era. Prior to the introduction of overtime in the NFL in 1974, games that were tied at the end of regulation simply ended as ties. From 1974 to 2011, the NFL used a sudden death overtime system, where the first team to score any points in overtime would win the game. This reduced the number of ties, as only games where neither team scored in the overtime period would end in a tie.

In 2012, the NFL modified its overtime rules for postseason games to allow both teams the opportunity to possess the ball at least once unless the first team to possess the ball scores a touchdown. In 2017, these rules were extended to the regular season, and the overtime period was shortened from 15 minutes to 10 minutes, which has led to an increase in tied games.

Notable Tied Games

Some tied games have been notable due to the circumstances surrounding them or their impact on later playoff scenarios. For example:

• The 1972 game between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers ended in a 13-13 tie and had implications for the playoff races that season.
• In 2008, a tie between the Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals was particularly notable because Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb admitted after the game that he was unaware that NFL games could end in ties.

Impact of Tied Games

Tied games can have various impacts on the standings, particularly in terms of tiebreakers for playoff seeding. The NFL's complex system of tiebreaking procedures can be influenced by tied games, which are considered half a win and half a loss for each team involved.

List of Tied Games

The following is a partial list of NFL games that have ended in a tie:

• October 24, 1971: Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – 35-35
• November 19, 1972: Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions – 13-13
• November 16, 2008: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cincinnati Bengals – 13-13
• November 24, 2013: Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers – 26-26
• October 24, 2016: Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks – 6-6
• November 1, 2020: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cincinnati Bengals – 23-23

See Also

• Overtime (NFL)
• National Football League playoffs
• List of NFL franchise post-season droughts