In the National Football League (NFL), a tied game occurs when a regular season game ends with both teams having an equal score after one 10-minute overtime period.[1][2] Ties have counted as a half-win and half-loss in league standings since 1972; before that, ties were not counted in the standings at all.[3] Tie games were once frequent in the NFL, but have become increasingly uncommon due to a rule change in 1974 that extended the existing sudden-death overtime for post-season games into the regular season.[4] Unlike in soccer, where teams routinely play for ties due to the benefit of a point in the standings, NFL teams never play for ties; ties are most often the result of mishaps or mistakes from the teams involved. Tied games are considered to be the least desired outcome a football game can produce.[5]
From 1920 to 1973, there were a total of 256 tied games. Only three seasons prior to the rule change went without a tied game, while five seasons had at least ten ties. The most ties, 17, occurred in the 1920 season.[6] Since overtime was introduced in 1974, there have been 29 tied games. The most ties recorded in a season since the introduction of overtime is two; this has happened in five seasons (1986, 1997, 2016, 2018, and 2022). The most recent tie game occurred on December 4, 2022, when the New York Giants and Washington Commanders played to a 20–20 draw.[7] The Jacksonville Jaguars, who joined the NFL in 1995, are the only current NFL team that has never recorded a tied game.[8]
- ^ "Rams-49ers tie likely not enough to alter NFL rule". FOX Sports. Archived from the original on 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
- ^ Campbell, Dave (2012-11-13). "Rams-49ers tie likely not enough to alter NFL rule". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Archived from the original on 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
- ^ Piascik, Andy (2005). "Old and New Style: Winning Percentages" (PDF). The Coffin Corner. 27 (5). Professional Football Researchers Association: 21–23. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 2, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
- ^ Jonsson, Patrick (November 12, 2012). "First NFL tie since 2008, between Rams and 49ers: What is this, soccer?". The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
- ^ Graham, Bryan Armen. "An argument in favor of tie games". Fan Nation. SI.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
PFRwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Giants, Commanders flummoxed by tie amid playoff chase". ESPN. December 4, 2022. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ Molski, Max (September 11, 2021). "Looking back at the most recent ties in NFL history". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
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