- Why does the NFL have ties?
- How do ties in the NFL work?
- How many ties have there been in the NFL?
- When was the last tie in the NFL?
- NFL ties history
- Most ties in NFL history
- How often do ties happen in the NFL?
- Most ties by a team in an NFL season
- Highest-scoring tie NFL game
- Lowest-scoring tie NFL game
- Overtime rule changes history
In the NFL's regular season, you win some, you lose some ... and you tie some.
While the saying "win, lose or draw" is often used as a throwaway phrase from sports figures, it applies to regular-season games in the NFL, as they can end in a tie. Tie games in the NFL are a rarity, but they are not a completely uncommon ending to an overtime period.
Through the decades, the NFL has implemented changes to its overtime rules that, in some ways, increase the likelihood of games ending in a deadlocked score. Each iteration of the league's modern overtime rules has resulted in at least one tie.
Here is everything to know about ties in the NFL, including the number of ties in NFL history, a list of ties in the modern era and a history of the rule changes that lead to ties.
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Why does the NFL have ties?
The NFL has ties as a way to end regular-season games that end with teams having an equal score.
Ties in the NFL are a part of the league's overtime rules. These rules have been amended for the prioritization of player safety. The potential of a game ending in a tie ensures that contests last no longer than 70 minutes.
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How do ties in the NFL work?
In the NFL, a regular-season game ends in a tie when both teams are tied at the end of a 10-minute overtime period. Based on overtime rules implemented in 2025, teams can be tied without scoring in overtime, or if the team that possesses the ball second matches the first offensive possession in the extra period.
In the standings, ties count as a half win and a half loss for each team.
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How many ties have there been in the NFL?
Before overtime was introduced, there were a total of 256 tied games between 1920 and 1973. At that time, games that were tied at the end of regulation ended as a tie.
There have been 30 ties in the NFL since the leaguewide institution of a single sudden-death overtime format in 1974. This figure also includes ties under modifications to the overtime format implemented in 2012, 2017 and 2025.
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When was the last tie in the NFL?
The last tie in the NFL was on Sept. 28, 2025. The Packers and Cowboys tied, 40-40, in Week 4 of the NFL season.
NFL ties history
Here is a complete list of ties since the NFL instituted a single sudden-death overtime period in 1974.
| No. | Date | Away team | Home team | Score |
| 1 | Sept. 22, 1974 | Steelers | Broncos | 35-35 |
| 2 | Sept. 19, 1976 | Rams | Vikings | 10-10 |
| 3 | Nov. 26, 1978 | Vikings | Packers | 10-10 |
| 4 | Oct. 12, 1980 | Packers | Buccaneers | 14-14 |
| 5 | Oct. 4, 1981 | Jets | Dolphins | 28-28 |
| 6 | Dec. 19, 1982 | Packers | Colts | 20-20 |
| 7 | Oct. 24, 1983 | Giants | Cardinals | 20-20 |
| 8 | Nov. 4, 1984 | Eagles | Lions | 23-23 |
| 9 | Oct. 19, 1986 | 49ers | Falcons | 10-10 |
| 10 | Dec. 7, 1986 | Cardinals | Eagles | 10-10 |
| 11 | Sept. 20, 1987 | Broncos | Packers | 17-17 |
| 12 | Oct. 2, 1988 | Chiefs | Jets | 17-17 |
| 13 | Nov. 19, 1989 | Chiefs | Browns | 10-10 |
| 14 | Nov. 16, 1997 | Eagles | Ravens | 10-10 |
| 15 | Nov. 23, 1997 | Giants | Washington | 7-7 |
| 16 | Nov. 10, 2002 | Falcons | Steelers | 34-34 |
| 17 | Nov. 16, 2008 | Eagles | Bengals | 13-13 |
| 18 | Nov. 11, 2012 | Rams | 49ers | 24-24 |
| 19 | Nov. 24, 2013 | Vikings | Packers | 26-26 |
| 20 | Oct. 12, 2014 | Panthers | Bengals | 37-37 |
| 21 | Oct. 23, 2016 | Seahawks | Cardinals | 6-6 |
| 22 | Oct. 30, 2016 | Washington | Bengals | 27-27 |
| 23 | Sept. 9, 2018 | Steelers | Browns | 21-21 |
| 24 | Sept. 16, 2018 | Vikings | Packers | 29-29 |
| 25 | Sept. 8, 2019 | Lions | Cardinals | 27-27 |
| 26 | Sept. 27, 2020 | Bengals | Eagles | 23-23 |
| 27 | Nov. 14, 2021 | Lions | Steelers | 16-16 |
| 28 | Sept. 11, 2022 | Colts | Texans | 20-20 |
| 29 | Dec. 4, 2022 | Washington | Giants | 20-20 |
| 30 | Sept. 28, 2025 | Packers | Cowboys | 40-40 |
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Most ties in NFL history
- Green Bay Packers: 7
- Philadelphia Eagles: 5
- Three teams tied (Bengals, Steelers, Vikings): 4
The Packers have been involved in more ties than any other NFL team, with seven. Green Bay was a part of the third and 30th tie game in NFL history, tying with Minnesota on Nov. 26, 1978, and tying with Dallas on Sept. 28, 2025.
After the Packers, the Eagles have been in the second-most tie games with five. Notably, two of Philadelphia's ties came against Cincinnati. While the Eagles have been a part of 5 ties, when Donovan McNabb was a part of one against the Bengals, he said he wasn't even aware that outcome was a possibility.
Fittingly, there is a three-way tie for third place, with the Bengals, Steelers, and Vikings each having three ties in the modern overtime era. Pittsburgh was a part of the first-ever tie under the new rules, while Minnesota was a participant in the second and third tie games.
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How often do ties happen in the NFL?
Tie games are a rarity in the NFL. Just 29 of 695 (4.2%) overtime games played between 1974 and 2024 resulted in a tie.
Most ties by a team in an NFL season
No team has had more than one tie in an NFL season.
Highest-scoring tie NFL game
The highest-scoring tie game in NFL history was a 43-43 decision between the Boston Patriots and Oakland Raiders on Oct. 16, 1964. This game was played 10 years before overtime rules were implemented in 1974.
The highest-scoring tie game in the overtime era was a 40-40 final score between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers on Sept. 28, 2025.
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Lowest-scoring tie NFL game
Before overtime rules were implemented in 1974, over 65 games ended in a 0-0 tie. The lowest-scoring tie NFL game since 1974 was a 6-6 final score between the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 23, 2016.
Overtime rule changes history
There have been several significant overtime rule changes in NFL history, most of which have come during the Super Bowl era.
1974
The NFL institutes a single, 15-minute sudden-death overtime period. In the regular season, games tied at the end of the 15 minutes are ruled a tie.
2010
The NFL amended its overtime rules for postseason games. A first-possession field goal can not end a playoff game. Only a first-possession touchdown could bring playoff games to an end.
If a team scores a field goal on its first possession, its opponent can win with a touchdown or kick a field goal to extend the game.
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2012
The NFL introduces a modified overtime system for regular-season games. Field goals no longer could end games on the first possession. Only a first-possession touchdown could bring playoff games to a close.
The same rules for scoring a touchdown to win or a field goal to tie apply; however, games tied after the overtime period are ruled a tie.
2017
Overtime rules remain the same, but the period is decreased from 15 minutes to 10 minutes in the regular season in an effort to prioritize player safety.
2025
The NFL changes overtime rules to allow both teams to have possession during the overtime period, even if the first possession results in a touchdown.
If a team scores a field goal or a touchdown on the first overtime possession, the opposing team has an opportunity to match or outdo its opponent. If the game is tied again with time remaining, the next score wins.
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