Well, I’ve been asked a lot of times if you can have a tie in an NFL Football game. Although it is possible, it’s extremely rare. I have been a big fan of NFL Football for many years now, and I thought it would be interesting to learn more about it.
To start off, apparently ties have become incredibly uncommon in the NFL. In fact, since 1990 there have only been eighteen ties in the history of the NFL. I remember one of them was when the Oakland Raiders and the Philadelphia Eagles both scored a field goal during the final few seconds of overtime. This game back in 2008 ended in a thirteen-all tie.
In order for a tie to happen both teams must be at an equal level. The scores have to be the exact same, nobody can have more points or even one point more than the other. Both teams have to go scoreless during the overtime period which is why it is exceptionally rare for a tie to happen. It’s kind of crazy how so many games can happen every season and yet only a few end in a tie.
Another interesting fact is that ties actually impact the playoff standings. It doesn’t happen often, but when a tie does occur then the team that had the most touchdowns in the game is rewarded with the better playoff standing. For the teams that tie, they are both given half a win and half a loss in their records. So basically, it’s like the teams are scoring zero points against each other.
Something that’s really great about ties is that it’s a great way to showcase the competitive spirit between both teams. A tie may not seem like a big deal, and it’s not really rewarded like a win, but it’s still a way of each team showing that they’re just as good as the other and willing to fight until the end.
Then there is the fact that a tie helps a team solidify their chances of making the playoffs. When a team wins, they often earn more points than a team that loses, but when a team ties, they usually get enough points to be just on the edge of making the playoffs and so they are usually able to solidify their chances by just tying the game.
Now, I do understand that ties can create a bit of controversy. Fans of one team may be disappointed that they didn’t get the win and then there is the issue of what happens if there is a playoff tie. In that case, the teams would most likely have to play another overtime period where the first team to score wins, and in some cases, a point-differential system would be used to determine which team wins the game.
So, when it comes to the question of whether or not you can have a tie in an NFL Football game, the answer is yes. Although ties are incredibly rare, they can still happen so you have to be prepared for it if it ever does. A tie can be a great way to showcase the competitive spirit between two teams, and it’s also a great way to help a team solidify their chances of making the playoffs.