How long is the NFL overtime? Rules for regular season explained

Rams vs 49ers on Thursday Night Football went into overtime after ending in a tie, with the NFL’s 10-minute OT rule coming into play.

Updated on: Oct 3, 2025, 12:08:12 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Los Angeles Rams vs the San Francisco 49ers game on Thursday Night Football is the latest game in the NFL regular season to reach overtime. The overtime is played for 10 minutes when two teams end the game in a tie.

The Rams vs 49ers game reached overtime. (AP)

In overtime, the Rams drove but failed on fourth-and-1 at the 49ers’ 11, allowing Piñeiro’s fourth field goal. McVay regretted the play call. Sigle and Lenoir stopped Williams, while Kendrick Bourne had 10 catches for 142 yards, and McCaffrey totaled 139 yards for San Francisco.

Jones played through injury, and Shanahan praised the defense’s effort, calling it a “brick wall” that ended the game in the 49ers’ favor.

How Does NFL Overtime Rules Work?

In the NFL, overtime is 10 minutes in the regular season. A coin toss decides possession. If the team receiving the ball scores a touchdown on its first drive, they win. If they score a field goal, the other team gets a chance. If tied after 10 minutes, the game ends in a tie.

Kyle Shanahan Reacts To Thrilling 49ers Win

The star of the 49ers' last-minute win over the Rams was Mac Jones, the QB who came in place of Brock Purdy, who is out with a turf toe injury he picked up in Week 1. Mac Jones ran the show from the very first quarter, taking San Francisco over the lines in the final minutes of the game, even though he struggled with a leg injury He passed for 342 yards and two touchdowns, leaving Head Coach Kyle Shanahan thrilled.

Also read: Why isn't Brock Purdy playing tonight? Latest on the San Francisco 49ers QB's toe injury

After the game, Shanahan said: “They were unbelievable. We talked about how long this game was going to be, how focused we had to be, how competitive we had to be for the entire time. Started out great, but it’s a good team.

"They tightened it up. Got real tight, then lost a number of dudes. We had to overcome losing two D-linemen in that game, and the D-line is still stepping it up big. That was a huge character win.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

Catch all the latest Sports News, scores, and highlights in one place. Stay updated with real-time coverage of your favorite games and athletes along with Lionel Messi latest updates.