[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.
The most recent tie game occurred on December 4, 2022, when the New York Giants and Washington Commanders played to a 20–20 draw.
[8] However, 8 other teams have not recorded a tie since the 1974 rule change: the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans.
In 1974, the NFL introduced a single sudden death 15-minute overtime period for all games that were tied at the end of regulation.
[10] In 2012, the league instituted a modified sudden death overtime system to prevent a field goal from the team that won the kickoff from ending the game.