What Would Have Happened if The Chiefs-Ravens Game Had Ended in a Tie? NFL Regular Season Rules Explained

In the final seconds of the game between the Ravens and the Chiefs, the game was almost tied as Ravens’ tight end Isaiah Likely caught a TD pass from Lamar Jackson. However, he was unfortunately out of bounds by just a few inches, and the Chiefs ended the day with a win.

But what would have happened if the TE had not been out of bounds?

With the Chiefs taking a ten-point lead in the third quarter, a win was looking unlikely for Jackson’s Ravens. But his potential game-tying TD breathed new life into fans. Officials initially ruled it a completed catch, but reviewing footage revealed that Likely had been out of bounds.

If it had tied, the game would go into a 10-minute overtime period. Before the OT began, a coin toss would’ve determined which team would receive the ball first.

The overtime rules are designed to keep the excitement alive. If the Chiefs had won the toss and scored a touchdown on their initial possession, the game would have been over, and they would’ve won.

However, if they only managed a field goal, the Ravens would’ve gotten a chance to respond.

If then the Ravens scored a touchdown, they would’ve registered a win; but if they had kicked a field goal, it would have led to sudden death.

If the OT also ends with tied scores, both teams share the outcome. But have two teams ever tied in the regular season?

Tied games in NFL history

Ties in the regular season are rare but not unheard of. The last tied game happened on December 4, 2022, when the New York Giants and Washington Commanders finished with a 20-20 draw, settling for shared glory. Since the introduction of overtime in 1974, only 29 games have witnessed the rare and intriguing moment of a tied score.

Perhaps the most thrilling tie happened in 2014, when the matchup between the Panthers and the Bengals made history as the highest-scoring tie in NFL history, finishing at 37-37.

A thrilling 97-yard touchdown return by Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones helped tie the game late in the fourth quarter.

After both teams kicked field goals in regulation to reach the tie, the game moved into overtime. Bengals kicker Mike Nugent missed a 36-yard field goal attempt as time expired in overtime, sealing the tie.