How many NFL overtime games
in 2009, 2008, and does coin-toss
winner have unfair advantage?
Updated: March 2010
There were 15 sudden-death overtime games in the NFL in 2009 — 13 in the regular season and 2 in the playoffs.
There were 16 sudden-death overtime games in 2008, 15 in the regular season and 1 in the Wild Card playoffs.
2009 NFL overtime games:
Winners of the overtime coin flip in 2009 won 6 of the 15 games on the advantage of the first OT drive, preventing opponents from overtime possession.
Coin-toss winners were 8-7 in these 15 overtime games. Home teams were 10-5.
Week 1, at Pittsburgh: Steelers 13, Titans 10 (Pittsburgh won toss, received OT kickoff, scored on first drive)*
Week 4, at Cleveland: Bengals 23, Browns 20 (Cincinnati won toss, received OT kickoff, scored on fourth drive)
Week 5, at Kansas City: Cowboys 26, Chiefs 20 (Kansas City won toss, received OT kickoff, Dallas scored on second drive)
Week 5, at Denver: Broncos 20, Patriots 17 (Denver won toss, received OT kickoff, scored on first drive)*
Week 6, at Jacksonville: Jaguars 23, Rams 20 (Jacksonville won toss, received OT kickoff, scored on first drive)*
Week 6, at New York Jets: Bills 16, Jets 13 (New York Jets won toss, received OT kickoff, Buffalo scored on third drive)
Week 11, at Kansas City: Chiefs 27, Steelers 24 (Pittsburgh won toss, received OT kickoff, Kansas City scored on first drive)
Week 11, at New York Giants: Giants 34, Falcons 31 (New York Giants won toss, received OT kickoff, scored on first drive)*
Week 12, at Baltimore: Ravens 20, Steelers 17 (Pittsburgh won toss, received OT kickoff, Baltimore scored on second drive)
Week 13, at Washington: Saints 33, Redskins 30 (Washington won toss, received OT kickoff, New Orleans scored on first drive)
Week 15, at Tennessee: Titans 27, Dolphins 24 (Miami won toss, received OT kickoff, Tennessee scored on first drive)
Week 16, at New Orleans: Buccaneers 20, Saints 17 (Tampa Bay won toss, received OT kickoff, scored on first drive)*
Week 16, at Chicago: Bears 36, Vikings 30 (Chicago won toss, received OT kickoff, scored on third drive)
Wild-card playoffs, at Arizona: Cardinals 51, Packers 45 (Green Bay won toss, received OT kickoff, Arizona scored defensive touchdown)
NFC Championship, at New Orleans: Saints 31, Vikings 28 (New Orleans won toss, received OT kickoff, scored on first drive)*
(*Won coin toss, scored on first possession)
2008 NFL overtime games:
Winners of the overtime coin toss in 2008 won 8 of the 16 games on the advantage of the first OT drive.
Coin-toss winners went 11-4-1 in these 16 overtime games. Home teams were 11-4-1.
Week 2, at Seattle: 49ers 33, Seahawks 30 (San Francisco received OT kickoff, scored on first drive)*
Week 3, at Chicago: Buccaneers 27, Bears 24 (Tampa Bay received OT kickoff, scored on second drive)
Week 3, at New York: Giants 26, Bengals 23 (New York received OT kickoff, scored on second drive)
Week 4, at Jacksonville: Jaguars 30, Texans 27 (Jacksonville received OT kickoff, scored on first drive)*
Week 4, at Pittsburgh: Steelers 23, Ravens 20 (Baltimore received OT kickoff, Pittsburgh scored on first drive)
Week 6, at Arizona: Cardinals 30, Cowboys 24 (Dallas received OT kickoff, Arizona scored on blocked punt)
Week 7, at Oakland: Raiders 16, Jets 13 (New York received OT kickoff, Oakland scored on third drive)
Week 9, at Nashville: Titans 19, Packers 16 (Tennessee received OT kickoff, scored on first drive)*
Week 9, at Kansas City: Buccaneers 30, Chiefs 27 (Tampa Bay received OT kickoff, scored on first drive)*
Week 11, at New England: Jets 34, Patriots 31 (New York received OT kickoff, scored on first drive)*
Week 11, at Cincinnati: Bengals 13, Eagles 13 (Philadelphia received OT kickoff, had 3 possessions plus hail mary)
Week 15, at Chicago: Bears 27, Saints 24 (Chicago received OT kickoff, scored on first drive)*
Week 15, at Atlanta: Falcons 13, Buccaneers 10 (Tampa Bay received OT kickoff, Atlanta scored on first drive)
Week 16, at New York: Giants 34, Panthers 28 (New York received OT kickoff, scored on second drive)
Week 16, at Chicago: Bears 20, Packers 17 (Chicago received OT kickoff, scored on first drive)*
Playoffs, at San Diego: Chargers 23, Colts 17 (San Diego received OT kickoff, scored on first drive)*
(*Won coin toss, scored on first possession)
In 4 of the 16 overtime games of 2008, a team defeated an opponent who finished the season with a superior record; 3 of those 4 wins came after winning the coin toss and scoring on the opening drive. One game ended in a tie. In Week 4, Jacksonville (5-11) defeated Houston (8-8)*. In Week 7, Oakland (5-11) defeated the New York Jets (9-7). In Week 11, the New York Jets (9-7) defeated the New England Patriots (11-5)*. In the Wild Card playoff, San Diego (8-8) defeated Indianapolis (12-4)*. In Week 11, Cincinnati (4-11-1) tied Philadelphia (9-6-1).