Tie (draw)
A tie occurs when results are identical or inconclusive.
In competitive sports, a tie or draw happens when the results are identical or no clear winner emerges. This outcome, also called a deadlock, is possible in some sports and games but not all. The term "tie" is common in North America, while "draw" is used elsewhere.
When a winner must be determined, various methods exist. These include using another measure like aggregate point difference, continuing play into extra time (sometimes with sudden death rules), holding a penalty shootout or bowl-out, scheduling a rematch later, or deciding by chance, such as a coin toss. The rules for resolving draws are rarely uniform across an entire sport and are usually set by the competition's regulations.
In other areas like politics, tie-breaking methods also apply. Having an odd number of voters can help—for example, after the Doge of Venice election deadlocked with a committee of 40, the number was increased to 41—but this may fail if a member is absent or abstains, or if there are more than two candidates. Often, a member who normally does not vote will cast a deciding vote in a deadlock. Random methods like a coin toss may also be used. In some legislative bodies, a casting vote follows strict rules; for instance, the Speaker of the British House of Commons follows Speaker Denison's rule, voting to allow further discussion if possible, otherwise favoring the status quo.
In chess, a draw can result from stalemate, agreement between players, the fifty-move rule (or its seventy-five-move extension), threefold repetition (or fivefold repetition), or insufficient material to checkmate. At top-level play, about half of games end in a draw.
In boxing, a draw occurs when a match goes the full number of rounds and judges award equal points, or when three judges give a split decision (one for each fighter and one draw) or a majority draw (two judges score it a draw). Draws are rare, as some scoring systems prevent equal points. In a championship bout, the champion keeps the title. In tournament quarterfinals or semifinals, a tiebreaker round is held.
In professional sumo, draws were once common but are no longer used. Situations that would have led to draws—such as close results, exhaustion, or injury—are now resolved with immediate rematches, temporary breaks, or forfeiture.
In most professional tennis, a tiebreaker rule applies in each set to avoid long matches.
- Nfl tie example
- Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers, 40–all tie on September 28, 2025
- Nfl overtime length
- 10 minutes in regular season, 15-minute quarters in postseason
- Nfl tie winning percentage
- Counts as half a win and half a loss
- Nfl first overtime tie
- Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1974
- Nfl prior to 2025
- Team could win with touchdown on first possession
Lore & Background
In the National Football League, tied games were commonplace through the 1960s but became exceedingly rare with the introduction of sudden death overtime in 1974. The first game under this new rule ended in a tie between the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers. Modifications to overtime rules within the past ten years have made ties somewhat more common. The most recent NFL tied game occurred on September 28, 2025, when the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers ended 40–all after overtime, with the Packers scoring a game-tying field goal after failing on a last-play touchdown attempt. In the NFL as of 2025, both teams must have at least one possession in overtime in both regular season and postseason games. In regular season, the game ends in a tie if the score is still tied after the ten-minute overtime has expired. In postseason, they keep playing 15-minute quarters until a winner is determined. Prior to 2025, a team could win in overtime with a touchdown on the first possession; if only a field goal was scored, the other team could tie with a field goal or win with a touchdown. Tied games are listed as part of a team's official record, counting as half a win and half a loss. A game ending in a scoreless tie has never occurred since the introduction of overtime.
Reader's Guide
The concept of a tie in ice hockey, as in other sports, represents an outcome where results are identical or inconclusive. The article notes that ties or draws are possible in some but not all sports, and the rules governing their resolution are rarely uniform across an entire sport, being specified by the rules of the competition. In instances where a winner must be determined, methods include extra time, sudden death, penalty shootouts, rematches, or even chance (e.g., a coin toss). The article provides context from other sports: in boxing, draws occur when judges award equal points, and the champion retains the title; in sumo, draws were once common but are no longer used, with immediate rematches or forfeiture now resolving such situations. In tennis, tiebreakers are used to avoid lengthy matches, though historically the final set of some Grand Slam tournaments did not use one, allowing virtually unlimited games. The article also discusses ties in video games, where double KOs or time-over with equal life bars result in draws, often leading to sudden death rounds. In politics, tie-breaking methods include odd-numbered voters, casting votes, or random choice. The significance of ties lies in their rarity in some sports and their potential to create memorable, controversial, or rule-changing moments, as seen in the NFL's evolving overtime rules.
Did You Know?
- The word 'tie' is usually used in North America, whereas 'draw' is usual elsewhere.
- In the NFL, tied games count as half a win and half a loss in a team's official record.
- The first NFL game under sudden death overtime in 1974 ended in a tie between the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers.
- In boxing, if a championship bout ends in a draw, the champion usually retains the title.
More in Ice Hockey Rules and Play 1-18
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