Overtime Excitement
Overtime Excitement

Last season, an impressive 64 percent of all games were within one score in the fourth quarter. With so many close games, it's no surprise that 11 were ultimately decided in overtime.

From Atlanta's 37-34 overtime decision against New Orleans on Kickoff Weekend to Minnesota's 30-24 overtime victory against the New York Jets in December, 2014 was full of thrilling OT action. Seattle added to the excitement with two OT classics, first defeating Denver in a Super Bowl XLVIII rematch in Week 3 and then in a 28-22 victory over Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game to clinch a spot in Super Bowl XLIX.

 

Overtime Excitement: Seahawks' 28-22 victory over Packers in NFC Championship Game
Seahawks' 28-22 OT victory over Packers in NFC Championship Game

The NFL teams with the best overtime records since overtime was instituted in 1974:

Washington 25-14-1 .638
Arizona 24-16-2 .595
Denver 25-17-2 .591
Buffalo 20-14-0 .588
Pittsburgh 21-15-2 .579

A sampling of individual overtime records:

Longest Touchdown Pass

99 Yards Ron Jaworski to Mike Quick, Philadelphia 23, Atlanta 17 (11/10/85)

87 Yards Teddy Bridgewater to Jarius Wright, Minnesota 30, New York Jets 24 (12/7/14)

82 Yards Tom Brady to Troy Brown, New England 19, Miami 13 (10/19/03)

82 Yards Brett Favre to Greg Jennings, Green Bay 19, Denver 13 (10/29/07)

Longest Touchdown Plays

99 Yards (Pass) Ron Jaworski to Mike Quick, Philadelphia 23, Atlanta 17 (11/10/85)

99 Yards (Punt return) Patrick Peterson, Arizona 19, St. Louis 13 (11/6/11)

96 Yards (Run) Garrison Hearst, San Francisco 36, New York Jets 30 (9/6/98)

96 Yards (Kickoff return) Chad Morton, New York Jets 37, Buffalo 31 (9/8/02)

Longest Touchdown Run

96 Yards Garrison Hearst, San Francisco 36, New York Jets 30 (9/6/98)

60 Yards Herschel Walker, Dallas 23, New England 17 (11/15/87)

50 Yards Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh 15, Atlanta 9 (9/12/10)

Longest Field Goal

57 Yards Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland 16, New York Jets 13 (10/19/08)

54 Yards Greg Zuerlein, St. Louis 16, San Francisco 13 (12/2/12)

53 Yards Chris Jacke, Green Bay 23, San Francisco 20 (10/4/96)

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NFL Football: "Overtime Excitement"