No, an NFL playoff game cannot end in a tie. In the preseason and regular season, games can end in ties. However, with the league needing a team to move on to the next round of the playoffs, there is no possibility of a tie in the postseason.

The NFL playoffs are one week away and most of the field is set entering Week 18. Here's what to know about the postseason format and bracket.

Here is more on the NFL tiebreaker process for the 2026 playoffs. The NFL has a deep set of tiebreakers for divisions that can arise from ties between two and three or more teams. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs). Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.