NFL Playoff Tiebreakers

When the NFL realigned into eight four-team divisions to accommodate the arrival of the Houston Texans in 2002, the league adopted new tiebreaking rules for determining playoff teams.

The seven postseason participants from each conference are to be seeded as follows:

No. 1 seed: Best record in the NFC or AFCNo. 2 seed: Second-best record for a division winnerNo. 3 seed: Third-best record for a division winnerNo. 4 seed: Fourth-best record for a division winnerNo. 5 seed: Best record for Wild-Card teamsNo. 6 seed: Second-best record for Wild-Card teamsNo. 7 seed: Third-best record for Wild-Card teams

The following procedures are used to break standings ties for postseason playoffs and to determine regular-season schedules. Tie games count as one-half win and one-half loss for both clubs.

NFL Playoff Tiebreakers

Breaking a tie in a division

If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same division finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined.

Two Clubs:

Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs)Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the divisionBest won-lost-tied percentage in common gamesBest won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conferenceStrength of victoryStrength of scheduleBest combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowedBest combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowedBest net points in common gamesBest net points in all gamesBest net touchdowns in all gamesCoin toss

Three or More Clubs:

If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated during any step, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format.

Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs)Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the divisionBest won-lost-tied percentage in common gamesBest won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the…


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Publish date : 2023-11-27 19:35:16

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