NFL Division Tie Breaker Rules

[Fan_in_Kettering]

To Break A Tie Within 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 division.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Strength of victory.
Strength of schedule.
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best net points in common games.
Best net points in all games.
Best net touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss

Three or More Clubs

(Note: 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 division.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Strength of victory.
Strength of schedule.
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best net points in common games.
Best net points in all games.
Best net touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss

[Sled21]

Won't matter after we sweep the Ravens and Split with the Browns.

[basballguy]

I don't know why i thought division record came before H2H....maybe it's because when tied the H2H is frequently 1-1?

I am glad 3 of our L's are to the NFC though. If we get mixed up in a CF of wildcard standing that'll be helpful.

[*Go Cards*]

(12-19-2021, 09:53 PM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: To Break A Tie Within 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 division.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Strength of victory.
Strength of schedule.
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best net points in common games.
Best net points in all games.
Best net touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss

Three or More Clubs

(Note: 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 division.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Strength of victory.
Strength of schedule.
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best net points in common games.
Best net points in all games.
Best net touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss

Good info that I may have to come back to review in a few weeks

[BoomerFan]

I'm still not sure I understand how head to head works with three participants. Yes they currently hold the head to head over us, but we hold it over the Ravens. Meanwhile the Browns have split with the Ravens. Do the Browns have a better claim than the Ravens to 1st place through the communitive property (they beat us, we beat the Ravens)? What if the Browns had lost both their games to the Ravens (but somehow still had the same record)? I guess you just move on to the next tie breaking step?

[Ctfan73]

(12-19-2021, 11:32 PM)BoomerFan Wrote: I'm still not sure I understand how head to head works with three participants. Yes the currently hold the head to head over us, but we hold it over the Ravens. Meanwhile the Browns have split with the Ravens. Do the Browns have a better claim than the Ravens to 1st place through the communitive property (they beat us, we beat the Ravens)? What if the Browns had lost both their games to the Ravens (but somehow still had the same record)? I guess you just move on to the next tie breaking step?

Browns 2-1
Bengals 1-1
Ravens 1-2

Browns currently have the best head to head %

If head to head is a tie you go to divisional record.

[Bengalholic]

(12-19-2021, 11:32 PM)BoomerFan Wrote: I'm still not sure I understand how head to head works with three participants. Yes the currently hold the head to head over us, but we hold it over the Ravens. Meanwhile the Browns have split with the Ravens. Do the Browns have a better claim than the Ravens to 1st place through the communitive property (they beat us, we beat the Ravens)? What if the Browns had lost both their games to the Ravens (but somehow still had the same record)? I guess you just move on to the next tie breaking step?

Browns are 2-1 versus Ravens and Bengals
Bengals are 1-1 vs Browns and Ravens
Ravens are 1-2 vs Browns and Bengals

So, if all 3 were 8-6, that would be the order in the division.

[BoomerFan]

(12-19-2021, 11:39 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: Browns are 2-1 versus Ravens and Bengals
Bengals are 1-1 vs Browns and Ravens
Ravens are 1-2 vs Browns and Bengals

So, if all 3 were 8-6, that would be the order in the division.

Ah that makes sense!

[Joelist]

(12-19-2021, 11:39 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: Browns are 2-1 versus Ravens and Bengals
Bengals are 1-1 vs Browns and Ravens
Ravens are 1-2 vs Browns and Bengals

So, if all 3 were 8-6, that would be the order in the division.

This is also why if we beat the Rats Sunday we own this tiebreaker too

[reuben.ahmed]

(12-21-2021, 05:57 PM)Joelist Wrote: This is also why if we beat the Rats Sunday we own this tiebreaker too

But we would lose it again if the Browns beat us. It will be an interesting ending to this season, fo sho.

[Joelist]

The weirdest scenario out there becomes possible depending on this Sunday.....

IF

We beat the Rats, the Packers beat the Stains and the Chiefs beat the Stealers

THEN

We can clinch the AFCN with a victory over the Chiefs the following week.