How to Determine the Winner of a Tiebreaker

The final weeks of the National Football League regular season are filled with speculation about which teams will secure their place in the playoffs and which teams will see their season end the first weekend of January. The scenarios are often confusing for fans, particularly those who do not fully understand the tie-breaking procedures of the league, which include multiple steps for eliminating teams and different rules for two-team ties and ties featuring more teams.

Things You'll Need

  • NFL standings
  • NFL schedule
  • NFL statistics
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Instructions

  1. Tie-Breaking Basics

    • 1

      Break all ties within a division first, if tie-breaking for a wild-card spot. For example, if the Jets, Dolphins and Ravens are all 10-6, a tie-breaker would first be applied to find the winner of the Jets-Dolphins tie, since they are in the same division. Then apply the tiebreaker between the remaining team and the Ravens.

    • 2

      Stop progressing through the levels of a tiebreaker the first time one team has sole claim to the best result in that level. For instance, if you are comparing three teams based on best divisional record, and one of those teams has a divisional record superior to the other two, that team wins the tiebreaker. Then you can start over with the first tiebreaker for the remaining two clubs.

    • 3

      Check for a head-to-head advantage for one of the teams. In the event of a multiple-team tie, only award a head-to-head tiebreaker win if one team has played all the other teams in the tie and is undefeated in the games. A team can also be eliminated from a multi-team tie if it has played all the other teams in the tie and lost each time.

    • 4

      Compare divisional record, then record against common opponents and finally conference record if there is an intradivision tie. For ties between teams from different divisions, compare conference record and then common opponents. If teams are still tied, examine strength of victory.

    • 5

      Add the records of all teams defeated by each team in the tiebreaker and compare to find strength of victory. If the teams are still tied, apply the strength of schedule tiebreaker.

    • 6

      Add the records of every team the tied teams have played and compare to determine strength of schedule.

    • 7

      Find each team's average conference rank for points scored and points against if the teams are still tied after schedule strength has been compared. For example, a team that is third in points scored and fifth in points allowed would beat a team ranked first in points scored and tenth in points allowed. Compare average league rank for points scored and points against if a tie persists.

    • 8

      Compare net points in common games for teams tied within a division if the previous tiebreaker still results in a tie. Net points is points scored minus points allowed. For teams from different divisions that are still tied, compare net points for conference games.

    • 9

      Compare net points in all games if the teams are still tied.

    • 10

      Compare net touchdowns in all games if the teams remain deadlocked. Net touchdowns is the number of touchdowns scored minus touchdowns allowed.

    • 11

      Flip a coin.