NFL Tie Breaking Procedures (Starting in 2002)

Divisional Ties | Wild Card Ties

The following procedures will be used to break standings ties for postseason playoffs and to determine regular-season schedules:

To Break a Tie within a division...

If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages (Tie games count as ½ win and ½ loss), the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined:

Two Clubs

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, if applicable.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory (winning percentage of teams they have beaten).
6. Strength of Schedule (winning percentage of teams they have played).
7. Best combined ranking among conference team in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin Toss

Three or More Clubs

Note: If two clubs remain tied after eliminating other clubs during any of the following steps, the tiebreaker reverts to step 1 of the "Two Club" format above.

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory (winning percentage of teams they have beaten).
6. Strength of Schedule (winning percentage of teams they have played).
7. Best combined ranking among conference team in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin Toss

To Break a Tie for the Wild-card Team...

If necessary to break ties to determine the Wild Card clubs from each conference and the site of their playoff games, the following steps will be taken:

1. If the tied clubs are from the same division, apply the division tie-breaker (see above)
2. If some of the tied clubs are from the same division, apply the division tie-breaker to eliminate all but 1 club from each division and then apply the following steps for the remaining clubs.
3. If the tied clubs are from different division, apply the following steps.

Two Clubs

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
4. Strength of victory (winning percentage of teams they have beaten).
5. Strength of Schedule (winning percentage of teams they have played).
6. Best combined ranking among conference team in points scored and points allowed.
7. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best net points in conference games.
9. Best net points in all games.
10. Best net touchdowns in all games.
11. Coin Toss

Three or More Clubs

Note: After eliminating any clubs during any of the following steps, restart the tie-breaking steps.

1. Head-to-head sweep (applicable only in one club has defeated each of the others, or if one club has lost to each of the others).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
4. Strength of victory (winning percentage of teams they have beaten).
5. Strength of Schedule (winning percentage of teams they have played).
6. Best combined ranking among conference team in points scored and points allowed.
7. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best net points in conference games.
9. Best net points in all games.
10. Best net touchdowns in all games.
11. Coin Toss