Tie-Breakers

We are knee deep in Week 15 action right now, which means that it's time to get ready for the 2010-11 NFL playoffs. Don't be the idiot at the office. Study these tie-breaker procedures before you start to talk at the water cooler about someone like Tennessee making the playoffs.

The first four seeds in each conference go to the division champions. The fifth and sixth seeds can be any of the remaining 12 teams in the conference.


If a tie is between division rivals:
1. The ultimate tie-breaker is win percentage/record.
2. Head-to-head win percentage. What is each team's win percentage against one another this regular season?
3. Win percentage against division opponents. What is each team's win percentage in the six regular season games against division foes?
4. Win percentage in common games. What is each team's win percentage against common opponents. For example, if Team A beats Team C and Team B losses to Team C, Team A has the tie-breaker.
5. Win percentage against conference opponents. What is each team's win percentage in the 12 regular season games against conference opponents?
6. Strength of victory. What is the difference between each team's points for and points against?
7. Strength of schedule. What is the combined win percentage of each team's 16 opponents?
8. Conference opponents' strength of victory. What is the combined difference between each team's points for and points against?
9. All opponents' strength of victory. What is the combined difference between each team's points for and points against?
10. Net points in common games. Difference between points for and points against in common games.
11. Net points in all games.
12. Net touchdowns.
13. Coin toss.

If a tie is between conference opponents:
Follow the same steps, but division record holds no bearing and conference win percentage precedes win percentage in common games.

- Jeff Laboon