The following procedures will be used to break standings ties for postseason playoffs.

NOTE: Tie games count as one-half win and one-half loss for both clubs.

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

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2. Best winning percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best winning percentage in common games.
4. Strength of victory (winning% of defeated teams by the clubs).
5. Strength of schedule (winning% of all teams played by the clubs).
6. Best combined ranking among division teams in points scored and points allowed.
7. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best net points in common games.
9. Best net points in all games.
10. Best net touchdowns in all games.

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).

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).
2. Best winning percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best winning percentage in common games.
4. Strength of victory (winning% of defeated teams by the clubs).
6. Strength of schedule (winning% of all teams played by the clubs).
7. Best combined ranking among division teams 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.

TO BREAK A TIE FOR THE WILD-CARD TEAM

If it is necessary to break ties to determine the two Wild-Card clubs from each conference, the following steps will be taken:

1. If the tied clubs are from the same division, apply division tiebreakers.
2. If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps:

Two Clubs
1. Head-to-head, if applicable.
2. Best winning percentage in common games, minimum of four.
3. Strength of victory (winning% of defeated teams by the clubs).
4. Strength of schedule (winning% of all teams played by the clubs).
5. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
6. Best net points in all games.
7. Best net touchdowns in all games.
8. One-game playoff.

Three or More Clubs

(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of applicable two-club format.)

1. Apply division tiebreaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two Wild-Card participants.
2. Head-to-head sweep. (Applicable only if one club has defeated each of the others or if one club has lost to each of the others.)
3. Best winning percentage in common games, minimum of four.
4. Strength of victory (winning% of defeated teams by the clubs).
5. Strength of schedule (winning% of all teams played by the clubs).
6. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
7. Best net points in all games.
8. Best net touchdowns in all games.
9. One-game playoff.
 

When the first Wild-Card team has been identified, the procedure is repeated to name the second Wild-Card, i.e., eliminate all but the highest-ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. In situations where three or more teams from the same division are involved in the procedure, the original seeding of the teams remains the same for subsequent applications of the tiebreaker if the top-ranked team in that division qualifies for a Wild-Card berth.
 

OTHER TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES

1. Only one club advances to the playoffs in any tie-breaking step. Remaining tied clubs revert to the first step of the applicable division or Wild-Card tiebreakers. As an example, if two clubs remain tied in any tie-breaker step after all other clubs have been eliminated, the procedure reverts to step one of the two-club format to determine the winner. When one club wins the tiebreaker, all other clubs revert to step 1 of the applicable two-club or three-club format.

2. In comparing division and overall records or records against common opponents among tied teams, the best winning percentage is the deciding factor since teams may have played an unequal number of games.

3. To determine home-field priority among division winners, apply Wild-Card tiebreakers.

4. To determine home-field priority for Wild-Card qualifiers, apply division tiebreakers (if teams are from the same division) or Wild-Card tiebreakers (if teams are from different divisions).