How does the NFL break a tie for a division title?

Two clubs tied in a division are separated by head-to-head record first, then division record, then record in common games, then conference record, then strength of victory and strength of schedule. A tie among three or more clubs starts with the same head-to-head sweep rule before moving down the same list.

How does the NFL break a tie for a wild card spot?

Only the highest-placed club in each division is eligible, so any intra-division tie is broken first. The remaining clubs are then separated by head-to-head record, conference record, common games, strength of victory and strength of schedule.

How many teams make the NFL playoffs?

Seven from each conference: the four division winners, seeded one through four by record, and three wild card clubs seeded five through seven. Only the number one seed receives a first-round bye.

NFL Tiebreaking Procedure

This is the official NFL tie-breaking procedure this site implements exactly, including the current three-Wild-Card-per-conference rule.

Official textThe procedure as published, reproduced verbatim.

The tie-breaking procedure is as follows

TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES

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

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 the best won-lost-tied percentage, 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.
4
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5
Strength of victory in all games.
6
Strength of schedule in all games.
7
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
8
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
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 one-or-more clubs are eliminated during any step, tiebreaker restarts at Step 1 of two-club format. If three clubs remain tied after a fourth club is eliminated during any step, tiebreaker restarts at Step 1 of three-club format.)

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 in all games.
6
Strength of schedule in all games.
7
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
8
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
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 three Wild Card clubs from each conference, the following steps will be taken:

A
If all the tied clubs are from the same division, apply division tiebreaker.
B
If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps:

TWO CLUBS

1
Head-to-head, if applicable.
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 in all games.
5
Strength of schedule in all games.
6
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
7
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
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

1
Apply division tiebreaker to eliminate all but highest-ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to Step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tiebreaker 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 (apply only if one has defeated each of the others, or one club has lost to each of the others).
3
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
4
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
5
Strength of victory in all games.
6
Strength of schedule in all games.
7
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
8
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
9
Best net points in conference games.
10
Best net points in all games.
11
Best net touchdowns in all games.
12
Coin toss. When the first Wild Card team has been identified, the procedure is repeated to name the second and third Wild Card (i.e., eliminate all but the highest-ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to Step 2). In situations in which three 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 tiebreaker step after all other clubs have been eliminated, the procedure reverts to Step 1 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 records against common opponents among tied teams, the best won-lost-tied 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).
5
To determine the best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed, add a team's position in the two categories, and the lowest score wins. For example, if Team A is first in points scored and second in points allowed, its combined ranking is “3.” If Team B is third in points scored and first in points allowed, its combined ranking is “4.” Team A then wins the tiebreaker. If two teams are tied for a position, both teams are awarded the ranking as if they held it solely. For example, if Team A and Team B are tied for first in points scored, each team is assigned a ranking of “1” in that