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How NFL Breaks Ties for Playoff Spots Explained

12/11/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The NFL uses a step-by-step tiebreaking procedure to determine playoff positions when teams have identical records.
The process begins with head-to-head results and then evaluates division performance and conference performance.
If ties remain, criteria such as strength of victory and net points are used, and wild-card rules differ based on whether tied teams share a division.
The tiebreaking framework ensures that only one team advances at each step.

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Story summary

The NFL uses a step-by-step tiebreaking procedure to determine playoff positions when teams have identical records.
The process begins with head-to-head results and then evaluates division performance and conference performance.
If ties remain, criteria such as strength of victory and net points are used, and wild-card rules differ based on whether tied teams share a division.
The tiebreaking framework ensures that only one team advances at each step.