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Divisional Standings |
Legend: ( X ) -clinched playoff berth | ( Y ) -denotes division winner | ( Z ) -denotes first-round bye | ( * ) -clinched home-field advantage
By Joe Ferreira, NFL playoffs expert. Follow Joe on Twitter: @JoeNFL.
AFC Scenarios: | NFC Scenarios: | |
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS NEW ENGLAND can clinch the AFC East division title with: 1) WIN + NYJ loss or tie 2) TIE + NYJ loss NEW ENGLAND can clinch a playoff berth with: 1) WIN + KC loss or tie 2) WIN + PIT loss or tie 3) TIE + KC loss 4) TIE + PIT loss + HOU loss or tie CINCINNATI BENGALS CINCINNATI can clinch a playoff berth with: 1) WIN + IND loss or tie + HOU loss or tie + NYJ loss as long as BOTH IND and HOU don’t tie 2) WIN + IND loss or tie + HOU loss or tie + KC loss + DEN win or tie as long as BOTH IND and HOU don’t tie |
CAROLINA PANTHERS CAROLINA can clinch the NFC South division title with: 1) WIN or tie 2) ATL loss or tie CAROLINA can clinch a playoff berth with: 1) SEA loss or tie 2) ARI loss or tie + GB loss or tie as long as BOTH teams don’t tie |
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AFC clinches: | NFC clinches: | |
None. | None. | |
During the regular season, the seeds reflect how the playoffs would stand if the season ended up to that point. The NFL playoffs are not based on a pure bracket system. In the divisional playoffs, the No. 1 seed is assured of playing the lowest-seeded Wild Card survivor. There are no restrictions on intra-division games and the higher seed of any matchup will have home-field advantage.
AFC tiebreakers:
NFC tiebreakers:
The six postseason participants from each conference will be seeded as follows:
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:
Three or More Clubs:
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after one or more clubs are eliminated during any step, tie-breaker re-starts at Step One of two-club format. If three clubs remain tied after a fourth club is eliminated during any step, tie-breaker re-starts at Step One of three-club format.)
TO BREAK A TIE FOR THE WILD-CARD TEAM OR AMONG DIVISION WINNERS:
If it is necessary to break ties to determine the two Wild-Card clubs from each conference, the following steps will be taken.
Two Clubs:
Three or More Clubs:
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after one or more clubs are eliminated during any step, tie-breaker re-starts at Step One of two-club format. If three clubs remain tied after a fourth club is eliminated during any step, tie-breaker re-starts at Step One of three-club format.)
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 tie breaker if the top-ranked team in that division qualifies for a Wild-Card berth.
OTHER TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES
Tie Breaking Procedure for Draft:
If ties exist in any grouping except (2) above, such ties shall be broken by strength-of-schedule. If any ties cannot be broken by strength-of-schedule, the divisional or conference tie-breakers, if applicable, shall be applied. Any ties that still exist shall be broken by a coin flip.
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If ties exist in any grouping except (2) above, such ties shall be broken by strength-of-schedule. If any ties cannot be broken by strength-of-schedule, the divisional or conference tie-breakers, if applicable, shall be applied. Any ties that still exist shall be broken by a coin flip.