Free tool on this page: Live list: the ties being broken in today's standings
When two NFL teams finish with the same record, the first tiebreaker is head to head. If that does not settle it, the league works down a fixed list of 12 steps until one team comes out ahead. The list for a division title differs a little from the list for a wild card.
The 12 steps for two teams in the same division
These steps decide a division when two teams end level. They are used in this order, and the first step that separates the teams ends the tie.
- Head to head: the record in the games the two teams played against each other.
- Division record: the record in the six games inside the division.
- Common games: the record against the opponents that both teams played.
- Conference record: the record against teams from the same conference.
- Strength of victory: the combined record of every team a club has beaten.
- Strength of schedule: the combined record of every team a club has played.
- Points ranking in the conference: a club's rank in points scored plus its rank in points allowed, among conference teams.
- Points ranking in the league: the same ranking among all 32 teams.
- Net points in common games: points scored less points allowed in those games.
- Net points in all games: the same sum over the whole season.
- Net touchdowns in all games: touchdowns scored less touchdowns allowed.
- Coin toss: the last resort when every other step is level.
The NFL publishes the full procedures. Our standings follow them step by step.
What changes for a wild card
A wild card tie can involve teams from different divisions, so the list starts in another way.
- Two teams from the same division use the division list above.
- Head to head only counts if the two teams played each other.
- Conference record is the second step, and division record is not used.
- Common games are the third step, and each team needs at least four of them.
- From strength of victory down, the steps match the division list, with net points in conference games in place of common games.
That leaves 11 steps for a wild card tie between two teams. Our guide to what a wild card is shows who holds the six spots today.
When three or more teams are tied
The same lists are used, with three extra rules.
- One team for each division: in a wild card tie, the division list first picks the best team from each division, and only those teams go on.
- Head to head needs a sweep: among three or more wild card teams, it only counts when one team beat all the others or lost to all of them.
- The tie starts again: when a step removes a team, the teams still level go back to the first step.
A real three team tie
Washington, Seattle and Atlanta all finished the 2021 season with 7 wins and 10 losses. Washington had beaten Atlanta 34 to 30 and Seattle 17 to 15. That sweep put Washington ahead of both.
Seattle and Atlanta then started again as a two team tie. They had not played each other, and each had 4 wins and 8 losses in the conference. Common games settled it.
Seattle in common games: 4 wins and 2 losses
Atlanta in common games: 3 wins and 3 losses
Seattle finished ahead of Atlanta
The ties being broken right now
These lists come from today's standings. Each line names teams with the same record and the step that puts one of them ahead.
AFC
- The Steelers are ahead of the Bengals on head to head.
- The Chiefs are ahead of the Broncos on division record.
- The Chiefs are ahead of the Jaguars on conference record.
- The Raiders are ahead of the Ravens on conference record.
- The Dolphins are ahead of the Titans on conference record.
NFC
- The Lions are ahead of the Bears and the Vikings on head to head.
- The Vikings are ahead of the Bears on head to head.
- The Buccaneers are ahead of the Saints on division record.
- The Seahawks are ahead of the Rams on division record.
- The Buccaneers are ahead of the Cardinals on conference record.
- The Cardinals are ahead of the Saints on conference record.
Updated Nov 15, 4:31 PM ET, week 10.
The order can change after every game. The NFL playoff picture shows the full standings behind these ties.
Which step decides most ties
In the final standings of the 2021 to 2025 seasons, teams with the same record had to be separated 55 times. The chart and the table show the step that settled each tie.
| Step that settled the tie | Ties | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Head to head | 24 | 44 in 100 |
| Conference record | 15 | 27 in 100 |
| Common games | 9 | 16 in 100 |
| Strength of victory | 6 | 11 in 100 |
| Division record | 1 | 2 in 100 |
24 + 15 + 9 + 6 + 1 = 55 ties
24 ÷ 55 = 0.44, so head to head settled 44 in 100
24 + 15 + 9 + 1 = 49 ties settled before strength of victory
No tie in those five seasons went past strength of victory. Points and the coin toss were never needed.
A tie that decided the top seed
Tennessee and Kansas City both finished the 2021 season with 12 wins and 5 losses. Tennessee had beaten Kansas City 27 to 3 in October. Head to head gave the Titans the top seed in the AFC and the week off that comes with it.
The Chiefs took the second seed and had to play in the wild card round.
What this does to your team's chances
Tiebreakers matter most in December, when several teams sit on the same record. A team can be level with a rival and still be behind it for a playoff place. One earlier game is often the reason.
The NFL playoff chances calculator applies these steps to every season it plays out. Pick a team to see its chance and the ties it is part of today. The clinching scenarios page shows what each team still needs.
Our guide to how the NFL playoffs work covers the seeds, the bye and the bracket.