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 Playoff tiebreakers
New England earns the No. 3 seed over Cincinnati based on strength of victory (.450 to the Bengals' .438).
N.Y. Jets and Baltimore finish ahead of Houston based on conference record (Ravens' 7-5 and Jets' 7-5 to the Texans' 6-6).
N.Y. Jets earn the No. 5 seed over of Baltimore based on common games (4-1 to the Ravens' 1-4).
Baltimore earns the No. 6 seed over Houston based on conference record (7-5 to the Texans' 6-6).
AFC Division tiebreakers
Baltimore finishes ahead of Pittsburgh based on division record (3-3 to the Steelers' 2-4).
AFC non-Playoff tiebreakers
Houston finishes ahead of Pittsburgh based on common games (4-1 to the Texans' 2-3).
Denver finishes ahead of Tennessee based on conference record (6-6 to the Titans' 4-8).
Miami finishes ahead of Jacksonville based on head to head (1-0).
Cleveland finishes ahead of Oakland based on head to head (1-0).
NFC Playoff tiebreakers
Green Bay earns the No. 5 seed over Philadelphia based on common games (4-1 to the Eagles' 3-2).
NFC Division tiebreakers
Dallas wins the NFC East Division over Philadelphia based on head to head (2-0).
NFC non-Playoff tiebreakers
Carolina finishes ahead of San Francisco and the N.Y. Giants based on conference record (8-4 to the 49ers' 7-5 and the Giants' 6-6).
San Francisco finishes ahead of the N.Y. Giants based on conference record (7-5 and the Giants' 6-6).
Detroit (Week 12), St. Louis (Week 12), Tampa Bay (Week 12), Washington (Week 13), Chicago (Week 14), Seattle (Week 15), Carolina (Week 15), Atlanta (Week 15), San Francisco (Week 15), N.Y. Giants (Week 16)
Click here for the official tiebreaking procedures.
The Steelers are kicking themselves in the behind now that the jets have beat Indy. After the 1 o'clock games today the future was looking bright for Pittsburgh making it into the playoffs. BUT now that the Jets beat Indy and Denver is presently maki
...(more)
I am sure that I will have many nay sayers about this blog, but there is something else to chew on. Sure we are all upset that the Colts pulled their starters, but here is my conspiracy theory. Why pull your starters and give life back to
...(more)
