MontanaHawk05":2tjlbqns said:
Cartire":2tjlbqns said:
Lords of Scythia":2tjlbqns said:
MontanaHawk05":2tjlbqns said:
If the Cowboys lose tonight they'll have the same record as the Seahawks and the tiebreaker comes into play.
but not head to head. Any 3-way or more tie removes head to head tie breakers.
According to what I'm reading on the NFL website, head-to-head tie breakers apply in every situation.
The difference with three or more clubs is that a division with two or more representatives in the tie (in this case, the NFC West with SEA and SF) would just need to eliminate one of those teams first. After that, the steps are identical to a two-club tiebreaker, including head-to-head.
So Dallas would win that and retain #5 seed even if they lose tonight; I was wrong on that much.
Three or more teams
(Note: If two teams remain tied after the third step or other teams are eliminated, tiebreaker reverts to step 1 of applicable two-team format.)
1. Apply division tiebreaker to eliminate all but the highest-ranked team 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. (Applicable only if one team has defeated each of the others or if one team 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.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in conference games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss.