3 Week Playoff Tiebreakers 2019

By Michael Gertz
Wednesday, December 11, 2019

The following are some of the more likey possible playoff tiebreaking scenarios for the final 3 weeks of the season. For full standings, records in tiebreaking categories, and tiebreaker process, visit the Standings page.

AFC

Current Standings

1. Baltimore Ravens (11-2) -- vNYJ, @CLE, vPIT
2. New England Patriots (10-3) -- @CIN, vBUF, vMIA
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-4) -- vDEN, @CHI, vLAC
4. Houston Texans (8-5) -- @TEN, @TB, vTEN
5. Buffalo Bills (9-4) -- @PIT, @NE, vNYJ
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5) -- vBUF, @NYJ, @BAL
7. Tennessee Titans (8-5) -- vHOU, vNO, @HOU
8. Cleveland Browns (6-7) -- @ARI, vBAL, @CIN
9. Oakland Raiders (6-7) -- vJAC, @LAC, @DEN
10. Indianapolis Colts (6-7) -- @NO, vCAR, @JAC
11. Denver Broncos (5-8) -- @KC, vDET, vOAK
12*. Los Angeles Chargers (5-8)
13*. New York Jets (5-8)
*LAC & NYJ are eliminated as they can't win conference record tiebreaker

Determining Division Winners

Possible Tiebreakers:
-NE > BUF on head to head with NE win Wk 16 vBUF
-NE > BUF on division record with BUF win Wk 16 @NE + NE win Wk 17 vMIA + BUF loss Wk 17 vNYJ
-BUF > NE on division record with BUF win Wk 16 @NE + BUF win Wk 17 vNYJ + NE loss Wk 17 vMIA
-NE > BUF on common games if tied head to head + tied division record
-PIT > BAL on division record
-HOU > TEN on division record
-KC > OAK on head to head

-IND > HOU > TEN with IND & HOU > TEN on division record, then IND > HOU on common games

Scenarios (partial list):
-NE wins AFC East with win Wk 16 vBUF OR any 2 wins
-BAL wins AFC North with 1 win OR 1 PIT loss
-PIT wins AFC North with 3 wins + BAL losing other 2 games
-Either HOU or TEN wins AFC South with wins in both remaining matchups
-IND wins AFC South with 3 wins + HOU/TEN split remaining matchups + HOU Wk 16 loss @TB + TEN Wk 16 loss vNO
-KC has won AFC West

Division Winners Seeding

Possible tiebreakers (partial list):
-BAL > NE on head to head
-KC > BAL on head to head
-BAL > HOU on head to head
-TEN > BAL on conference record
-BAL > BUF on head to head
-KC > NE on head to head
-HOU > NE on head to head
-HOU > KC on head to head
-TEN > KC on head to head

Wild Cards

Possible tiebreakers (partial list):
-BUF > TEN on head to head
-BUF - PIT won by Wk 15 BUF@PIT winner
-DEN > HOU & PIT with DEN & HOU > PIT on conference record, then DEN > HOU on head to head
-DEN > TEN & PIT on conference record

NFC

Current Standings

1. San Francisco 49ers (11-2) -- vATL, vLAR, @SEA
2. Green Bay Packers (10-3) -- vCHI, @MIN, @DET
3. New Orleans Saints (10-3) -- vIND, @TEN, @CAR
4. Dallas Cowboys (6-7) -- vLAR, @PHI, vWAS
5. Seattle Seahawks (10-3) -- @CAR, vARI, vSF
6. Minnesota Vikings (9-4) -- @LAC, vGB, vCHI
7. Los Angeles Rams (8-5) -- @DAL, @SF, vARI
8. Chicago Bears (7-6) -- @GB, vKC, @MIN
9. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7) -- @WAS, vDAL, @NYG
10*. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)
11*. Washington Redskins (3-10)
*TB is eliminated because they would lose conference record tiebreaker to MIN
*WAS is eliminated because DAL & PHI play each other
-DAL & PHI can only make playoffs as division winner because they play each other

Determining Division Winners

Possible Tiebreakers:
-DAL > PHI with DAL win Wk 16 @PHI
-DAL - PHI decided by division record with PHI win Wk 16 vDAL
-GB > MIN with GB win Wk 16 @MIN
-GB - MIN decided by division record with MIN win Wk 16 vGB
-SEA > SF on head to head with SEA win Wk 17 vSF
-SF - SEA decided by strength of victory with SF win Wk 17 @SEA

-CHI > GB & MIN on division record
-LAR > SEA & SF with SEA & LAR > SF on division record, then LAR > SEA on conference record

Scenarios:
-GB wins NFC North with win Wk 16 @MIN
-NO has won NFC South

Division Winners Seeding

Possible tiebreakers (partial list):
-SF > GB on head to head
-SF > NO on head to head
-NO > SEA on head to head

-SF > GB & NO on head to head

Wild Cards

Possible tiebreakers (partial list):
-LAR > CHI on head to head
-CHI > MIN on head to head
-MIN > TB on conference record