How do they figure out who goes to the playoffs in the wild card spot if there are several teams tied.?

Question

The NFL playoffs are about to begin. The Giants, Packers, Falcons, Panthers, and Rams are all tied at 7-8. What if they all won their games. That would put all of them at 8-8, so how would they figure out who gets that wild card spot???

Answer 1

First tie-breaker is head-to-head record between the involved teams; second tie-breaker is conference record; there is a third tie-breaker, if necessary, but I am not positive what it is...perhaps total point differential for the season.

Answer 2

Total points scored this season through all games played, wins and losses.

So if the Packers scored a total of 160 points in the 16 games, but the Panthers scored 320 in the 16 games, both with a record of 8 wins to 8 losses, the Panthers are considered the more predominant team this season.

Answer 3

if its a tie between div teams, it starts with there record agenst one another, if they split, goes div record, then confrance, then after that goes (tihink) points scored agenst, then points for, if they tie in all that not sure what it goes from there never got past that,

Answer 4

Fortunately, the NFL keeps its feathers numbered for just such an emergency.

TO BREAK A TIE FOR THE WILD-CARD TEAM
If it is necessary to break ties to determine the two Wild-Card clubs from each conference, the following steps will be taken.
1. If the tied clubs are from the same division, apply division tie breaker.
2. If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps.

Two Clubs
1. Head-to-head, if applicable.
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
4. Strength of victory.
5. Strength of schedule.
6. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
7. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best net points in conference games.
9. Best net points in all games.
10. Best net touchdowns in all games.
11. Coin toss.

Three or More Clubs
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of applicable two-club format.)
1. Apply division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie breaker 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 club has defeated each of the others or if one club 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

Right now the Giants have the advantage over everyone else, as they and the Packers have a better conference record, and New York has a better strength of victory than Green Bay does.

Here's what each team needs to do (and have happen) to get in:
New York
1) NYG win + NYG clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over GB**, OR
2) NYG win + GB loss or tie, OR
3) NYG tie + GB loss or tie + STL loss or tie + ATL loss or tie + CAR loss or tie, OR
4) GB loss + STL loss + ATL loss + CAR loss

**N.Y. Giants clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Green Bay if:

a) DET loses OR
b) MIN loses OR
c) any two of the following results occur: ARI loss, MIA loss, SF loss, CAR win, HOU win, TB win.

If NY Giants and Green Bay end up tied in strength of victory, then tie will be decided by best strength of schedule.

Green Bay
1) GB win + NYG win + GB clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over NYG**, OR
2) GB win + NYG loss or tie + STL loss or tie, OR
3) GB win + NYG loss or tie + CAR win, OR
4) GB win + NYG loss or tie + ATL win, OR
5) GB tie + NYG loss + STL loss + ATL loss or tie + CAR loss or tie

**Packers clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over NY Giants if all of the following occur:
ARI win, DET win, MIA win, MIN win, SF win, CAR loss, HOU loss, TB loss.

Atlanta
1) ATL win + CAR loss or tie + GB loss or tie + NYG loss or tie, OR
2) ATL tie + CAR loss + GB loss + NYG loss + STL loss

Carolina
1) CAR win + NYG loss or tie + GB loss or tie, OR
2) CAR tie + NYG loss + GB loss + STL loss or tie + ATL loss or tie

St. Louis
1) STL win + NYG loss or tie + CAR loss or tie + ATL loss or tie, OR
2) STL tie + NYG loss + CAR loss + ATL loss + GB loss

Needless to say, if the Giants win tonight, Atlanta, Carolina, and St. Louis are all eliminated.

Answer 5

they use tie-breakers