Tie-breaking

[Le Grande Orange]

Seeing as tie-breaking is a hugely important factor for determining which NFL clubs make the post-season, what light can be shed on how BTS will handle it? Will the tie-breaking steps and criteria be fixed? Or might there be (in future versions of the game) some customization aspects added?

For example, the current tie-breaking procedures for two clubs tied for a division title are as follows:

1. Best record in head-to-head games.
2. Best record in divisional games.
3. Best record in common games.
4. Best record in conference games.
5. Strength-of-victory.
6. Strength-of-schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss.

But from 1978 to 2001 the steps for breaking a tie between two clubs for a division title were these:

1. Best record in head-to-head games.
2. Best record in divisional games.
3. Best record in conference games.
4. Best record in common games.
5. Best net points in division games.
6. Best net points in all games.
7. Strength-of-schedule.
8. Best net touchdowns in all games.
9. Coin toss.

in 1977 the steps for resolving a two-way tie for a division title were as follows:

1. Best record in head-to-head games.
2. Best record in divisional games.
3. Best record in conference games.
4. Best net points in games between the tied clubs.
5. Best net points in division games.
6. Best net points in conference games.
7. Best net points in all games.
8. Coin toss.

In 1975 two clubs tied for a division title would have used the steps below to break the tie.

1. Best record in head-to-head games.
2. Best record in divisional games.
3. Best record in conference games.
4. Best net points in games between the tied clubs.
5. Best combined ranking among division teams in points scored and allowed.
6. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and allowed.
7. Coin toss.

As one can see, there are similarities but also there are differences. Certain tie-breaking criteria are moved up or down in the order, or are added or removed.

And then, of course, prior to 1967 in the NFL and from 1960-69 in the AFL, ties for a division title were broken by actual tie-breaking playoff games. (There were nine such tie-breaking playoff games in the NFL, two in the AFL, and one in the AAFC).

[baseballonly]

See here for all the rules: NFL Tie-Breaking Procedures

[Francis Cole]

You'll be pleased to know BTS uses the correct tie-breaking rules for the playoffs (and the draft which is slightly different).

There, of course, is no historical stuff in V1.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Francis Cole

You'll be pleased to know BTS uses the correct tie-breaking rules for the playoffs (and the draft which is slightly different).

A fine start.

But what about fictional leagues? The current NFL rules may not fit well for a fictional league. For example, the NFL currently has the winning percentage in common games above conference games. That's because with the schedule used under the 32-team arrangement common games are now the same number for all the clubs within a division (14). But, depending on the alignment and schedule for a fictional league (and in the past in the NFL itself), the number of common games may differ between clubs in the same division. In which case—as the NFL used to do—it may be more appropriate to have conference winning percentage as a higher tie-breaking priority than common games.

I offer this as food for thought, not as something that necessarily warrants inclusion in BTS' inaugural edition.