Tie breaker question

[Verdict]

Suppose the Cowboys win out, and the Eagles lose to the 49ers and then the Cowboys. Cowboys and Eagles finish with identical records of 14 and 3. Who wins NFCE?

 

[Risen Star]

Suppose the Cowboys win out, and the Eagles lose to the 49ers and then the Cowboys. Cowboys and Eagles finish with identical records of 14 and 3. Who wins NFCE?

The team with the best conference record which would be the Eagles. One of their losses is to the Jets.

 

[Mannix]

Good question, but I wouldn't worry your pretty little head about it. Philly will get enough calls this weekend to all but lock up home field throughout.

 

[Mookie]

For the sake of this exercise, let's assume the oddsmakers get these three results right and both the Cowboys and the Eagles are 10-3 after Week 14. That would Dallas the leader of the NFC East and Philly a wildcard team.

The catch: If both teams win out after that (a big if considering Dallas' schedule is much tougher than Philly's), the division would go to Philly. How? The third step to break a tie within the division would enter play.

In this scenario, the Cowboys and the Eagles would split games head-to-head and both would be 5-1 within the NFC East. That would send us to the fourth tiebreaker within a division: Best won-lost-tied percentage in conference games.

The Eagles play the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17, a 2-10 squad that Dallas inexplicably lost to all the way back in Week 3. With a win against the Cardinals in the second to last week of the regular season, the Eagles could jump the Cowboys and reclaim the division since the latter fell to Arizona.

 

[jazzcat22]

I believe record in common games is the tie breaker before conference records.
Would need to go through those games.

 

[jazzcat22]

we will probably need to finish one game ahead of Philly.

I think they have a better common games wins as well as better conference record in that scenario.
Need to look it up. Which I won’t do until seeing if we win tonight and they lose Sunday.

We would have to beat Seattle Buffalo, and Miami and Washington again to keep those common games even.
we need to beat Seattle and Philly lose to Seattle to get that game differential to even back out or gain a game. As well they must lose to SF.

we beat Seattle, Philly, Buffalo
Philly also loses to SF, us, and Seattle.

If that does not happen. We probably lose the division unless Philly is upset by NYG pr Arizona.

 

[Flamma]

I believe record in common games is the tie breaker before conference records.
Would need to go through those games.

Right. They are 3-1 in the AFC East. The only way we pick up a game there is to beat both Miami and Buffalo. Philly got to play them at home, we have them as away games.

 

[Whirlwin]

Suppose the Cowboys win out, and the Eagles lose to the 49ers and then the Cowboys. Cowboys and Eagles finish with identical records of 14 and 3. Who wins NFCE?

Cowboys is tiebreaker in the division

 

[Whirlwin]

The team with the best conference record which would be the Eagles. One of their losses is to the Jets.

It would be the best division record first

 

[Flamma]

we will probably need to finish one game ahead of Philly.

I think they have a better common games wins as well as better conference record in that scenario.
Need to look it up. Which I won’t do until seeing if we win tonight and they lose Sunday.

We would have to beat Seattle Buffalo, and Miami and Washington again to keep those common games even.
we need to beat Seattle and Philly lose to Seattle to get that game differential to even back out or gain a game. As well they must lose to SF.

we beat Seattle, Philly, Buffalo
Philly also loses to SF, us, and Seattle.

If that does not happen. We probably lose the division unless Philly is upset by NYG pr Arizona.

I think you're right that we'd have to end up with a better record. Because we would tie in common games. Then the Eagles have a better conference record.

 

[Whirlwin]

I think you're right that we'd have to end up with a better record. Because we would tie in common games. Then the Eagles have a better conference record.

It’s about the division first.

 

[Cowboyny]

Suppose the Cowboys win out, and the Eagles lose to the 49ers and then the Cowboys. Cowboys and Eagles finish with identical records of 14 and 3. Who wins NFCE?

Need the Eagles to lose 3 more games

 

[Jake]

TO BREAK A TIE WITHIN A DIVISION
If, at the end of the regular season, two or more teams in the same division finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined.

Two teams
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the teams).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.

 

[Diehardblues]

It’s about the division first.

Yes but if we both finish 14-3 we’d have same division record .

Phi would need to lose to NY.

 

[Tabascocat]

Yes but if we both finish 14-3 we’d have same division record .

Phi would need to lose to NY.

Philly needs to lose in Seattle, that’s the most important game.

 

[Diehardblues]

Need the Eagles to lose 3 more games

Pretty much while we win out.

Chances are very slim.

 

[Kevinicus]

It’s about the division first.

Which would also be a tie. Try and keep up.

 

[LovinItAll]

I believe record in common games is the tie breaker before conference records.
Would need to go through those games.

He did. His post was correct.

 

[HanD]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

 

[Flamma]

It’s about the division first.

If we're tied at 5-1 each in the division, the next tie breaker is common games. Then conference record.