2012 Media Guide_PROOF.P - ClevelandBrowns.com

The following procedures will be used to break standings ties for postseasonplayoffs and to determine regular-season schedules.Note: Tie games count as one-half win and one-half loss for both clubs.TO BREAK A TIE WITHIN A DIVISIONIf, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same divisiontaken until a champion is determined:TWO CLUBS1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between theclubs.)2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.5. Strength of victory in all games.6. Strength of schedule in all games.7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored andpoints allowed in all games.8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and pointsallowed in all games.9. Best net points in common games.10. Best net points in all games.11. Best net touchdowns in all games.12. Coin toss.THREE OR MORE CLUBS(Note: If two clubs remain tied after one or more clubs are eliminatedduring any step, tie-breaker re-starts at Step One of two-club format. Ifthree clubs remain tied after a fourth club is eliminated during any step,tie-breaker re-starts at Step One of three-club format.)1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among theclubs.)2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.5. Strength of victory in all games.6. Strength of schedule in all games.7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored andpoints allowed in all games.8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and pointsallowed in all games.9. Best net points in common games.10. Best net points in all games.11. Best net touchdowns in all games.12. Coin toss.TO BREAK A TIE FOR THE WILD-CARD TEAMIf necessary to break ties to determine the two Wild Card clubs from eachconference, the following steps will be taken: A. If all the tied clubs arefrom the same division, apply division tie-breaker.B. If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps:TWO CLUBS1. Head-to-head, if applicable.2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in the games played within theconference.4. Strength of victory in all games.5. Strength of schedule in all games.6. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored andpoints allowed in all games.7. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and pointsallowed in all games.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 one or more clubs are eliminated duringany step, tie-breaker re-starts at Step One of two-club format. If three288 NFL TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURESNFL TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURESclubs remain tied after a fourth club is eliminated during any step, tie-breakerre-starts at Step Two of three-club format.)1. Apply division tie-breaker to eliminate all but highest ranked club in eachdivision prior to proceeding to step two. The original seeding within a divisionupon application of the division tie-breaker remains the same for all subsequentapplications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the twoWild Card participants.2. Head-to-head sweep (apply only if one has defeated each of the others orone club has lost to each of the others.)4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.5. Strength of victory in all games.6. Strength of schedule in all games.7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored andpoints allowed in all games.8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowedin all games.9. Best net points in conference games.10. Best net points in all games.11. Best net touchdowns in all games.12. Coin toss.to name the second Wild Card (i.e., eliminate all but the highest ranked club ineach division prior to proceeding to step two). In situations where three teamsfrom the same division are involved in the procedure,the original seeding of the teams remains the same for subsequent applica-Wild Card berth.OTHER TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES1. Only one club advances to the playoffs in any tie-breaking step. Remain-tie-breakers. As an example, if two clubs remain tied in any tie-breaker stepafter all other clubs have been eliminated, the procedure reverts to Step 1of the two-club format to determine the winner. When one club wins the tiebreaker,all other clubs revert to Step 1 of the applicable two-club or threeclubformat.2. In comparing records against common opponents among tied teams, thebest won-lost-tied percentage is the deciding factor since teams may haveplayed an unequal number of games.tie-breakers.breakers (if teams are from the same division) or Wild Card tie-breakers (ifteams are from different divisions).5. To determine the best combined ranking among conference teams inpoints scored and points allowed, add a team’s position in the two categories,then wins the tiebreaker. If two teams are tied for a position, both teams areawarded the ranking as if they held it solely. For example, if Team A and TeamTIE-BREAKING PROCEDURE FOR SELECTION MEETINGpositions in reverse standings order.2. The Super Bowl winner is last and Super Bowl loser is next-to-last.4. The losers of the Divisional playoff games shall select 25ththrough 28th based on won-lost-tied percentage.5. The losers of the Wild Card games shall select 21st through24th based on won-lost-tied percentage.If ties exist in any grouping except (2) above, such ties shall be broken bystrength-of-schedule. If any ties cannot be broken by strength-of-schedule,the divisional or conference tie-breakers, if applicable, shall be applied. Any