The Cincinnati Bengals are among three 6-4 teams in the hunt for seven available AFC playoff spots on Sunday night after their Week 11 win against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
The Los Angeles Chargers failed to join the Bengals, New England Patriots and New York Jets at 6-4, as they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football to fall to 5-5.
The top four seeds in the AFC are the division-leading Chiefs (8-2), Miami Dolphins (7-3), Tennessee Titans (7-3) and Baltimore Ravens (7-3). The Buffalo Bills, 7-3 and tied for first in the AFC East, are among the Top 5.
The Bengals defeated the Jets in Week 3. Cincinnati faces the Patriots on the road in Week 16 on Dec. 24.
A look at NFL Tiebreaking Procedures:
To Break A Tie Within A DivisionIf, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same division finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined.
Two ClubsHead-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.Strength of victory in all games.Strength of schedule in all gamesBest combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.Best net points in common games.Best net points in all games.Best net touchdowns in all games.Coin tossThree or More Clubs(Note: If two clubs remain tied after one-or-more clubs are eliminated during any step, tiebreaker restarts at Step 1 of two-club format. If three clubs remain tied after a fourth club is eliminated during any step, tiebreaker restarts at Step 1 of three-club format.)
Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.Strength of victory in all games.Strength of schedule in all games.Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.Best net points in common games.Best net points in all games.Best net touchdowns in all games.Coin tossTo Break A Tie For The Wild-Card TeamIf it is necessary to break ties to determine the three Wild-Card clubs from each conference, the following steps will be taken.
If the tied clubs are from the same division, apply division tiebreaker.If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps.Two ClubsHead-to-head, if applicable.Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.Strength of victory in all games.Strength of schedule in all games.Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.Best net points in conference games.Best net points in all games.Best net touchdowns in all games.Coin toss.Three or More Clubs(Note: If two clubs remain tied after one-or-more clubs are eliminated during any step, tiebreaker restarts at Step 1 of two-club format. If three clubs remain tied after a fourth club is eliminated during any step, tiebreaker restarts at Step 2 of three-club format.)
Apply division tiebreaker 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 tiebreaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two Wild-Card participants.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.)Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.Strength of victory in all games.Strength of schedule in all games.Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.Best net points in conference games.Best net points in all games.Best net touchdowns in all games.Coin tossWhen the first Wild Card team has been identified, the procedure is repeated to name the second and third Wild Card (i.e., eliminate all but the highest-ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to Step 2). In situations in which three teams from the same division are involved in the procedure, the original seeding of the teams remains the same for subsequent applications of the tiebreaker if the top-ranked team in that division qualifies for a Wild Card berth.
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