JSn

I'm being sincere, I'm not understanding how we're in the lead in our division with a three-way tie.

I don't understand how this works and if someone would explain it, I'd really appreciate it.

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Rob0729

The three way tiebreaking procedure is below. The first tiebreaker is head to head.

Three or More Clubs
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated during any step, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format).
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).
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.
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 common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
TO BREAK A TIE FOR THE WILD-CARD TEAM

TheGodInAGreyHoodie

If, 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.

Bill, Jets, Pats all have the same record - three way tie.

Three or More Clubs

(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated during any step, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format).

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).

Patriots are 1-0 100%
Jets 1-1 50%
Bills 0-1 0%

JSn

That's really interesting stuff. Thanks guys.

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ctpatsfan77

And, just for the record, a different set of criteria is used to determine draft order, which is why the current draft order is BUF-NE-JEST.

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alamo

The fact that we are tehinically "in the lead in our division" means almost nothing. It's only true because the tiebreakers were intended to be used at the end of the season, and until then the results are sometimes misleading.

Specifically, we are apparently ahead because of the head-to-head record. But the tiebreaker uses that as the first step because all division teams play each other twice, so it is assumed they have all played each other equally. That hasn't happened yet, so the results are mismeading.

Compare that to the three-way wildcard tiebreaker, which is also head-to-head, except that that tiebreaker doesn't apply unless all each of the three tied teams have played each of the other two tied teams.

If you use that same reasoning for the division head-to-head tiebreaker which has us ahead, it doesn't apply, and the next step (division percentage) should apply. Which would put the Jets into first, at 2-1 ahead of our 1-1.

So perhaps the best answer to the original question is "it's a fluke of the system".

ctpatsfan77

It does have some use: for example, if a team knows that it must/doesn't need to win a particular game to have a chance of winning the division, that may affect how they use their personnel (e.g., rest/start a player).

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MassPats38

Agreed that standings may at some point influence personnel decisions, typically when a division title is a lock and there are games remaining. Logically, right now having or not having an advantage in tie breakers cannot reasonably factor into decisions to rest personnel (I don't suspect you were implying it did matter this early in the season). You also can throw in the playoff positions as a factor in those personnel decisions even with the division tile in hand.

As a side note on standings, I do actually look at ESPN for standings (out of habit) and had to smile when I saw the Jets listed first in the division standings and the playoff formula described on the same page. If the Pats beat the Jets and the Jets beat Buffalo with head-to-head being the first tie breaker listed, on what basis would the Jets be listed first? Reverse alphabetical? Just a little something for the anti-Patriots conspiracy theorists.

TheGodInAGreyHoodie

Not going to buy into the conspiracy theory. Laziness. Sort by record, sort by div record. post.

MassPats38

I don't but into it either (I hate some of the writers but I like some as well so it is not an institutional hate). Purely for entertainment value.