Strength of Victory

"Strength of Victory" refers to the combined winning percentages of the opponents that a particular team has beaten. It is part of the NFL’s tiebreaking procedure.  

The entire structure of the NFL is based on regular season standings. Division winners and wild-card entrants are determined by win-loss record. At the conclusion of each season, these teams advance to the playoffs and get the opportunity to compete for a Super Bowl. Each conference sends six teams to the postseason. Four of those teams are division champions, the other two are the wild card teams. The seeding of the six teams is as follows:

1. The division champion with the best record.
2. The division champion with the second-best record.
3. The division champion with the third-best record.
4. The division champion with the fourth-best record.
5. The Wild Card club with the best record.
6. The Wild Card club with the second-best record.

Tie-Breaking Procedures

Win-loss record alone, however, is not always enough to determine standings, as teams can end up with the same exact record. Thus, a set of procedures are in place to serve as tiebreakers in case of teams ending up with the same record. The set of procedures continues like a checklist until one of the two teams has an advantage over the other team in a category.

Strength of victory is the fifth factor considered when trying to break a tie between two teams in the same division. There are twelve total different procedures utilized by the NFL to break a tie between two teams for the same division (via the NFL):

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between 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.
12. Coin toss.

The tie-breaking procedure varies slightly for wild card teams. If the two teams are in the same division, then the division tiebreaker is applied. However, if the two teams are in different divisions than the following procedure is applied (via the NFL):

1. Head-to-head, if applicable.
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
4. Strength of victory.
5. Strength of schedule.
6. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
7. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best net points in conference games.
9. Best net points in all games.
10. Best net touchdowns in all games.
11. Coin toss.

Examples

If two teams end with identical records, combine the records of the opponents in each of the team's wins and calculate the total winning percentage. The team whose opponents have the higher winning percentage wins the tiebreaker.