Question about 2002 playoff tie breaker, cant seem to figure out why?

Question

I am trying to figure out why the Browns clinched playoff but not the Dolphins. Indianapolis Colts took the 5th spot. So there are 4 teams fighting for the 6th spot. They are Dolphins, Browns, Broncos, and Patriots all with 9-7-0. Although NYJ also has 9-7-9, it is a division champion, so it is not in this competition of the 6th spot. I applied the NFL tie breaker rules for teams from different divisions.
From : http://www.nfl.com/standings/tiebreakingprocedures

Two Clubs

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.
Three or More Clubs

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

1. Apply division tie breaker 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 tie breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two Wild-Card participants.

2. 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.)

3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.

4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.

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 conference games.

10. Best net points in all games.

11. Best net touchdowns in all games.

12. Coin toss

The highest ranked division champions have been eliminated so we proceed to step 2. Since not all of the teams have played against each other, we proceed to step 3. Dolphins and Browns both have the best conference record. So we will only look at those two teams again start from step2 again. Dolphins did not play against the Browns, and they have same conference record. So now we use rule 3 for two teams.

Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.


Miami and Cleveland both played Indianapolis
Miami and Cleveland both played New York Jets.
Miami and Cleveland both played Kansas City
Miami and Cleveland both played Baltimore

MIAMI Lost to NYJ 10:13
MIAMI BEAT NYJ 30:3
MIAMI beat BALTIMORE 26:7
MIAMI BEAT INDIANA 21:13
MIAMI lost to KANSAS 48:30

So MIAMI has 60%

CLEVELAND LOST TO IND 23:28
CLEVELAND BEAT BALTIMORE 14:13
CLEVELAND LOST TO KC 40:39
CLEVELAND LOST TO BALTIMORE 21:26
CLEVELAND BEAT NYJ 24:21

So Cleveland has 40%

Thanks

Answer 1

WOW, that's alot to comprehend

Answer 2

Check out:

http://www.footballcommentary.com/tiebreakers.htm



This webpage discusses some sort of computer program but does talk specifically about the 2002 AFC East and the wildcard selections for the AFC... BUT.. I still can't figure it out. Maybe you can.



At the very bottom of the page is this footnote:

footnote 6: This rule is sometimes critical. For example, in 2002, if all of the AFC's 9-7 teams had been eligible for the final wild-card slot, Miami would have made the playoffs. But since the Dolphins finished behind the Jets and Patriots in the AFC East, and the Patriots were not the #5 seed, the Dolphins were shut out.



I couldn't find a reference to that footnote in the main article.

Answer 3

You are looking at the 2008 tiebreaking procedures. Those procedures are tweaked on occasion and were likely different in 2002.

Answer 4

Why are you human beings figuring out on Ginny! She's a really sturdy personality!! My %. is Dobby, and certain i love him, yet out of the three, i'm sorry it really is him. he's a house elf, come on! provide the human characters some credit!

Answer 5

Probably something to do with some game or record or something.

Answer 6

Did you figure that out all by yourself?