Out of order

Here are the current 2011 AFC North Standings, as presented by espn.com. Notice anything strange about them?


If you guessed, "Pittsburgh is listed ahead of the Browns but shouldn't be," then you're the big winner for today. Let's look at the NFL tiebreaking procedures for two teams, used when two teams in the same division are vying for either the division title or, as would be the case here, for a wild-card spot:

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
They haven't played yet, tie.

2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
Both 0-1, tie.

3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
Both beat the Colts, tie.

4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Browns 2-1, Steelers 1-1. Browns win. Let's run this back:


Much better.