I found this really interesting.
…statistically at least, the AFC bracket is the best since the league adopted the current 12-team format in 1990. The six AFC qualifiers have a combined 73 victories… The 59 aggregate wins by the NFC entries represent the fewest ever in the 12-team format.
So we're at the point of greatest disparity between the two leagues since 1990. The AFC averages more than 12 wins each for teams in the playoffs, the NFC less than 10 wins. Here's what I take out of the disparity and the utterly horrible NFC:
- Any suggestion of expanding the playoffs to 14 teams (like this one last offseason) should be shouted / laughed down immediately. 7-9 getting in would be a complete disaster for the quality of the game, and if the NFC had lost a few more games against the AFC a 6-10 team might not even be an impossibility under that system. This is not the NHL. The regular season is actually important in this league and I want it to stay that way.
- No more expansion. Not for a long time. The fact that one entire conference can get so far behind another in the “era of free agency“ should tell you that there isn't enough talent to go around.
- Everybody seems to be able to get a handful of stars through free agency. Well, almost everybody. The 49ers, for instance, are definitely hurting at the moment. But in a season this long, scouting and drafting quality backups is HUGE.
Despite all this, the system is as close to perfect as I can imagine it being. I expect a lot of NFC teams to bounce back next year. Last place teams have mobility, but multiple-championship teams are still definitely possible. The regular season is always hot right up to the last week. Hopefully ownership can recognize this and avoid making horrendous mistakes in favor of a quick buck.
I'll avoid promoting any theories about the philosophical differences between AFC and NFC cities, or anything like that, because I don't really have anything with which to back that up. But I will say I think there's a lot to be said for letting coaches coach with minimal interference and riding out a few rough years without panicking. This season has given me even more appreciation for the Rooneys.
Tags: Football
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on Monday, January 3rd, 2005 at 7:20 pm and is filed under Sports.
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