Does the NFL need to be rebalanced?

[XPack]

A bit early for a post season thread......but still....

Do you feel certain divisions or even conferences have relatively easy divisional rivalries compared to others? For example, I've always felt NFC was more competitive than AFC who are just Pats and Steelers plus a bunch of also ran's. More easier to win an AFC playoff than an NFC ones, imo.

Maybe just ignore the divisions and just let every team in NFC play a game against all others. 15 games in total. Top 4 or 6 gets playoff/wildcard. Just rebalance the Conferences every 4 years based on teams performances over that period so both conferences are equal in difficulty.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

A bit early for a post season thread......but still....

Do you feel certain divisions or even conferences have relatively easy divisional rivalries compared to others? For example, I've always felt NFC was more competitive than AFC who are just Pats and Steelers plus a bunch of also ran's. More easier to win an AFC playoff than an NFC ones, imo.

Maybe just ignore the divisions and just let every team in NFC play a game against all others. 15 games in total. Top 4 or 6 gets playoff/wildcard. Just rebalance the Conferences every 4 years based on teams performances over that period so both conferences are equal in difficulty.

I'm absolutely fine with the way the NFL is set up as the hard salary cap in place guarantees parity within the league. Fans shouldn't blame the conference and division alignment for teams not being able to build a winner under the current rules.

 

[Mondio]

Everything is cyclical. I see no reason to change anything. Not saying it's perfect, but neither will change be

 

[Dantés]

A bit early for a post season thread......but still....

Do you feel certain divisions or even conferences have relatively easy divisional rivalries compared to others? For example, I've always felt NFC was more competitive than AFC who are just Pats and Steelers plus a bunch of also ran's. More easier to win an AFC playoff than an NFC ones, imo.

Maybe just ignore the divisions and just let every team in NFC play a game against all others. 15 games in total. Top 4 or 6 gets playoff/wildcard. Just rebalance the Conferences every 4 years based on teams performances over that period so both conferences are equal in difficulty.

It's cyclical. A decade ago, I would argue that the AFC was the tougher conference. If you shifted things around, they would naturally become imbalanced again in due time. The only real way to address the issue would be to do away with conferences altogether.

 

[Half Empty]

It's cyclical. A decade ago, I would argue that the AFC was the tougher conference. If you shifted things around, they would naturally become imbalanced again in due time. The only real way to address the issue would be to do away with conferences altogether.

...and the problem is that the cycle is often next season. How often have we evaluated the strength of schedule for the Pack, only to have the patsies show up as bullies (and I'm talking about overall record, not just the also-rans that seem to beat us) or vice versa?

 

[XPack]

It's cyclical. A decade ago, I would argue that the AFC was the tougher conference.

I don't think that's the way to be. You get 10 years easy, I get next 10 years easy...

 

[Dantés]

I don't think that's the way to be. You get 10 years easy, I get next 10 years easy...

I'm not sure it's quite as skewed as you're making it out to be though.

 

[Dantés]

Offensive Yards Per Game:

1. Patriots
2. Saints
3. Steelers
4. Chargers
5. Chiefs
6. Jaguars
7. Eagles
8. Falcons
9. Bucs
10. Rams

Offensive Points Per Game:

1. Rams
2. Patriots
3. Eagles
4. Saints
5. Jaguars
6. Chiefs
7. Lions
8. Steelers
9. Ravens
10. Vikings

Defensive Yards Per Game:

1. Vikings
2. Jaguars
3. Broncos
4. Eagles
5. Steelers
6. Cardinals
7. Panthers
8. Cowboys
9. Falcons
10. Bears

Defensive Points Per Game:

1. Vikings
2. Jaguars
3. Chargers
4. Eagles
5. Patriots
6. Ravens
7. Steelers
8. Falcons
9. Bears
10. Saints

FootballOutsider's DVOA:

1. Patriots
2. Saints
3. Rams
4. Vikings
5. Steelers
6. Ravens
7. Eagles
8. Chargers
9. Panthers
10. Jaguars

Now I realize none of this is definitive, as AFC teams largely play other AFC teams and vice versa, however I do think it's some good data to indicate that the league isn't perhaps as lopsided as many think. I definitely agree that the NFC is better at the moment, but not to a degree that it presents a major problem.

 

[Half Empty]

WIMM, please jump in (again), especially with your numbers of the Pats versus the NFC.

 

[HardRightEdge]

Yes, as others have noted, it is certainly cyclical.

 

[BrokenArrow]

The NFL doesn't need gerrymandering.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Why not make it "real fun and competitive" and just rotate the players from one team to another team, just like in Fantasy Football?

 

[weeds]

I'm absolutely fine with the way the NFL is set up as the hard salary cap in place guarantees parity within the league. Fans shouldn't blame the conference and division alignment for teams not being able to build a winner under the current rules.

Additionally, the worst teams draft first so that and the cap play in the lesser teams' favor. Teams like Cleveland are perpetually bad due to poor coaching and/or management. You can't fix stupid you know? Although, Cleveland will come out of crapper now... Get a new coach and a semi decent QB...THAT defense has a ton of unutilized talent plus, a whole crapper full of high draft picks coming

 

[BrokenArrow]

Additionally, the worst teams draft first so that and the cap play in the lesser teams' favor. Teams like Cleveland are perpetually bad due to poor coaching and/or management. You can't fix stupid you know?

As we say in the medical field... No, you can't fix stupid, but you can sedate it.

 

[gbgary]

i think everything's cool as is. parity is alive and well. look at all the new teams this season.

 

[Half Empty]

Why not make it "real fun and competitive" and just rotate the players from one team to another team, just like in Fantasy Football?

Ever since free agency, it's had that look, anyhow.

 

[adambr2]

Easier to win an AFC playoff? I'd beg to differ. The one constant the last 15 years has been the Pats. At least we don't have to deal with them every year. I bet the Bills, Dolphins and Jets would love the chance to play in the NFC.

Also not sure this is the year to tout the competitiveness of the NFC, unless you're just talking parity. You've got a weak 1 seed who is now a home underdog because they lost their starting QB, and a 2 seed led by Case Keenum.

It's a shame that we couldn't take advantage of how weak the NFC playoff field is this year.

 

[sschind]

Why not make it "real fun and competitive" and just rotate the players from one team to another team, just like in Fantasy Football?

Throw em all back and redraft every year. I like it. Kinda takes the sting out of being a Browns fan.

 

[melvin dangerr]

Offensive Yards Per Game:

1. Patriots
2. Saints
3. Steelers
4. Chargers
5. Chiefs
6. Jaguars
7. Eagles
8. Falcons
9. Bucs
10. Rams

Offensive Points Per Game:

1. Rams
2. Patriots
3. Eagles
4. Saints
5. Jaguars
6. Chiefs
7. Lions
8. Steelers
9. Ravens
10. Vikings

Defensive Yards Per Game:

1. Vikings
2. Jaguars
3. Broncos
4. Eagles
5. Steelers
6. Cardinals
7. Panthers
8. Cowboys
9. Falcons
10. Bears

Defensive Points Per Game:

1. Vikings
2. Jaguars
3. Chargers
4. Eagles
5. Patriots
6. Ravens
7. Steelers
8. Falcons
9. Bears
10. Saints

FootballOutsider's DVOA:

1. Patriots
2. Saints
3. Rams
4. Vikings
5. Steelers
6. Ravens
7. Eagles
8. Chargers
9. Panthers
10. Jaguars

Now I realize none of this is definitive, as AFC teams largely play other AFC teams and vice versa, however I do think it's some good data to indicate that the league isn't perhaps as lopsided as many think. I definitely agree that the NFC is better at the moment, but not to a degree that it presents a major problem.

Changing division

 

[melvin dangerr]

Changing division is a no no I like your breakdowns, and a Hater would look at that list and see the Packers are not on them at all and want to move them to weaker division...

 

[Deleted member 6794]

WIMM, please jump in (again), especially with your numbers of the Pats versus the NFC.

Hmmm, you want me to repeat that the Patriots have a combined record of 51-13 vs. NFC teams since the league introduced the current alignment???

 

[G0P4ckG0]

Does the NFL need to be rebalanced? Absolutely not. We need to quit the "trophies for everyone so nobody's feelings are hurt" attitude. The good teams are consistently good because they earned it through hiring proper front office personnel & coaches, drafting, signing free agents, and being smart with money.

However, I would not be opposed to seeing divisions be more accurately representative of geographic location even if this means some teams having to switch conferences. The Cowboys should be in the NFC West, for example, but that change would work best if maybe Seattle moved to the AFC. Etc, etc, etc.

 

[Poppa San]

Does the NFL need to be rebalanced? Absolutely not. We need to quit the "trophies for everyone so nobody's feelings are hurt" attitude. The good teams are consistently good because they earned it through hiring proper front office personnel & coaches, drafting, signing free agents, and being smart with money.

However, I would not be opposed to seeing divisions be more accurately representative of geographic location even if this means some teams having to switch conferences. The Cowboys should be in the NFC West, for example, but that change would work best if maybe Seattle moved to the AFC. Etc, etc, etc.

Why should Dallas be in the NFC west? or AFC for that matter? They aren't really much more west than KC.

 

[G0P4ckG0]

Why should Dallas be in the NFC west? or AFC for that matter? They aren't really much more west than KC.

Having them in the east is ludicrous. It's akin to when Tampa Bay was in the north (central division at the time).

 

[BrokenArrow]

Having them in the east is ludicrous. It's akin to when Tampa Bay was in the north (central division at the time).

If anything you might justify putting Dallas in the south and Carolina in the east. But more the the point, the reason they are in the east is to keep long-standing rivalries intact, which is an important aspect to fans. How would you feel if we didn't get to beat up on the Bears every year?