Time for new alignment?

[Conner13]

This thread is strictly on a hypothetical basis. I've been thinking lately about the divisions and alignment. The last time a change was made was in 2002, in order to fit the newly formed Houston Texans into the league. Again, the NFL has no plans to realign teams that I know of. This is simply hypothetical and for amusement. Please note that my alignment is more geographically based. Teams' talent/record played no factor.

AFC North:
New England
Indianapolis
Cleveland
Cincinnati

AFC South:
Miami
Houston
Tennessee
Jacksonville

AFC West: (No change)
Denver
San Diego
Oakland
Kansas City

AFC East:
Buffalo
Pittsburgh
Baltimore
New York Jets

NFC North: (No change)
Green Bay
Chicago
Minnesota
Detroit

NFC South:
Dallas
Tampa Bay
New Orleans
Atlanta

NFC West: (No change)
Seattle
San Francisco
Arizona
St. Louis

NFC East:
Carolina
Philadelphia
New York Giants
Washington

No teams switched conferences. I thought about it but decided against it. As I look at what I've done, I notice right away that the AFC's divisions all have interstate rivalries with this alignment, which could be a problem, I suppose. Also, I notice that I didn't change very much in the NFC. For now, I'll leave it as it is. I'm curious to see what alignments you all might come up with.

[samparnell]

Bills, Titans/Jets and Patriots have played each other twice per year since 1960. Add the Dolphins to that group since 1966. Breaking that group of division rivals up would be as bad as separating the Chargers, Texans/Chiefs, Raiders and Broncos.

The American Football League was one of the few wonderful things that made the Sixties tolerable. It should stay as close as it can to the form that merged with the NFL in 1970. The Bengals and Oilers were shuffled off on an orphan odyssey of their own, but the other eight should remain intact.

Same for Dallas who has played the Giants, Eagles and 'Skins twice a year since 1961. Those rivalries are ingrained.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. :2cents:

[Conner13]

This is merely for amusement, samparnell. Nothing more.

[bgpatsfan]

This is merely for amusement, samparnell. Nothing more.

Geographically based, Pats are closest to the Jets and Buffalo. Nowhere near Indy or Ohio. The divisions IMO are perfect geographically speaking. The only change I would make would be swap Miami to AFC South and put Baltimore in AFCE in its place. I would leave your NFC as you made it.

AFC East
NE
Balt
NY Jets
Buf

AFC North
Pitt
Clev
Cin
Ind

AFC South
Ten
Houston
Jax
Miami

AFC West
Denver
KC
San Diego
Oakland

[Charlie Brown]

This thread is strictly on a hypothetical basis. I've been thinking lately about the divisions and alignment. The last time a change was made was in 2002, in order to fit the newly formed Houston Texans into the league. Again, the NFL has no plans to realign teams that I know of. This is simply hypothetical and for amusement. Please note that my alignment is more geographically based. Teams' talent/record played no factor.

No, I don't think it is time to realign.

AFC North:
New England
Indianapolis
Cleveland
Cincinnati

No teams switched conferences. I thought about it but decided against it. As I look at what I've done, I notice right away that the AFC's divisions all have interstate rivalries with this alignment, which could be a problem, I suppose. Also, I notice that I didn't change very much in the NFC. For now, I'll leave it as it is. I'm curious to see what alignments you all might come up with.

So, you destroy the oldest AFC Rivalry? Pittsburgh-Cleveland goes back to when both teams were in the NFL prior to the NFL-AFL merger.

[broncoslover115]

I would love to see any realignment which would give NE some kind of competition in their division. They basically get to sleepwalk through their division every year and come out on top.

[Conner13]

So, you destroy the oldest AFC Rivalry? Pittsburgh-Cleveland goes back to when both teams were in the NFL prior to the NFL-AFL merger.

The Baltimore Ravens already did that.

Besides, the Cleveland Browns haven't been relevant in a long, long time.

[Charlie Brown]

The Baltimore Ravens already did that.

Besides, the Cleveland Browns haven't been relevant in a long, long time.

I see, if that's the case why are Oakland and Denver in the same division? Oakland hasn't been "relevant in a long, long, long time".

[bgpatsfan]

I would love to see any realignment which would give NE some kind of competition in their division. They basically get to sleepwalk through their division every year and come out on top.

I think the AFC East being weak is pretty overblown. Could it be that the patriots are just the most dominant team in the AFC over the last 15 years or so and by comparison their division looks weak?

Its not like the AFC West is the toughest division; if you look at 2012, the AFC East was better than the West. Oakland and KC were worse than the Jets and Buffalo. The AFC West was pretty bad from 2010-2011.

[samparnell]

I see, if that's the case why are Oakland and Denver in the same division? Oakland hasn't been "relevant in a long, long, long time".

Your point about rivalries goes to the heart of the issue. Anyone who has participated in football at any level knows that "being relevant" has absolutely nothing to do with a rivalry. Rivalry is about the game and nothing else.

[91bronco]

I think the AFC East being weak is pretty overblown. Could it be that the patriots are just the most dominant team in the AFC over the last 15 years or so and by comparison their division looks weak?

Its not like the AFC West is the toughest division; if you look at 2012, the AFC East was better than the West. Oakland and KC were worse than the Jets and Buffalo. The AFC West was pretty bad from 2010-2011.

LOL- you guys get to play the miserable Jets and Bills twice a year each- nuff said.

[bgpatsfan]

LOL- you guys get to play the miserable Jets and Bills twice a year each- nuff said.

Jets weren't so miserable two years ago. They made back to back AFCCG appearances. Raiders have been the worst. 2012 Jets and Bills were 6 and 10. Raiders were 4-12 and Chiefs were 2-14.

When you have QBs like Brady and Manning you are gonna "sleepwalk" through your division. I'd say its more of the patriots being good than the division being weak.

[broncoslover115]

Jets weren't so miserable two years ago. They made back to back AFCCG appearances. Raiders have been the worst. 2012 Jets and Bills were 6 and 10. Raiders were 4-12 and Chiefs were 2-14.

When you have QBs like Brady and Manning you are gonna "sleepwalk" through your division. I'd say its more of the patriots being good than the division being weak.

Oh, come on. Stop being ridiculous. I will be the first to admit that the AFC West has been pretty cupcake until recently.

You can't seriously believe that your division provides any kind of competition for your Pats. I listen to Boston sports radio all the time and even they will admit the Pats are in a lowly, weak division without any competition at all. Let's call a thing a thing for Pete's sake.

Of course when you have Brady and Manning their teams will normally come out on top but stop acting as if your Pats have any real competition. I think you are normally a straight shooter so just stop it.

[Conner13]

Oh, come on. Stop being ridiculous. I will be the first to admit that the AFC West has been pretty cupcake until recently.

You can't seriously believe that your division provides any kind of competition for your Pats. I listen to Boston sports radio all the time and even they will admit the Pats are in a lowly, weak division without any competition at all. Let's call a thing a thing for Pete's sake.

Of course when you have Brady and Manning their teams will normally come out on top but stop acting as if your Pats have any real competition. I think you are normally a straight shooter so just stop it.

I have to agree with this. The Jets were the main competition a few years ago -- even giving them the boot in the playoffs. But that defense, while currently decent, isn't what it was back then. The Bills and Dolphins are only a minor nuisance to the Pats on a seldom occasion.

[bgpatsfan]

Oh, come on. Stop being ridiculous. I will be the first to admit that the AFC West has been pretty cupcake until recently.

You can't seriously believe that your division provides any kind of competition for your Pats. I listen to Boston sports radio all the time and even they will admit the Pats are in a lowly, weak division without any competition at all. Let's call a thing a thing for Pete's sake.

Of course when you have Brady and Manning their teams will normally come out on top but stop acting as if your Pats have any real competition. I think you are normally a straight shooter so just stop it.

There might be some confusion... in terms of talent of a division and competition. For instance, there isn't a lot of talent in the NFC East one of the worst divisions ever, but there was a lot of competition because all of the teams were on the same level.

AFC East had talent but zero competition. Jets and Dolphins will put up a good fight but at the same time they aren't close to the patriots level. I see the same phenomenon with the AFC West; Chiefs and Chargers will put up a good fight but aren't on the broncos level.

Straight Shooting: I was honestly more impressed with the Chargers this year than the Chiefs and I think the Chargers will be better going forward. Chiefs gave me zero reason to buy into their hype (played a last place schedule and were beaten by the "better" teams). Lets be real who was their best win against the Browns? They were exposed late in the season and have not improved in the offseason. Their offense will be weaker because they lost McCluster and their defense (while they have some nice pieces in Berry, Houston, Hali, and Poe) was exposed as well. Chiefs finishing 11-5 again is best case scenario. I view 9-7 as more likely.

The Bengals and Chiefs are my picks for the two teams to fall off the most next season in the AFC.

I see the AFC right now as a struggle between the Pats and Broncos with everyone else behind them. Probably in this order/tier:

1. Broncos
2. Pats

3. Colts (A lot of solid additions like Arthur Jones and Nicks and Luck is a future stud)


4. Ravens (Too well coached and a will be a full offseason from overhauling roster can only improve from 8-8)
5. Chargers (Similar to Ravens, big fan of McCoy. Played the broncos very well. Lot of young talent on D and huge fan of Keenan Allen).

6. Houston (O'Brien is a very good coach. Tons of talent on the team. Health is big question)
7.Chiefs (See remarks from above)
8. Cincy (Losing Zimmer hurts the most one of the best DCs. Also losing Gruden. No faith in Marvin Lewis)
9. Cleveland (could be good if their coach does his job)

10. Jets (Rex has probably the best Dline in football. Jets D is always scary. Offense is one or two pieces of the puzzle away from being a very good team. But they always overachieve so I can see them making some noise next season)
11. Steelers (Old on D but offense is improving)
12. Dolphins (No faith in Philbin. Moreno improves their run game, potential to be a good team but too much noise/dysfunction in the locker room. Dion Jordan looks like a huge mistake as does Wallace. Reports that they were shopping both of them?)
13. Titans (Lot of young talent with Casey, Wright, Hunter,etc. But questions with QB and Coach.)

14. Buf (bad but talent is there especially on D)

15. Jax
16 Oakl


List is made before the draft so it will change before the season begins. List is speculation on how new coaches will do and power will change. For instance Houston and Cleveland are ranked highly based on potential because of the talent on their roster; there is a good chance that one of those teams will not realize that potential.

Some teams are underrated on this list like Titans, Dolphins and Bills. They have potential but not as much as others I listed and I don't give them very good odds to achieve much.

Edit: Consensus I think is Top 3 are Broncs, Pats, and Colts. First two on another level. Teams 6-13 are going to be interesting to see how they break down. Can be a lot of movement in that range).