10 Reasons Why the AFC Is Better Than the NFC Since 2000

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

It may or may not be a well known fact, that since the merger of the NFL and AFL, the NFC conference has been just a bit better than the AFC.

But since the new millennium, the AFC has taken over in dominance over the NFC and the NFC has been fighting to try and claw back into power since 2000.

The following are 10 different reasons as to why the AFC is a better conference than the NFC, and may continue to dominate throughout this new decade as well.

(This is supposed to be a fun slideshow, so please do not take it too seriously as many already have.)

10. AFC Has Won More Pro Bowls

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The AFC has won six of the past 10 Pro Bowl games against the NFC.

An AFC quarterback has also won the Pro Bowl MVP award (for each victory) every year since 2000 except in 2003, when running back Ricky Williams received the award.

9. AFC Drafts Better Defensive Rookies

Elsa/Getty Images

The AFC has had Defensive Rookie of the Year awards go to its players in seven of the last 10 years including: the Texans' Cushing, Patriots' Mayo, Texans' Ryans, Chargers' Merriman, Jets' Vilma, Ravens' Suggs, and Steelers' Bell.

8. AFC Has Tom Brady

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Besides Manning, is there really another prolific quarterback like Brady since 2000?

Since he has taking over as the Patriots starter in 2000, Brady has won three Super Bowls (and been to four total), one NFL MVP award, two Super Bowl MVP awards, and one Offensive Player of the Year award.

7. AFC Has the Best Home Field Advantages

Travis Lindquist/Getty Images

Whether it's the Black Hole for the Raiders, the Terrible Towels of the Steelers, the Dawg Pound in Cleveland, the thin air in Denver, the J-E-T-S chant of the Jets fans, or the extreme cold and snow in New England; the AFC has some of the best homefield advantages in the NFL.

6. AFC Has Mike Holmgren

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

The "Big Show," as Holmgren is also known, has followed Parcells in that he too left the coaching circles in 2008, then took a year off, and came back into the NFL as a front office executive.

Holmgren also took a bigger step than Parcells by become the President of the Cleveland Browns and he is in charge of the entire franchise and he is the direct representative of and his words are the words of reclusive Browns owner and billionaire Randy Lerner.

Holmgren is by far the greatest mind when it comes to quarterbacks since perhaps he own mentor, Bill Walsh.

The Browns have been one of the teams that has been the butt of all jokes in the NFL since their return in 1999, and Holmgren plans to change that by getting the team back into contention.

5. AFC Has Bill Parcells

Marc Serota/Getty Images

Parcells left the coaching circle in 2006, took one year off, then came back into the NFL as a front office executive for the Dolphins.

After the Dolphins went 1-15 in 2007, they were desperate to bring in a legitimate name and face to run the football side of the franchise.

Parcells has a coaching tree that is so big it even includes Bill Belichick, who himself now has his own coaching tree too.

4. AFC Has Bill Belichick

Elsa/Getty Images

You either love him or hate him, but there is no denying that Belichick is one of the greatest football minds to ever coach in the NFL and he will easily find a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH.

Even though Spygate tarnished his image slightly, his three Super Bowl wins and four total appearances since 2000 are hard to argue with.

3. AFC Has Peyton Manning

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

When Manning retires, he will most likely own every single passing record the NFL has.

Don't be surprised when Manning retires he just goes right into coaching since he is literally an offesnive coordinator as an NFL starting quarterback.

Does any of offensive coordinator have a job as easy as being the Colts' offensvie coordinator?

Probably not.

2. AFC Has More NFL MVPs

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

The AFC has won seven of the last 10 NFL MVP awards with four of them going to Colts quarterback Peyton Manning in 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009.

In 2003 Manning was co-MVP with Titans quarterback Steve McNair.

This is also a segway to...

1. AFC Has Won More Super Bowls

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Since 2000, the AFC has won seven of 10 Supers Bowls that are split between only three teams.

The Patriots (three), Steelers (two), and Colts and Ravens (one each) have all helped the AFC dominate the 2000s over the NFC.

Only the Saints, Buccaneers, and Giants have won a Super Bowl for the NFC in the 2000s.

LET THE DEBATE BEGIN!

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

This article will be highly debated, especially since this guy is in the NFC, so let the debate begin in the comments below!