NFL: What the NFC and AFC Should Look Like

Cody PetersApr 16, 2011

In the last decade or so, the more informed citizens of the world have made attempts to adopt an Eco-friendly mentality to help quell the effects of global warming. I believe major sports must do the same. I believe Major League Baseball is the least environmentally friendly of the major sports leagues with their Eastern, Central and Western divisions in both the American and National Leagues.

One of the best things about the NBA and the NHL is that teams are organized geographically, having divisions within Eastern and Western conferences.

Personally, I don’t think MLB officials would consider realigning to East and West out of both stubbornness and deference to the history of the National and American leagues.

But what about the “Original Six” of the NHL? They are in separate leagues, aren't they?

As for the NFL, I think they are due for an overhaul, a realignment that would preserve traditional rivalries while sparking new ones. This could all be accomplished while reducing the costs teams waste going cross country or farther than they would need to if they were organized more geographically (think “Cowboys in NFC East? Say what?” or “Why is a team from South Beach in the same division as teams from the Northeast?).

I have reorganized teams from the National Football League into geographically-conscious divisions. I have kept the names NFC and AFC and have applied these names to the conferences retaining the most teams from the current configuration. For example, my proposed NFC has nine teams who belong in that league and only seven from the AFC; the same goes for my proposed AFC, with nine original AFC teams and seven NFC teams.

Enjoy.

AFC Northeast: Buffalo Bills

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Current division: AFC East

The Bills remain in the same division as the Pats and Jets. These rivalries will be preserved while the addition of the Giants would generate hard fought games.

AFC Northeast: New England Patriots

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Current division: AFC East

The Patriots would still clash with division foes the Jets and the Bills. They would play the Giants twice a year, who beat them in one of the most memorable Super Bowls in history.

AFC Northeast: New York Giants

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Current division: NFC East

It makes sense for the G-Men to join the Jets and cross state team Buffalo and they would face their old Super Bowl rival, New England.

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AFC Northeast: New York Jets

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Current division: AFC East

This division lineup would keep them going against the Bills and current division arch-nemesis New England, while they could also battle it out with the Giants for the bragging rights in the New Meadowlands.

AFC Central: Cincinnati Bengals

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Current division: AFC North

The Bengals would remain foes with Pittsburgh and Baltimore and would add the Lions to their list of mid-America foes.

AFC Central: Cleveland Browns

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Current division: AFC North

Cleveland would still get to struggle against the Steelers and Bengals, but would find a nice match up with Detroit.

AFC Central: Detroit Lions

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Current division: NFC North

This divisional setup would allow the Lions to escape the hotly contested NFC North. They would compete in a more forgiving division with the Steelers, Bengals and Browns.

AFC Central: Pittsburgh Steelers

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Current division: AFC North

Simply put, the Steelers are the lucky ones in this potential division, as they lose a competitor in the Ravens and become predators to the Lions.

AFC Atlantic: Baltimore Ravens

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Current division: AFC North

The Ravens would meet the Redskins twice a year in a beltway show down and would surely find new rivalries with the Eagles and Panthers.

AFC Atlantic: Carolina Panthers

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Current division: NFC South

Like the Lions, the Panthers would escape an increasingly tough-to-contend-in NFC South, although I'm not sure they would particularly like their new position.

AFC Atlantic: Philadelphia Eagles

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Current division: NFC East

Philadelphia would find themselves in a division that could be renamed "AFC I-95."

AFC Atlantic: Washington Redskins

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Current division: NFC East

It's hard to say that the Eagles are usually the easiest Redskins opponent, but it's true. They do however gain stiff competition in the Panthers and Ravens, who are currently their regular preseason foes.

AFC Southeast: Atlanta Falcons

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Current division: NFC South

Atlanta would be the odd team out in that they would be the only non-Florida team in this division. But they could become the perennial powerhouse of the new NFC Southeast.

NFC Southeast: Jacksonville Jaguars

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Current division: AFC South

The Jags would be pitted against Atlanta and two other Florida teams, which would, without doubt, evolve into rivalries.

AFC Southeast: Miami Dolphins

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Current division: AFC East

While they weren't usually the worst team in the AFC East, they would have a great opportunity in competing against Tampa Bay, Jacksonville and Atlanta.

AFC Southeast: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Current division: NFC South

As mentioned earlier, Tampa would be pitted against two Sunshine State squads and would retain their current division rivalry with Atlanta.

NFC North: Chicago Bears

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Current division: NFC North

The Bears would be basically land in their current division, except the Lions would become the Colts. Yikes.

NFC North: Green Bay Packers

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Current division: NFC North

This division would replace the current NFC East as, arguably, the toughest division in football. They retain their heated rivalries with the Bears and Vikings. Aaron Rodgers would get to shoot it out. It's enticing to say the least.

NFC North: Indianapolis Colts

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Current division: AFC South

I'm sure the Colts would miss their old competition, but at least this division would give them a better indication of how good they actually are.

NFC North: Minnesota Vikinga

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Current division: NFC North

Unfortunately for them, the Vikings would take over the role that the Detroit Lions have played for so many years in the current NFC North.

NFC Midwest: Denver Broncos

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Current division: AFC West

This would place the Broncos in a fairly well-contested division with the Rams, Titans and current AFC West rival Kansas City.

NFC Midwest: Kansas City Chiefs

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Current division: AFC West

The Chiefs would face current division rival Denver and find a new match up with the Titans, while they would battle it out with in-state foe St. Louis.

NFC Midwest: St. Louis Rams

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Current division: NFC West

The St. Louis Rams land in an unfortunate division. Instead of San Francisco, Seattle and Arizona, they would play Denver, Tennessee and Kansas City, who are all better than the teams with whom they currently share the NFC West.

NFC Midwest: Tennessee Titans

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Current division: AFC South

In my opinion, the Titans would have the same competitive chances as they do in their current division. Lucky them?

NFC Southwest: Arizona Cardinals

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Current division: NFC West

For the Cardinals, doing well here would be tough as they would face Houston, Dallas and New Orleans, who are all generally difficult to beat.

NFC Southwest: Dallas Cowboys

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Current division: NFC East

The Cowboys would finally be in a geographically sane division, grouped with the Saints and Cardinals. Surely the match up with Houston would foster a fresh new rivalry.

NFC Southwest: Houston Texans

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Current division: AFC South

Like several teams, I think being in this division would make it a little more difficult to be successful than in their current division, the AFC South.

NFC Southwest: New Orleans Saints

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Current division: NFC South

Bar the Cowboys, the Saints would necessarily have to be worried about their new division foes, Arizona and Houston.

NFC Pacific: Oakland Raiders

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Current division: NFC West

The Raiders would be part of one of the most geographically friendly divisions in this newly reorganized NFL, and would definitely look forward to the two games each year against San Francisco as well as against current AFC West companion San Diego. They'd also get to familiarize themselves with Seattle.

NFC Pacific: San Diego Chargers

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Current division: AFC West

San Diego would retain their spot as top dog in this division assuming they maintain their current form. I'm sure they would enjoy these matchups with California teams Oakland and San Francisco and would like facing the lesser Seahawks.

NFC Pacific: San Francisco 49ers

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Current division: NFC West

The 49ers would love the matchup with Oakland as much as would the Raiders. This would surely be a great rivalry and there's the potential for a good one with the Chargers. Don't forget about current AFC West team Seattle either.