The balance of power in the National Football League has shifted.

The National Football Conference was the dominant conference during the '90s. The proficiency on offense by the Patriots and Colts and strong defenses of the Steelers and Ravens shifted the balance of power to the American Football Conference this decade.

The AFC has won six of the last nine Super Bowls. The conference featured better production at the quarterback position, more defenses in the top 10, and more continuity at the head coaching position.

In the past 11 seasons, not including this current season, the AFC has registered a 370-300-2 record in AFC-NFC matchups, and has won the competition every year, except in 2000 and 2001, when the NFC held its own at 30-30 in each of those seasons.

Since 1972, there have been three eras of conference domination of the Super Bowl, and each has been significant and enduring. From 1973 to 1981, an AFC team won eight of the nine Super Bowls. From 1982 to 1997, an NFC team claimed the Lombardi Trophy 15 times in 16 years.

To be sure, conference dominance is cyclical.

And this season, the balance of power has begun tilting towards the NFC.

The NFC holds a slight edge in various categories which the AFC led since the beginning of the decade.

In head-to-head matchups this season, the NFC holds a slight lead over the AFC with a 24-21 record so far.

The conferences are split with the top 10 records in the NFL.

The NFC's combined winning percentage is .508 against the AFC's .492 record.

Throughout many popular power rankings, the NFC usually holds a three-to-two edge in the top five teams.

Seven of the top 10 quarterbacks and running backs play on NFC teams.

Seven of the top 10 defenses are now in the NFC.

The AFC's era of dominance has come to an end.

Now both conferences indeed play in the same league.

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