3 Reasons NFC East Is the Best Division in the NFL

We've seen everything in the NFC East. Between its share of Hall of Famers, Super Bowl champions and ridiculous fan bases, this division (made of the Cowboys, Giants, Eagles and Redskins) serves as the perfect microcosm for the NFL.

While the 2011 season is sure to impose difficulties for most of the NFC East teams, it shouldn't diminish the impact they still have on the NFL. All four have a rich history that has helped shape the game to what it is and, in return, earned some of the most dedicated fan bases in all of professional sports.

Without pulling the rug out from divisions with teams that offer similar contributions, it must be noted that few can match up as a whole to the NFC East. There is no discredit to the mark that other storied franchises have left on this league, and their importance cannot be understated.

However, there's just something really special about the NFC East and its teams.

Traditional Rivalries

As I implied earlier, I won't take the fanboy route and discredit the storied rivalries outside of the NFC East.

We've seen timeless games between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears along with bruising melees between the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs. It would be a disservice to the NFL to not acknowledge them. 

Newer rivalries like the Steelers-Ravens and Jets-Patriots have also provided today's fans with just as much drama as the aforementioned ones and will only continue to grow with the league.

But when I hear the word "rivalry," my brain always conjures up images of the Cowboys and Redskins. Aging but vivid images of Randy White, Russ Grimm, John Riggins and Michael Irvin still have a way of making the hair stand on the necks of fans across the country. 

The Eagles and Giants also have every right to be in the conversation of great rivalries, as well. The hatred between the two teams dates all the way back to the 1930s and gains momentum with every year.

Because each franchise has crafted its foundation with care, more competitive squads from Philadelphia and New York have emerged in recent history. More always seems to be at stake when these teams square off now, and recent matchups have absolutely reflected that.

One would think that even with the Redskins' and Cowboys' better days behind them the rivalry would lose steam. The games may not have as much at stake as recent Giants and Eagles games, but it would be difficult convincing the rest of the country that.

However, no matter what state these teams are in, the history that is stacked upon these rivalries is simply too much to ignore. The books remain wide open for plenty of enthralling chapters that our eyes will be treated to in the very near future.

Perennial Playoff Teams

It always seems like multiple teams from the NFC East are in contention for a Super Bowl title.

Despite including the Washington Redskins—a team that has made the playoffs just three times since 1999—the NFC East has loaded the conference with contenders.

In fact, since the realignment the NFC East has failed to send multiple teams to the playoffs just twice. 

Going back even further, the NFC East accounts for 11 out of the 45 Lombardi Trophies awarded, making it the division with the most decorated trophy case in the NFL.

With that type of history, and when at least half the division makes the playoffs almost annually, opposing teams can't possibly look forward to when it's their turn to have the NFC East on their schedules.

The Fans

So, we have an NFL division that includes teams with fans that dress up as pigs in drag and ones that have pelted Santa Claus with snowballs.

No disrespect to the Black Hole and the Dog Pound, but my mind's already made up about the fan bases that intrigue me most.

With the aforementioned tradition and rivalries, it's no shock to see how passionate the fans of these storied teams are. They'll stop at nothing short of embarrassing themselves in public as long as it means showing their support.

(Or in Philadelphia's case, their hatred.)