East Coast Bias? Not in The NFL

I was looking at the numbers today (thank you lazy work Fridays), and noticed something. The NFC East and AFC East are a combined 50-29-1 (stupid Eagles), and the NFC West and AFC West are a combined 27-53.

Wow. That's quite a discrepancy. We've been hearing for years how miserable the NFC West is, and how good the NFC East is. After, the NFC East has had three teams in the playoffs the past two years, and two the year before.

The NFC West has been the Seahawks' to lose the last few years, which they've finally accomplished. Sure, the Seahawks went to the Super Bowl one year, but I think we can agree that that was the exception, rather than the rule.

The AFC West? They've fielded several overrated Chargers teams, and a Jake Plummer-led Broncos team.

The AFC East. Sure, the Bills, Jets, and especially the Dolphins have been horrendous, but the Patriots were going to the playoffs with great records.

What's interesting is that the '90s were filled with battles between two West teams, or two East teams.

You had:

• 1990: 49ers vs. Broncos
  
• 1991: Giants vs. Bills
  
• 1992: Redskins vs. Bills
• 1993: Cowboys vs. Bills
• 1994: Cowboys vs. Bills
• 1995: 49ers vs. Chargers

Since the '90s, the East has dominated the Super Bowl, with the Patriots and Giants winning, and East Coast cities like Pittsburgh, Tampa, and Baltimore winning.

What does this mean? I'm not sure. Maybe the weather is a factor. Classic football weather is 50 degrees and lower. Everyone remembers the cold-weather battles at Soldier field or Lambeau.

The Cardinals have a brand new stadium, but they rarely fill it. The Chargers are notorious for having bad fans. Besides the Raiders and Broncos, a case can be made that West Coast fans just aren't as into it as East Coasters.

Why is that? Maybe because West Coast types have a reputation of viewing sport as something that doesn't matter. Sure, they love their USC football and their UCLA and Arizona basketball, but they don't have a rabid fan base that compares with Packers, Eagles, Steelers, or Giants.

Maybe it has to do with expansion. L.A. doesn't have a football team, but Baltimore, Carolina, Jacksonville, Tennessee have all gotten expansion teams.

Expansion teams, by nature, usually have miserable season until they find their sea legs. Sometimes, they never get them (see: Texans, Houston).

And guess what? This is a trend that shows no signs of reversing. The Giants, Titans and Steelers are the cream of the NFL crop this year. The Patriots will be better next year.

Teams from the center, like the Vikings, Packers, and Colts should be getting better.

The Chargers? Getting older, and worse. The Broncos could be on the upswing, but let the Bengals be the example of a team with a good group of receivers, a young QB and no defense.

The Cardinals are the one bright spot. But how long is Hurt Warner (I can't believe I haven't heard that one before) going to stay healthy?

Can Leinart get the ball to Boldin and Fitzgerald the way Warner does? He had his chance, and he's got one healing collarbone and a lot off downtime to show for it.

But cheer up, West Coast. When we're suffering from Seasonal Depression Disorder, go out, enjoy the sunshine, and swim in your pool.

Just don't watch your home teams. It's not worth it.