Conference?

[God-King Dean]

I know the NFL is divided between AFL & NFC teams.

I was just wondering what exactly the conferences & why are the teams that are in them, are in them?

 

[sunny]

The NFL is divided between AFC and NFC teams.

The conferences are basically 2 large divisions that themselves are divided into four smaller divisions, the winners of each conference meeting in the Super Bowl. The teams that are in them are in them for historical reasons, with many of the AFC teams coming from the old AFL, which was the rebel league set up against the NFL in the 1960s. Some old NFL teams like the Steelers, Browns and Colts came across to the AFC when the AFL and NFL merged in 1970.

 

[Paullyboy]

The conferences are seperated into divisions as well based on geographical position, ie NFC North, NFC South etc.

 

[Eelectrica]

When the NFL re-aligned the divisions a lot of the traditional rivalries were kept intact.
So that's why the NFC East for example has Miami, NYJ, Buffalo and New England, all great rivalries. As is the Bronco V Raider rivalry and in the NFC the Bears Vs Packer rivalry.

 

[Cupid Stunt]

So that's why the NFC East for example has Miami, NYJ, Buffalo and New England, all great rivalries.

AFC East.

 

[Eelectrica]

So that's why the NFC East for example has Miami, NYJ, Buffalo and New England, all great rivalries.

AFC East.

God damn, I've got absolutely no idea how that happened. I can't even claim a typo as the N and A aren't even close on the keyboard #-o

 

[legend]

Wishful thinking as we all know the AFC is far stronger than the NFC East. ;-)

 

[BuffaloRules]

The NFC is so weak this year......( other then the Eagles and the Falcons..)

Remember when the NFC used to win the Superbowl every year for about 14 years??

The Bills would be around the number 4 seed if they were in the NFC, judging by the way they have carved up Seattle and St Louis the last two weeks... ;-)

 

[CanadianSteve]

The NFL is divided between AFC and NFC teams.

The conferences are basically 2 large divisions that themselves are divided into four smaller divisions, the winners of each conference meeting in the Super Bowl. The teams that are in them are in them for historical reasons, with many of the AFC teams coming from the old AFL, which was the rebel league set up against the NFL in the 1960s. Some old NFL teams like the Steelers, Browns and Colts came across to the AFC when the AFL and NFL merged in 1970.

And the first 4 Super Bowls were NFL vs. AFL matches. SBV was the first one of the unified NFL with the 2 conferences. And the Baltimore Colts, new to the AFC, got to the SB and defeated the Cowboys. The Colts had lost SB3 as the NFL representative.

The NFC was indeed the dominant conference for a long time in the 80s and early 90s. Before that, the AFC dominated the 70s with great teams in Miami, Pittsburgh and Oakland.