From: gary@colossus.cgd.ucar.edu (Gary Strand)
Subject: Re: AFC vs. NFC drivel
Organization: Climate and Global Dynamics Division/NCAR, Boulder, CO
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 17:15:18 GMT

el> Edward Lor

el> Our point is simply: best of NFC > best of AFC. 

  "Best" being defined as "playoff team", correct? Now, when you say ">", do
  you mean "NFC playoff teams vs. all of AFC is better than AFC playoff teams
  vs. all of NFC", or "NFC best vs. AFC best is better than AFC best vs. NFC
  best"?

el> There is no argument about it.  The only way to dodge the argument is:

  "Dodging" is a little harsh, wouldn't you say?

el> 1) compare the AFC vs NFC in the regular season
    2) bring back the 70s SB to make the comparison more even
    3) claim that the 49ers/Redskins/Giants/Bears have NOTHING to do with 
       the NFC; they are just in that conference by accident

  1) is perfectly valid. "AFC" and "NFC" mean members of the two conferences,
  *all* members, not just playoff teams. Of course, since no team in the AFC
  has come close to the absolute pathetic level of play shown by the Tampa
  Bay Buccaneers, pro-NFC types tend to ignore the Bucs and limit their com-
  parison to only the NFC playoff teams.

  2) is also valid, if your claim "best of NFC > best of AFC" doesn't include
  a time range. If your time range is "since NFC has won consecutive SBs", the
  argument becomes a wee bit circular.

  3) is an argument I don't make. However, in the next few years, if the NFL
  expands to 30 teams, (6 5-team divisions) we could see some realignment, in
  which case, the argument goes back to square one.

  In any case, here's some data for Ed to ponder. It does indeed prove his
  point, if "NFC playoff teams vs. all of AFC > AFC playoff teams vs. all of
   NFC" is his argument. Take a look at this:

  AFC playoff teams vs. rest of NFC, 1983-1992:
    %   W  L  T Team
  ----- ------- --------------------
  0.650 13- 7-0 BUFFALO BILLS
  1.000  1- 0-0 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
  0.688 11- 5-0 MIAMI DOLPHINS
  0.750  6- 2-0 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
  0.500  6- 6-0 NEW YORK JETS
  0.625  5- 3-0 CINCINNATI BENGALS
  0.600 12- 8-0 CLEVELAND BROWNS
  0.542 13-11-0 HOUSTON OILERS
  0.583  7- 5-0 PITTSBURGH STEELERS
  0.694 12- 5-1 DENVER BRONCOS
  0.643  9- 5-0 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
  0.688 11- 5-0 LOS ANGELES RAIDERS
  1.000  2- 0-0 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
  0.750  9- 3-0 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

  NFC playoff teams vs. rest of AFC, 1983-1992:
    %   W  L  T Team
  ----- ------- --------------------
  0.833 10- 2-0 DALLAS COWBOYS
  0.800  8- 2-0 NEW YORK GIANTS
  0.562  9- 7-0 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
  0.739 17- 6-0 WASHINGTON REDSKINS
  0.643 18-10-0 CHICAGO BEARS
  1.000  4- 0-0 DETROIT LIONS
  0.600  9- 6-0 MINNESOTA VIKINGS
  0.750  3- 1-0 ATLANTA FALCONS
  0.650 13- 7-0 LOS ANGELES RAMS
  0.750 12- 4-0 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
  0.812 26- 6-0 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

  Per year:
            AFC                 NFC
  Year   %    W   L  T       %    W   L  T    Winner
  ---- -----  --------     -----  --------    ------
  1984 0.850  17-  3-0     0.722  13-  5-0     AFC
  1985 0.600  12-  8-0     0.750  12-  4-0     NFC
  1986 0.611  11-  7-0     0.800  16-  4-0     NFC
  1987 0.676  11-  5-1     0.722  13-  5-0     NFC
  1988 0.700  14-  6-0     0.550  11-  9-0     AFC
  1989 0.600  12-  8-0     0.750  12-  4-0     NFC
  1990 0.583  14- 10-0     0.625  15-  9-0     NFC
  1991 0.545  12- 10-0     0.792  19-  5-0     NFC
  1992 0.636  14-  8-0     0.750  18-  6-0     NFC
  --------------------------------------------------
       0.642 117- 65-1     0.717 129- 51-0     NFC
--
Gary Strand                      Opinions stated herein are mine alone and are
strandwg@ncar.ucar.edu            not representative of NCAR, UCAR, or the NSF
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro