Kung-Pow Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 (edited) NFL.comNFL Division Power Rankings: NFC North tops the list By Michael Lombardi NFL Network Front Office View Published: Sept. 1, 2011 at 11:24 a.m. Updated: Sept. 1, 2011 at 12:23 p.m. Liked: 18 | Comments: 63 Email Print Read DiscussThe NFC East during the 1980s was as tough a division as the NFL has ever seen. In New York, there was Bill Parcells coaching Phil Simms to sling the ball around the windy Meadowlands. In Washington, there was Joe Gibbs and Joe Theismann in RFK with the band playing "Hail to the Redskins" all day long. In Dallas, there was Tom Landry and Danny White in Texas Stadium, with a hole in the roof so God could watch America's Team play. And in Philadelphia, where Buddy Ryan and Randall Cunningham whipped the infamous Eagles fans into a frenzy at the old Vet.Everyone called the NFC East the best division in football back then because any team that could survive had a legitimate Super Bowl chance. So what is the best division today? Defining the best division requires three critical factors:A. Great coachesB. Great quarterbacksC. Tough home venuesBased on that criteria, here are my current rankings of the toughest divisions in football: (Interesting note: Based on my blue-chip rankings, there are not two blue-chip quarterbacks in the same division)1. NFC NORTHHome to the Super Bowl champ Packers and elite quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the North is my winner for the best division. All teams have unique venues to play -- two domes in Minnesota and Detroit, two tough weather outdoor stadiums in Green Bay and Chicago -- and each team has a quarterback capable of playing well. The reason the North has moved to the top is based on the resurgence of the Lions. With Matthew Stafford leading the charge, an awesome defensive front and a fan base that loves football, the Lions have bought into what head coach Jim Schwartz is building. From top to bottom, the North is tough and each game between one another will be a war.2. NFC EASTIt might not be as good as the mid-80s, but this division is filled with quality teams, quality coaches (three of the four have been to the Super Bowl) and quality quarterbacks. Even though the Cowboys no longer play on the field with the hole in the roof, or the Skins in RFK, or the Eagles at the Vet, or the G-men at the windy Meadowlands, all are still tough places with changing weather and loud fans. I expect the Redskins to be much better this season, giving this division four quality teams. Each game played between each team is a must-watch.3. AFC EASTThe division is top heavy with the Jets and Patriots. Both teams hate each other, and both can beat any other team in the league. The Pats won 14 games last year, and the Jets went to the conference championship game for the second straight season. And don't forget that the Dolphins went 6-2 on the road last season. Buffalo has been the pushover for some time, but the top two make this division tough to deal with. Some might argue the AFC East could be No. 1 since the Pats beat every team in the NFC North in 2010, but the Jets finished just 2-2, and thus the present ranking.4. NFC SOUTHThe South features a team that won 13 games last year (Atlanta) and another one year removed from winning the Super Bowl (New Orleans). The Saints who also have a blue-chip quarterback in Drew Brees. Also in the South, the Bucs are an up-and-coming team. My reason for moving this division below the AFC East is because I am not sold on the quality of the Bucs overall, and the Panthers are a team in total transition. But both Atlanta and New Orleans are Super Bowl contenders.5. AFC NORTHBaltimore and Pittsburgh is a great rivalry. Each time they play, the physical nature of the game is at the highest level. Both teams are legitimate Super Bowl contenders, but Ohio teams Cleveland and Cincinnati drag the division down. The Browns have an incredible fan base and once the team starts to play better, that will be a tough venue for teams to play. The Bengals are a physical defensive team, but with a rookie quarterback leading their offense, it prevents the Bengals from competing.6. AFC SOUTHWith Colts quarterback Peyton Manning injured and uncertain about his return, the South is up for grabs. The Texans appear to be the favorite, but the Titans (once Chris Johnson returns) appear to have a solid team that will challenge many in the league. The Jags are in transition and have trouble drawing fans, making Jacksonville an easy place to play. Overall this division does not have a team right now that looks like it could challenge for the Super Bowl, thus the subpar rating.7. AFC WESTAs all of you know, I love Philip Rivers and know he is capable of leading the Chargers to the promised land. But there is not another team in the West that puts fear in opponents. When an AFC West team wins a game outside the division, it's surprising. The Raiders won eight games last year, the first time they have not had a double-digit losing season since 2002, but six of those wins were in the division. The West has one legitimate quarterback and three other question marks at the position.8. NFC WESTWhen the leading teams in the division are 7-8 heading into the last weekend of the season, it clearly signals a bad division. Seattle beat St. Louis in that Week 17 game to win the division, but appear to have taken a step back with Tarvaris Jackson now at quarterback. The Rams appear to have improved, however, especially since they have a quarterback with blue-chip potential in Sam Bradford. Kevin Kolb hopes to solve the quarterback problems in Arizona, but even if he is able to take his game to another level, the Cards are not overly talented and have many areas of concerns. And in San Francisco, I wonder what Bill Walsh is thinking as he looks down from heaven and sees the 49ers quarterbacks go from bad to worse. The 49ers need an answer at the position and he's not on the roster right now. In this division, quarterbacking is really bad, which means it could remain in the basement for a long time.Follow Michael Lombardi on Twitter @michaelombardiNFCS below the AFCE, which features two teams that won't win more than five games (Dolphins, Bills)?And popularity keeps the NFCE overrated. Edited September 1, 2011 by Kung-Pow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dem Birds Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Bills will win some games this year, I think. Dolphins, probably not. I agree we should be ahead though of every division, the only ones that are questionable are the NFC North and East. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vel Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Haha I can't believe he put the NFCS below AFCE neither. Whether you believe in the Bucs or not, they are better than the Bills and Dolphins combined. What a joke. Like you said, NFCE survives on popularity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoodRulezApply Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Yea, I had to shake my head at the predictions too. It's like Lombardi does not want to show ATL the love it deserves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkbigdog35 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Michael Lombardi = BUSTER!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HouseofEuphoria Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 "Both Atlanta and New Orleans are Superbowl contenders."Dayum, that feels good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanATL88 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 (edited) im so tired of lombardi he is such a peni5 wrinkle.Really, i cant say *****? Edited September 1, 2011 by ryanATL88 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JoeSr Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 What? So now, Michael thinks he someone because his last name is Lombardi? GTFOH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceReville Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 So the NFC North is #1 because of Detroit? :blink: - I remember when everyone said the Bills would be the next big comeback a few years back and they fell flat every year and soon everyone jumped off the bandwagon. Now the Lions are the sexy pick and they are 8-40 over three years. Sorry but Stafford has shoulders of glass for both years in his NFL career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slamee101 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Well if that angers you what will you say about his Division winners/playoff picks?My link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltstorm2 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Wow, ya'll are hilarious. The man said we're superbowl contenders but ya'll are mad cause he doesn't think our division is as good as anothers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychic Gibbon Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 The day the NFC East stops being overrated will be a great day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slamee101 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Wow, ya'll are hilarious. The man said we're superbowl contenders but ya'll are mad cause he doesn't think our division is as good as anothers?He has us missing the playoffs...so it's not like he REALLY thinks we're contenders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltstorm2 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Yea, I had to shake my head at the predictions too. It's like Lombardi does not want to show ATL the love it deserves."But both Atlanta and New Orleans are Super Bowl contenders" - Michael Lombardi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kung-Pow Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share Posted September 1, 2011 So the NFC North is #1 because of Detroit? :blink: - I remember when everyone said the Bills would be the next big comeback a few years back and they fell flat every year and soon everyone jumped off the bandwagon. Now the Lions are the sexy pick and they are 8-40 over three years. Sorry but Stafford has shoulders of glass for both years in his NFL career. Easy to see why many pundits are fighting for seats on the Lions' bandwagon: Stafford, Johnson and the makings of one of the fiercest D-lines in the league and they've had exciting performances this preseason (and we all know what an accurate predictor of success the preseason is ). But their secondary is still atrocious; no strong weapon opposite Megatron, unless you think Burleson can be that consistent threat (doubtful); and that team is full of young players too accustomed to losing. It's gonna take them a year or two to learn how to win. See the Bucs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltstorm2 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 He has us missing the playoffs...so it's not like he REALLY thinks we're contenders.If there is anything I've noticed from the NFL network, those guys contradict themselves constantly. An article they write for the site won't be exactly the same as when they're talking about it on air. Whatever's clever in this article he does say we're super bowl contenders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Syrup Golden 32 Oz Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Worst ranking ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 We are the only division with 3 teams that had atleast 10 wins last year. Atleast I think we were. The NFC SOUTH will dominate again this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.