Do we need two conferences in the NFL?

Kegler · Dec 13, 2004

I would like some opinions. My brother and I got into a discussion about this years playoffs and how the AFC was a lot tougher than the NFC. I know it goes the other way some years, but my question is:

Why don't they just have The NFL? No conferences, eight divisions and twelve playoff teams with the top four getting byes.

ElIguana · Dec 13, 2004

Makes sense to me, especially with inter-division play. I wonder if it's anything other than history/tradition that keeps them separate? Baseball would be a little different w/ DH rule, but all NFL teams are "on the same page" so to speak. There may be a very good reason why NFC & AFC remain separate, but I am not aware of any other than history.

mhk · Dec 13, 2004

Simply tradition, you will never have the old nfl'ers not playing each other twice a year.. It goes in cycles, don't worry, in 6 years it will be the nfc is better arguement..

Kegler · Dec 13, 2004

mhk, I'm not saying they should break up any divisions. Let the Eagles, Giants, Redskins, and Cowboys stay in the same division and play each other twice a like always. I think when it comes to the playoffs there is no reason for two conferences. I don't care who has the better conference and I know it goes in cycles, but wouldn't you rather see a matchup of the two best teams? In the Nineties the NFC Championship was "The Super Bowl" most years. As El Iguana mentioned this wouldn't be possible in baseball because of the different rules. In the NBA you have East vs. West. But neither of these reasons apply in the NFL. I assume it is because of tradition, but I think it would be interesting to find out if anyone associated with the league has even considered it.

REDEYE · Dec 13, 2004

You have to keep it the way it is, things even out most of the time. I remember Jets getting in at 8-8 a few years ago. Besides some teams such as KC choke in first round, even on more then one occasion,when they get in even at 13-3.

FunkSoulBrother · Dec 13, 2004

You can't do this, because teams need things to brag about. Saying "we made it to the AFC championship game but lost" sounds better than We made it to the 3rd round of the generic playoffs.