Post by TheShadow on Sept 3, 2006 8:20:23 GMT -5
chicagosports.chicagotribune.com
By Dan Pompei
Sporting News
September 3, 2006
The AFC has won seven of the last nine Super Bowls. And the dominance runs deeper. The AFC has been the conference with the most regular-season victories, the best quarterback play and even the best strategy.
The AFC has been the NFL's dominant conference the way Tiger Woods has been the PGA's dominant golfer.
The NFC may or may not reverse the Super Bowl flow this season, but throughout the year the senior conference likely will provide the stiffest competition the AFC has seen in a long time.
In fact, the 2006 season could be remembered for the rise of the NFC.
"Some of the teams in the AFC have taken a step back, but I see a lot of NFC teams getting better consistently," says Tim Ryan, a TV and radio commentator.
A look at interconference games shows the NFC is gaining on the AFC.
In 2004 the AFC won 44 of the 64 games between the conferences. But last year the AFC held only a 34-30 edge. This season the NFC could win more games than the AFC for the first time since 1995.
NFC teams won 20 of the first 38 interconference games last season. In the final two months, some NFC teams began to wear down, as they were hit harder by injuries.
Why is the gap between the conferences closing? There are a number of reasons, but the most important is--surprise, surprise--defense. Last season seven of the NFL's top 10 defenses, including the top three, came from the NFC.
It figures, given that many of the game's young, emerging defensive stars play for NFC teams. Among them are linemen Osi Umenyiora (Giants), Will Smith (Saints), Tommie Harris (Bears) and Kevin Williams (Vikings), linebacker Lofa Tatupu (Seahawks) and defensive backs Roy Williams (Cowboys), Sean Taylor (Redskins), Nick Collins (Packers), DeAngelo Hall (Falcons) and Nathan Vasher (Bears).
A number of players who have played in the Pro Bowl for the AFC crossed over to the NFC in the off-season, which is likely to strengthen the NFC and weaken the AFC. They include Arizona's Edgerrin James, New Orleans' Drew Brees, Atlanta's John Abraham, Green Bay's Charles Woodson, New York's Sam Madison, Minnesota's Tony Richardson and Dallas' Mike Vanderjagt.
The Cardinals traditionally have been one of the league's most incompetent franchises, but James gives them hope. If they are contenders, or even a middle-of-the-pack team, the NFC will have one fewer hole.
For the NFC to take the next step, however, some of its young quarterbacks will have to step up. And there is evidence that could happen.
Chris Simms of the Buccaneers has the pedigree, the receivers and the coaching to become a star this season. Two former No. 1 overall picks in the draft, the Giants' Eli Manning and the 49ers' Alex Smith, could be ready to break out. And it finally could be the year Grossman realizes his potential.
"The NFC East and the NFC South are the best in football top to bottom," Ryan says. "You can take the two best divisions from the AFC and put them against the two best in the NFC, and I'll put my money on the NFC."