the Patriots, Steelers & Broncos have 26/52 AFC titles (50%)

[JustinCharge 2,397]

The Patriots, Steelers & Broncos have 26/52 AFC titles (50%). They absolutely dominate the AFC.

 

1. The last time none of these 3 teams showed up in the AFC title game was during the 2009 season when the Colts beat the Jets 30-17.

2. There have been only TWO AFC title games in the 21st century where none of these 3 teams showed up. 2002 and 2009. In 2002, the Raiders beat the Titans 41-24.

3. The last time neither the Patriots, Steelers nor the Broncos made the playoffs was 1990. The seeds were: 1. Bills 2. Raiders 3. Bengals 4. Dolphins 5. Chiefs 6. Oilers

4. The Patriots have won the AFC 10 times, the Steelers and Broncos each have won 8 times. The next team with the most wins are the Dolphins with 5 wins, and they last won it in 1984.

5. 6 of out 17 AFC title games in the 21st century has been a meeting of 2 of these 3 teams. The Patriots are 3-0 vs the Steelers. The Broncos are 2-0 vs the Patriots. The Steelers are 1-0 vs the Broncos.

6. The #1 seed in the AFC has been won by 1 of these 3 teams every year since 2010. In 2009, the Colts were the #1 seed.

7. One of these 3 teams have won 12/17 #1 AFC seeds in the 21st century. #1 seeds won by other teams in the 21st century: 2009 Colts, 2008 Titans, 2006 Chargers, 2005 Colts, 2002 Raiders.

8. Two of these 3 teams have won the TOP TWO seeds 6 of the last 8 years. In 2016, the Chiefs were the #2 seed, and in 2011 the Ravens were the #2 seed.

9. At least 1 of these 3 teams have won a division title in every season since realignment. The last time none of them won a division title was in 2000, the last year before realignment when there were just 3 divisions per conference. The Dolphins won the east, the Raiders won the west, and the Titans won the old "central" division that year.

10. Peyton Manning only made it to the AFC title game 3 times as a Colt.

[RoadLizard 73]

Great parity...... oh wait..... guess not? What this really indicates is how lousy the AFC has been over the last 20+ years, especially the AFC East which grants NE 6 automtic wins every season, Think about it: NE only has to win FOUR games outside of the division the rest of the year to get 10 wins. They win a few other games and bingo...12-4 at the worst every year. Just crazy how inept the competition has been. Pittsburgh is another team thats benefitted from being in a division with completely useless teams(Cinncy & Cleveland). Sure, The Ravens have had some good years in there but still. You put Pitt and NE in the NFC and there is NO way they have the success they've had.

 

So all this crap about leveling the playing field, making it fair for small market teams and having draconian salary caps & free ageny rules apparently didnt do a damned thing, did it?

[huskyhater75 242]

Great parity...... oh wait..... guess not? What this really indicates is how lousy the AFC has been over the last 20+ years, especially the AFC East which grants NE 6 automtic wins every season, Think about it: NE only has to win FOUR games outside of the division the rest of the year to get 10 wins. They win a few other games and bingo...12-4 at the worst every year. Just crazy how inept the competition has been. Pittsburgh is another team thats benefitted from being in a division with completely useless teams(Cinncy & Cleveland). Sure, The Ravens have had some good years in there but still. You put Pitt and NE in the NFC and there is NO way they have the success they've had.

 

So all this crap about leveling the playing field, making it fair for small market teams and having draconian salary caps & free ageny rules apparently didnt do a damned thing, did it?

Yep 100% right, also the same thing going on in NCAA football, the way Alabama/SEC hides behind that false façade of greatness-they NEVER go ANYWHERE to play ANYBODY tough out of conference-you have to go to their place. Back to NFL, Pittsburg has had easiest schedule (because of their conference) for 15 years.

[jgcrawfish 232]

Yep 100% right, also the same thing going on in NCAA football, the way Alabama/SEC hides behind that false façade of greatness-they NEVER go ANYWHERE to play ANYBODY tough out of conference-you have to go to their place. Back to NFL, Pittsburg has had easiest schedule (because of their conference) for 15 years.

WHAT??? The freakin Patriots get 6 free wins every year because of their pathetic division and you're going to point out the Steelers who have Baltimore sitting right there?

[huskyhater75 242]

WHAT??? The freakin Patriots get 6 free wins every year because of their pathetic division and you're going to point out the Steelers who have Baltimore sitting right there?

Just a little something to chew on with your breakfast-in conference NE's record since 2002 is 61-17 and Pitts is 54-24, BUT out of conference NE is 98-32 while Pitt is a distant 78-51. Have a nice day!

[Hardcore troubadour 12,556]

The rest of the AFC east has produced one HOF player (Revis) since Brady came on the scene, that I can think of. And there doesn't appear to be any on the horizon. Think about that. 3 teams drafting for 18 years produced one top player. It's historically bad.

[jgcrawfish 232]

Just a little something to chew on with your breakfast-in conference NE's record since 2002 is 61-17 and Pitts is 54-24, BUT out of conference NE is 98-32 while Pitt is a distant 78-51. Have a nice day!

 

And, while this is now dated by 3 years, it hasn't changed significantly.

 

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/08/nfl-most-wins-per-division-afc-north-nfc-east-best-divisions-in-football-most-playoff-appearances

 

As does this:

 

https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/gallery/nfl-power-ranking-divisions-2002-realignment-110916

 

Which points out the division is rated the toughest BECAUSE of the Pats, not any of the other teams in it.

 

And finally, there is this:

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/679cth/team_division_records_since_2002_realignment/

 

 

The AFC East does have the best overall record, however they are also propped up significantly by the Patriots. The other 3 teams in the division rank 19th, 22nd, and 26th in overall record. For reference, the divisions in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th place each have 3 teams with a better overall record than the AFC East's second best team, the NY Jets. Now let's take a look at some playoff stats, specifically total appearances, first round byes, Super Bowl appearances, and Super Bowl record.

 

 

 

There is no argument, the play in FAR AND AWAY the easiest division in football. They are gifted 5+ wins every season on average just by virtue of the craptastic competition in their division.

[sderk 1,040]

Just a little something to chew on with your breakfast-in conference NE's record since 2002 is 61-17 and Pitts is 54-24, BUT out of conference NE is 98-32 while Pitt is a distant 78-51. Have a nice day!

Very true.

[jgcrawfish 232]

Very true.

While he may be right, this wasn't a comparison of the individual winning % of the franchise, this started out as a WTF moment when a comment was made about Pittsburgh easy "conference" schedule (which makes zero sense because they are in the same conference as New England and both typically play a 1st place schedule). I said the New Englands "division" is far easier than PIttsburghs (which is flat out true) and they get 2x as many games vs it than anybody out of division does.

[Hardcore troubadour 12,556]

The AFC east is the worst. The AFC north is right behind them.

[sderk 1,040]

Yep 100% right, also the same thing going on in NCAA football, the way Alabama/SEC hides behind that false façade of greatness-they NEVER go ANYWHERE to play ANYBODY tough out of conference-you have to go to their place. Back to NFL, Pittsburg has had easiest schedule (because of their conference) for 15 years.

I agree about the SEC.

[sderk 1,040]

While he may be right, this wasn't a comparison of the individual winning % of the franchise, this started out as a WTF moment when a comment was made about Pittsburgh easy "conference" schedule (which makes zero sense because they are in the same conference as New England and both typically play a 1st place schedule). I said the New Englands "division" is far easier than PIttsburghs (which is flat out true) and they get 2x as many games vs it than anybody out of division does.

The East is mostly easier over recent years because Baltimore's in the North. But man, those are some weak divisions.

[Smileseers 54]

Would anyone disagree that NE, DEN, and Pitt are not the three most well run organizations in the AFC?

[Hardcore troubadour 12,556]

Would anyone disagree that NE, DEN, and Pitt are not the three most well run organizations in the AFC?

They are the only well run organizations in the AFC

[sderk 1,040]

They are the only well run organizations in the AFC

[frank 2,143]

both typically play a 1st place schedule

This is a myth. Most of the schedule is playing your division, another division in conference, and an inter-conference division. I think only two games per year are based on your previous year record.

[sderk 1,040]

This is a myth. Most of the schedule is playing your division, another division in conference, and an inter-conference division. I think only two games per year are based on your previous year record.

And to add on, you normally don't know how strong a given team is going to be prior to the season. See Jacksonville last year, and Jacksonville this year.

[JustinCharge 2,397]

The East is mostly easier over recent years because Baltimore's in the North. But man, those are some weak divisions.

 

The Ravens are probably the 4th best team in the AFC. The difference is they've never had a good QB. Stick a hall of fame QB on the Ravens in the 21st century and they probably win 2 more rings.

[jgcrawfish 232]

 

The Ravens are probably the 4th best team in the AFC. The difference is they've never had a good QB. Stick a hall of fame QB on the Ravens in the 21st century and they probably win 2 more rings.

I think the same could be said of the Steelers and their coach...

 

 

This is a myth. Most of the schedule is playing your division, another division in conference, and an inter-conference division. I think only two games per year are based on your previous year record.

It's not necessarily a myth, but it does mean if you are the 1st place team in your division you play two 1st place teams from the year before. For the Steelers that equates to both their Kryptonites...vs New England and @ Jacksonville. This year with Jacksonville getting Bortled that one worked out. But that game vs the Pats is probably an L regardless.

[Thornton Melon 542]

 

And, while this is now dated by 3 years, it hasn't changed significantly.

 

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/08/nfl-most-wins-per-division-afc-north-nfc-east-best-divisions-in-football-most-playoff-appearances

 

As does this:

 

https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/gallery/nfl-power-ranking-divisions-2002-realignment-110916

 

Which points out the division is rated the toughest BECAUSE of the Pats, not any of the other teams in it.

 

And finally, there is this:

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/679cth/team_division_records_since_2002_realignment/

 

 

There is no argument, the play in FAR AND AWAY the easiest division in football. They are gifted 5+ wins every season on average just by virtue of the craptastic competition in their division.

 

 

I posted this in the Geek Club before this season started. I'll repost it here:

 

The claim that the AFC east is the worst division is pretty overblown. Since the Pats latest division winning streak started in 2009, the Bills, Jets and Dolphins have a .467 winning percentage outside the division. Comparing this to the 3 non-division winning teams each year from each of the other 7 divisions over the same time period, this is actually 2nd best (NFC North .485). The 3 AFC East teams have been pretty consistent year to year, never worse then 13-17 or better than 17-13.

The Bills, Jets and Dolphins have only made the playoffs 4 times since 2009, which is a little less than average compared to the other divisions. For this year, these teams may not have much going on, but in recent history, they've been pretty much mediocre at worst.

[JustinCharge 2,397]

 

The claim that the AFC east is the worst division is pretty overblown.

 

The last franchise QB for the Dolphins was Dan Marino. The last one for the Bills was Jim Kelly. The Jets arguably never had one. That makes it tough.

[huskyhater75 242]

 

The last franchise QB for the Dolphins was Dan Marino. The last one for the Bills was Jim Kelly. The Jets arguably never had one. That makes it tough.

Joe Namath...…………………...son

[JustinCharge 2,397]

Joe Namath...…………………...son

 

He won a super bowl for them but arguably he was never a franchise QB. Even the year he won the Super Bowl, he threw more interceptions than TDs.