For at least the last 5 years in the NFL, the AFC has been known as the power conference. And with good reason too, the New England Patriots have won three Super Bowl championships in that time. The Indianapolis Colts also won a Super Bowl, as did the Pittsburgh Steelers. Add the San Diego Chargers and you have a handful of dominant teams that the NFC hasn’t been able to compete with.
But the New York Giants’ win over the New England Patriots in last year’s Super Bowl was more than just a dramatic upset, it also marked the beginning of a power shift. So far in the 2008 NFL season, the NFC has been the top conference. This has big implications when you are thinking of placing bets online on the NFL. You can no longer automatically pick a good AFC over a good NFC team. You have to seriously consider NFC opponents and, in many cases, favor them.
One of the main reasons for this has been due to injuries. First of all, Tom Brady’s injury has created a power vacuum. With Brady out for the season, the New England Patriots are no longer the best team in the league. They’re still good, but they’ve been exposed a bit by having an old defense and trusting Brady to really carry them.
There have also been other injuries in the AFC. Peyton Manning had knee surgery in the offseason, and his offensive line has been destroyed by injuries in the first part of the year. The Chargers have also suffered injuries to some key players, with LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates limping. Shawne Merriman also underwent season-ending knee surgery, eliminating one of the most fearsome players in the league. Meanwhile, some rising teams in the AFC never got up! I’m looking at you, the Cleveland Browns, one of the biggest early disappointments this season. After their strong 2007 campaign, the Browns were a hot playoff pick. Not anymore.
Arguably, the NFC East alone could be better than the entire AFC. The defending champion New York Giants haven’t been slowed down by his injuries, and Eli Manning has continued to play with confidence. The Eagles have a healthy Donovan McNabb and a strong defense and the Redskins are starting to fit in under Jim Zorn. Then there is the United States team, the Dallas Cowboys. Tony Romo is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Throw in Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Terrell Owens and a host of other star players, and the Cowboys are tough to beat week in and week out.
Nobody would have thought, but so far the NFC is better than the AFC. So when you make your bets, don’t write off an NFC as a weaker conference. The NFC is definitely in control right now in the early part of the 2008 football season.
