Last season we did an AFC vs NFC comparison, to see how each division and conference came out head to head in interconference play. The AFC was predictably dominant. But for season 2 the NFC gained a heavy hitter with the Eagles in KMFO, while the AFC lost the defending Super Bowl champion in Mole. Can those changes, with some overall NFC improvements, close the gap? Let’s dive in! NOTE: This study was done after Week 16 for the 2021 season, and this time after Week 17 of the 2022 season. We have a 2 game bigger sample size for 2022.
AFC East (played NFC North)
Bills: 4-1 (cpu win over GB)
Patriots 2-2 (cpu win over CHI, cpu L over SEA and DET) [GB w18 remaining]
Dolphins 4-1
Jets 0-5
2022 Total: 10-9
2021 Total (vs NFC South): 13-5
Synopsis: The AFC East predictably had some regression after facing the Weak South last season. But overall, the East fared solid against the NFC this season. The mismatched Jets drop the anchor on the overall record.
AFC North (played NFC South)
Ravens 4-1
Browns 2-3
Steelers 3-2
Bengals 1-4
2022 Total: 10-10
2021 Total (vs NFC North): 5-14
Synopsis: The North gets the easiest NFC matchup they can possibly get, and they turn it into a .500 record. As expected, the Ravens took care of business, while the rest of the division got into some h*** games.
AFC South (played NFC East)
Colts 3-2 (Mole 2-0, Codes 1-2)
Jaguars 2-2 [vs NYG w18 remaining]
Titans 2-3
Texans 3-2
2022 Total: 10-9
2021 Total (vs NFC West): 17-2
Synopsis: Oof…the AFC South goes from best interconference record of 2021 to close to .500 in 2022. The strengthened NFC East made the South sweat, and the Colts mid-season owner swap ultimately put a dent in the record.
AFC West (played NFC West)
Broncos 4-1
Chiefs 4-1
Chargers 4-1
Raiders 1-4
2022 Total: 13-7
2021 Total (vs NFC East) 13-7
Synopsis: We saved the best AFC division for last it looks like. Despite the NFC West making gains in 2022, the AFC West handled business here as they did to the rest of the league. The Raiders record masks the dominance of the top 3 teams. Now to the NFC…
NFC East (played AFC South)
Eagles 4-1
Cowboys 5-0
Giants 1-3 [vs JAX w18 remaining]
WFT 2-3
2022 Total: 12-7
2021 Total (vs AFC West): 7-13
Synopsis: The KMFO/Curt offseason swap did what was expected. But the Cowboys are the team that really created separation in the W column with the bottom 2 teams struggling against the AFC.
NFC North (played AFC East)
Lions 3-2
Packers 3-1 [NE w18 remaining]
Bears 1-4
Vikings 1-4
2022 Total: 8-11
2021 Total (vs AFC North): 15-5
Synopsis: A tale of 2 halves once again in the NFC. The Lions and Packers get it done, the Bears and Vikings meanwhile only boast a Jets win apiece. The North was strong last season against the AFC North, but faced adversity in 2022.
NFC South (played AFC North)
Falcons 3-2
Bucs 1-4
Saints 1-4
Panthers 1-4
2022 Total: 6-14
2021 Total (vs AFC East): 3-15
Synopsis: It’s not going to get any easier for the South. If these 6 wins are the max potential of this division against the AFC, it’s going to get ugly for the next few seasons. The Falcons pulled off half the wins, but still suffered the worst loss in their Baltimore defeat.
NFC West (played AFC West)
Seahawks 4-1
Rams 2-3
49ers 1-4
Cardinals 2-3
Total: 9-11
2021 Total (vs AFC South): 3-15
Synopsis: The West had a surprisingly brutal go at it in 2021, and it didn’t get a lot better in 2022. But the Seahawks saved the day by pulling off an impressive 4 wins against PML’s toughest division in 2022.
NFC CONFERENCE TOTALS
2022: 35-43
2021: 28-48
AFC CONFERENCE TOTALS:
2022: 43-35
2021: 48-28
Overall Synopsis: The gap has definitely closed. Despite 10 of the 16 NFC teams posting a losing record vs the AFC, the gap has been cut in half. The weak AFC North vs NFC West battle may have given us our clearest read we’ll get all cycle on how each conference is matched up.
The AFC still holds supremacy for now, but we’ll have to keep an eye out during the 2022 offseason to see if there’s any other coaching moves that can get the NFC closer…or even ahead.
