Our AFC vs NFC column has returned for season 3! In season 2, the NFC closed the gap in the L column from a disappointing season 1. Is 2023 the year of the NFC? We shall see! During the last offseason Bacon took over the Bears from LQ and Greeny took over the Patriots from Problem. We also had 2 midseason coaching substitutions of Sdot taking over the Jets from Arod and Wumbo taking over the vikings from JP. Let’s see how it all shook it!
NOTE: This study was taking after Week 17 this season, as it was in 2022. In 2021 it was taken after Week 16. But in 2023 we have a 2 game smaller sample size from 2021 and 4 game less sample size from 2022 due to the week 18 schedule in 2023.
AFC East (faced NFC East):
Bills 4-0 [vs PHI week 18]
Dolphins 2-2 [vs DAL week 18]
Patriots 3-2
Jets 1-4 (1-1 under sdot)
2023 Total: 10-8
2022 Total (vs NFC North): 10-9
2021 Total (vs NFC South): 13-5
Division Synopsis: Typical AFC East, the Jets weighing down the rest of the division but they still stay over .500 vs the NFC. But new Jets user SDot may have finally given the AFC East 4 legitimate threats as they look to take on the NFC West next season.
AFC North (faced NFC West)
Ravens 2-3
Browns 2-3
Bengals 1-3 [vs LAR week 18]
Steelers 2-3
2023 Total: 7-12
2022 Total (vs NFC South): 10-10
2021 Total (vs NFC North): 5-14
Division Synopsis: The AFC North put together a scrappy campaign in 2023. Despite the division’s weak reputation, all 4 teams proved they carry upset win potential at any moment.
AFC South (faced NFC South)
Texans 5-0
Jaguars 5-0
Colts 3-1 [vs ATL week 18]
Titans 3-1 [vs CAR week 18]
2023 Total: 16-2
2022 Total vs NFC East): 10-9
2021 Total (vs NFC West): 17-2
Division Synopsis: The AFC South looks like it regained its 2021 form at first glance at the records. But no, Mole didn’t return, but rather the AFC South looks to have bullied the NFC South. The AFC South is actually undefeated against the NFC South, the 2 losses coming to NFC West squads.
AFC West (faced NFC North)
Broncos 4-1
Chiefs 5-0
Raiders 3-2
Chargers 3-1 [vs GB week 18]
Total: 15-4
2022 Total (vs NFC West): 13-7
2021 Total (vs NFC East) 13-7
Division Synopsis: The AFC West has consistently been great against the NFC this cycle. The only change here is a strong Raiders campaign making the West even better in 2023. And the AFC West gets the NFC South next season, uh oh.
NFC East (faced AFC East)
Eagles 4-0 [vs BUF week 18]
Cowboys 2-2 [vs MIA week 18]
Comms 3-2
Giants 0-5
Total: 9-9
2022 Total (vs AFC South): 12-7
2021 Total (vs AFC West): 7-13
Division Synopsis: New York teams weighing down division records is a theme this season, as the Giants manage to cancel out the Eagles’ undefeated season and sink the NFC East to a .500 record.
NFC North (faced AFC West)
Lions 2-3
Packers 1-3 [vs LAC week 18]
Bears 1-4
Vikings 1-4 (1-2 under Wumbo)
2023 Total: 5-14
2022 Total (vs AFC East): 8-11
2021 Total (vs AFC North): 15-5
Division Synopsis: Season 1 is continuing to look like an outlier against a weak AFC North. This is brutal though, not a single team in this division will finish over .500 vs the AFC in 2023.
NFC South (faced AFC South)
Panthers 1-3 [vs TEN week 18]
Bucs 0-5
Saints 0-5
Falcons 0-4 [vs IND week 18]
2023 Total: 1-17
2022 Total (vs AFC North): 6-14
2021 Total (vs AFC East): 3-15
Division Synopsis: Sheesh. We went over the beatdown the AFC South put on the NFC South earlier. Carolina taking down Arod’s Jets stands as the only win here. Sheeeesh.
NFC West (faced AFC North)
Rams 4-0 [vs CIN week 18]
Seahawks 4-1
49ers 2-3
Cardinals 1-4
2023 Total: 11-8
2022 Total (vs AFC West): 9-11
2021 Total (vs AFC South): 3-15
Division Synopsis: The only division in the NFC to be over .500 against the AFC…but the caveat being it’s against the AFC North. The Rams and Seahawks do the heavy lifting for the 2nd year in a row.
NFC CONFERENCE TOTAL:
2023: 26-48
2022: 35-43
2021: 28-48
AFC CONFERENCE TOTAL:
2023: 48-26
2022: 43-35
2021: 48-28
Overall Synopsis: Pretty commanding 2023 campaign from the AFC here. The NFC only had 4 teams over .500 against the AFC, while the AFC managed 10 teams over .500 vs the NFC. The Seahawks are an oddity, with more wins against the AFC than the NFC after a surprisingly strong campaign against the AFC West in 2022. We will not try to figure out why.
The additions of Wumbo and Bacon to the NFC have seemed to have not helped the NFC at all. Meanwhile, the addition of Greeny has stabilized the Patriots and SDot over Arod may be a big asset for the AFC. This further tilts the skill level scales of AFC vs NFC. Tune in next time to see if the conferences are still horribly aligned. In the meantime, the 5 contenders in the NFC can have fun having a free ride to lick KMFO’s boots in the playoffs.
