The I-Form

There are two conferences in football – the AFC and the NFC – and in those two conferences, four four-team divisions – North, South, East, West – and I’m breaking down them all.

 

 

#1 NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Washington Redskins

 

Team Grading

Dallas Cowboys A+

Washington Redskins A

Philadelphia Eagles A-

New York Giants B+

 

Division Breakdown

The NFC East is one of two divisions in the NFL that didn’t have a team with a sub-500 record last season (the other one being the AFC South) And, they have the Super Bowl champion NY Giants. This off-season, all but the Giants upgraded their team.

 

 

 

#2 AFC South

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tennessee Titans

 

Team Grades

Indianapolis Colts A

Jacksonville Jaguars A-

Tennessee Titans B+

Houston Texans B

 

Division Breakdown

The AFC South is at number two because I think that the Titans aren’t going to be all-that-good this year. They are the second of two divisions – like above mentioned – that didn’t have a team under 500. I do not think that is the case this year. I think Tennessee will be a sub-500 team and that Houston will be a 9-7 team.

 

 

 

#3 NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

 

Team Grades

New Orleans Saints A

Tampa Bay Buccaneers A

Carolina Panthers A-

Atlanta Falcons C

 

Division Breakdown

I know, this isn’t exactly what you would expect with a division thats best team was 9-7 (Tampa Bay) and two other teams were 7-9 (New Orleans & Carolina) and one team that was 4-12 (Atlanta) But, I think all these teams improved greatly in the offseason. Carolina had a great draft, New Orleans had a good free agency/trade year, Atlanta had a good draft, and Tampa Bay made good moves as well.

 

 

#4 AFC North

 

Baltimore Ravens

 

Cincinnati Bengals

 

Cleveland Browns

Pittsburgh Steelers

 

Team Grades

Pittsburgh Steelers A+

Cleveland Browns A

Baltimore Ravens C+

Cincinnati Bengals C

 

Division Breakdown

There is no way that the AFC North would be up here at four if it wasn’t for the fact that Cleveland and Pittsburgh are super good (mainly on offense) Because this isn’t a particularly sound defensive division. In fact I think that even Pittsburgh’s defense isn’t even that good, and it’s the best in this division. I think that Baltimore and Cincy are sub-500 teams this year. But the Brownies and the Steelers are .600% to .750% teams.

 

 

 

#5 NFC North

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Minnesota Vikings

 

Team Grades

Green Bay Packers A

Minnesota Vikings A-

Chicago Bears C

Detroit Lions C

 

Division Breakdown

Green Bay and Minnesota are both playoff teams this year. But, the Bears’ offense sucks and the Lions’ defense sucks. So, that’s why the NFC North is here. They are a low-level division. But, I think that the Minnesota is the NFC Super Bowl representee.

 

 

 

#6 NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

St. Louis Rams

 

Team Grades

Seattle Seahawks B+

Arizona Cardinals B

St. Louis Rams C+

San Francisco 49ers C-

 

Division Breakdown

This division was the biggest disappointment last year in my eyes. I though it would be the best offensive division in football. I was wrong. Seattle’s defense wasn’t shiny-good, but it was solid. And so was the offense. From last year’s standpoint, this was the RB division. Shaun Alexander, Frank Gore, Steven Jackson, and Edgerrin James. I guess not.

 

 

#7 AFC West

Denver Broncos

Kansas City Chiefs

Oakland Raiders

San Diego Chargers

 

Team Grades

San Diego Chargers A+

Oakland Raiders C+

Denver Broncos C-

Kansas City Chiefs C-

 

Division Breakdown

This is a one-horse race. There is no way the Chargers will not take the AFC West Crown. But, they aren’t the worst division because all of these teams have hope for them. Oakland greatly improved, Brandon Marshall emerged for the Broncs last year, Kansas City had a great graft. There’s a future for those three teams. And San Diego’s future is the Lombardi Trophy.

 

 

 

#8 AFC East

Buffalo Bills

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Jets

 

Team Grades

New England Patriots A

Buffalo Bills C+

New York Jets C-

Miami Dolphins F

 

Division Breakdown

The AFC East is the poster-division for highs and lows. In 2007, they had the team with the best regular-season record (New England, 16-0) and the worst regular-season record (Miami, 1-15) and since the Pats lost Asante Samuel, they’re not all that good. En-Ee (New England) is the only team with a plus-500 record next year.