NFL Handicapping Week 8 AFC versus NFC: When talking about the AFC versus the NFC, most people would point you towards the list of Super Bowl Champions to see which conference is better. In doing so, you would find that the league has been largely cyclical. From 1967 to 1981, only four NFC teams won the big game. The AFC dominated top to bottom.
Then in 1982, the 49ers started a run of NFC victories that saw only one AFC team win in 16 seasons (the 1984 Raiders). Within that run, there were 13 straight NFC Super Bowl Champions. Since that ended with Denver winning it all in 1998, the Super Bowl has largely been dominated by the AFC again. The NFC has only laid claim to the Lombardi Trophy four times since then, most recently with the Saints last year. In fact, during the last few years, it seems like the NFC is not only the weaker conference but that they’re incapable of beating the AFC on a week to week basis.
Last season the NFC was a collective 27-35 against their AFC rivals, and the AFC has dominated the regular season in cross conference match ups this year as well. To date, AFC teams hold a 17-12 edge over NFC teams. And their overall records mirror that success. The AFC has eight teams that hold a 5-1, 5-2, or 4-2 record. The NFC has only four such teams, and all of them have two losses. And while the AFC does have the lone winless team in the NFL, everyone else in the conference has at least two victories, while the NFC has four teams with just one win.
On tap this week are five cross conference games, with three AFC teams favored and one pick ‘em. The lone clear cut NFC favorite resides, of all places, in Dallas. Tony Romo is out for 6-8 weeks, and yet NFL Handicappers have made the Cowboys 6.5 point favorites over visiting Jacksonville. This despite the Jaguars holding a 3-4 record to the Cowboys 1-5. So far this year, Dallas is 1-1 against the AFC, both overall and against the spread.
In New Jersey, the Jets are a six point favorite over the Packers. The Packers are also 1-1 against the AFC this season, overall and against the spread, but their loss was to a quality Miami team and their win was to a bumbling Bills squad. This week will show whether the Packers are for real as they take on one of the league’s best.
Some football handicapping experts currently have the Patriots as six point favorites this week as well, but if Brett Favre is out that line may well shoot up quickly. Minnesota is already 0-2 overall and 0-2 against the spread versus AFC teams this year. Battling a hot New England team, possibly without their starting quarterback, does not boost their chances of getting a third win.
In London, San Francisco will also try to change their luck against the AFC. They’re 1-2 overall and against the spread versus AFC opponents this year. Denver was run over, around and through last week by the Raiders, but the Niners are also starting a new QB this week in Troy Smith. Don’t expect this one to be pretty.
And finally, New Orleans has only played one AFC team so far this year, but NFL Handicappers thought they’d beat the Cleveland Browns by about two touchdowns in NFL Week Seven. Instead Drew Brees threw four interceptions and the Saints slipped to 4-3. Expect things to get even tougher for New Orleans, and for the NFC’s overall record against the AFC, when Pittsburgh comes barreling through on Sunday Night.
