Line of Scrimmage: Rating the Divisions

Football Betting Lines

11/17/2008 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The word "arguably" has been kicked around quite a lot by NFL pundits in recent weeks.

The Giants/Titans are arguably the best team in the league.

Kurt Warner/Adrian Peterson/Clinton Portis has arguably been the league MVP through the first two-and-a-half months of the season.

NFL officials arguably don't know their rear ends from a hole in the Texas Stadium roof when it comes to making an accurate roughing the passer call.

Actually, not many people would argue that last one.

The "A" word is also getting used a great deal when it comes to naming the best and worst divisions in the NFL this season, usually in conjunction with a soliloquy on the strength of the NFC East and NFC South, or weakness of the AFC West or NFC West.

Well, I've been accused of being a pundit, so it's time to make my argument on this topic.

A look at the best and worst divisions in the NFL in 2008, in highly dramatic, Casey Kasem-style descending order:

8. NFC West

The Cardinals (7-3) are going to win this division for the first time, and in fact, are going to be able to claim a division title for the first time since they won the NFL's Eastern Division, as the Chicago Cardinals, in 1947. The team's historic title is going to be pretty anti-climactic, though. Arizona could actually clinch the West as early as next Sunday, since the 49ers (3-7), Seahawks (2-8), and Rams (2-8) all appear headed to the Draft's lottery zone. But how good is Arizona, really? We might not know for sure until the playoffs. The four teams in the NFC West are a combined 6-18 when playing outside the division this year.

7. AFC West

This was already a two-horse race before the end of September, as the Raiders (2-8) and Chiefs (1-9) never looked like they were going to trouble the win column very often, and have lived up to that reputation. The Broncos (6-4) and Chargers (4-6) are better, but neither resides anywhere in the neighborhood of the NFL elite. Denver's defense is among the worst in the league, while San Diego's intensity level has never matched its talent. The winner of this division might be 9-7, and that means a tough first-round playoff assignment against the top Wild Card entry.

6. NFC North

Strange that a division without a winning team wouldn't fare worse on this list, especially considering it also harbors the only remaining winless club in the NFL, the hapless Lions (0-10). But the Bears (5-5), Packers (5-5), and Vikings (5-5) are all dangerous in their own way, and whoever emerges with the title will have the pleasure of hosting a playoff game in an environment that will not be much fun for the visitor. What's more, the three teams in the hunt all have a long, contentious history with one another, which will make the race for the division crown a heck of a lot of fun over the final six weeks.

5. AFC North

Back in the preseason we thought this had the potential to be a terrific four- team race, since the Steelers looked to be treading water, the Browns were supposed to be a serious playoff contender, and the Bengals looked like an "X" factor. But Cleveland (3-6) and Cincinnati (1-8-1) have both been major disappointments, and the only team threatening hit-or-miss Pittsburgh (7-3) is mildly surprising Baltimore (6-4). The Steelers look to have too many problems to be considered a legitimate Super Bowl contender, and the upstart Ravens may have shown their true colors with Sunday's blowout loss at the Giants. Overall, not a very scary group, though the top two teams do play some defense.

4. AFC South

This has been the most disappointing division in football. Remember that all four teams in the South had records of .500 or better last year, with the Colts, Jaguars, and Titans all making the playoffs, and it looked like the young Texans were on the verge of threatening that trinity this season. But other than the Titans (10-0), who have indeed been the AFC's most consistent, if not most complete, team, the other three clubs have underachieved. The Colts appear to be the only legitimate playoff contender apart from Tennessee, and this Indianapolis (6-4) team is not as powerful as those of years past. Jacksonville (4-6) has crumbled under the weight of injuries and internal bickering, while Houston (3-7) has proven it's not ready for prime time.

3. AFC East

On the flip side of the AFC South scenario is that of the AFC East, which looked to all the world like it would be the Patriots and the three dwarfs as the season kicked off. The Tom Brady injury changed that, though we now know that even if Brady had remained healthy, the division would have been light years better than it was a year ago. The Jets (7-3) have ridden Brett Favre and a revamped defense to the top of the division, Bill Belichick may be doing the best coaching job of his career with the still-relevant Patriots (6-4), the Dolphins (6-4) have undertaken one of the great one-year turnarounds in recent NFL memory, and the Bills (5-4) have struggled of late but would be good enough to win at least two divisions on this list. Like the NFC North, this division should be a blast to watch as the weather begins to turn colder.

2. NFC South

It doesn't have the national profile of the AFC East or NFC East, but what the NFC South does possess is four high-quality, well-coached teams that could all provide a difficult matchup come playoff time. The Panthers (8-2) haven't played inspired football against the Raiders or Lions the last two weeks, but have been solid for most of this season and look a real Super Bowl sleeper. The Buccaneers (7-3) are a veteran group that already has a blowout win of Carolina (27-3) on its resume. The Falcons (6-4) have been a pleasant surprise in the first year of the Mike Smith/Matt Ryan era, and it would be unwise to count out a Saints (5-5) team with the most prolific offense in the NFL. Maybe, unlike last year, this division will be deemed worthy of some Pro Bowl citations.

1. NFC East

OK, so it isn't the unstoppable collective force that it appeared to be through the season's first month, though at this moment, there are at least three teams here that will call their seasons a disappointment if they don't reach the Super Bowl. If the Giants (9-1) aren't the consensus top team in the NFL at this moment, then they're no worse than "1-a" behind the Titans. The Cowboys (6-4) haven't allowed their recent injury woes and on-field missteps to alter their goal of being a Super Bowl team, and the talent is there for them to make a similar run to that of the Giants last year. The Redskins (6-4) have some fade potential, but also look capable of beating anyone in the league from week-to-week. The odd team out in the division looks like it will be the Eagles (5-4-1), who looked awful in Cincinnati on Sunday and are already 0-3 in the division. Still, if you want confirmation that is the best division from top-to-bottom in the NFL, watch what happens when the worst team in the NFC East plays the best team in the NFC West on Thanksgiving night.