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By John Clayton
ESPN.com
(Archive)
Although it's too early to proclaim victory, the NFC might have finally passed the AFC.
The NFC is off to a 4-2 start in interconference games, and improved play on offense is a big reason the NFC is flourishing. Thirteen of the 16 NFC teams are averaging 20 or more points a game after two weeks. Overall, NFC teams are outscoring AFC teams, 24.1 to 18.5.
Scoring has been the staple in the AFCl, thanks largely to the exploits of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. The AFC is considered the conference of quarterbacks, and on most Sundays, AFC teams usually have twice the number of first-round starting quarterbacks than their NFC rivals.
Brady's season-ending knee injury obviously had a major impact on the 2008 fortunes of the AFC. Though Matt Cassel is completing 70.7 percent of his passes since taking over for Brady, the Patriots are half the offense they were a year ago. They've gone from a record-breaking offense that averaged 36.8 points a game to one that is averaging 18.
Slow starts by Carson Palmer of the Bengals, Manning and other quarterbacks have further influenced AFC scoring. Only five AFC teams -- the Broncos, Chargers, Bills, Steelers and Titans -- are scoring in the 20s.
Everything is set up for teams to produce more touchdowns drives, but for the first time in years, the NFC is doing a better job. For the second consecutive year, officials aren't calling ticky-tack holding penalties. That leads to quicker, cleaner games with fewer first-and-20s and gives quarterbacks more chances to complete short passes out of five- and seven-step drops.
Donovan McNabb, Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo, Eli Manning, Kurt Warner and Drew Brees are off to hot starts. Overall, 10 quarterbacks leaguewide are completing at least 70 percent of their passes.
The addition of Brett Favre to the Jets was supposed to make the AFC the dominant passing conference this season. Surprisingly, the AFC has been running the ball more. Five AFC teams are running the ball more than passing it. Last year, only five teams leaguewide called more running plays than pass plays.
Things will level out over the next 15 weeks, but the early results indicate the NFC might finally have a chance to claim regular-season supremacy. The NFC has had three ties in head-to-head competition since 1995 but no victories.
Q: John, how can you not name Browns-Steelers as the best rivalry in the NFL's history? Sure it's been lopsided lately, but the Browns and Steelers hate each other. The cities hate each other. The fans come to blows whenever they're in the same place.
Dave in Cleveland
A: Dave, what wasn't made clear was the assignment given me. I was asked to rate the top five current rivalries, not the best in NFL history. If the assignment called for top rivalries in history, I would have never chosen Eagles-Cowboys over Commanders-Cowboys. Using a historical perspective, Browns-Steelers would rate higher. This was a "now'' rating.
You saw the Eagles-Cowboys game Monday night. It was one of the best games in years and added to the current rivalry. The Browns-Steelers game Sunday night was hard-hitting but one-sided, as normal. The Steelers have won 10 in a row, but I still gave the series some respect. Remember, I grew up in Pittsburgh. I know the historical significance of this series. Colts-Pats win out now. Browns-Steelers win over time.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=3592777
ESPN.com
(Archive)
Although it's too early to proclaim victory, the NFC might have finally passed the AFC.
The NFC is off to a 4-2 start in interconference games, and improved play on offense is a big reason the NFC is flourishing. Thirteen of the 16 NFC teams are averaging 20 or more points a game after two weeks. Overall, NFC teams are outscoring AFC teams, 24.1 to 18.5.
Scoring has been the staple in the AFCl, thanks largely to the exploits of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. The AFC is considered the conference of quarterbacks, and on most Sundays, AFC teams usually have twice the number of first-round starting quarterbacks than their NFC rivals.
Brady's season-ending knee injury obviously had a major impact on the 2008 fortunes of the AFC. Though Matt Cassel is completing 70.7 percent of his passes since taking over for Brady, the Patriots are half the offense they were a year ago. They've gone from a record-breaking offense that averaged 36.8 points a game to one that is averaging 18.
Slow starts by Carson Palmer of the Bengals, Manning and other quarterbacks have further influenced AFC scoring. Only five AFC teams -- the Broncos, Chargers, Bills, Steelers and Titans -- are scoring in the 20s.
Everything is set up for teams to produce more touchdowns drives, but for the first time in years, the NFC is doing a better job. For the second consecutive year, officials aren't calling ticky-tack holding penalties. That leads to quicker, cleaner games with fewer first-and-20s and gives quarterbacks more chances to complete short passes out of five- and seven-step drops.
Donovan McNabb, Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo, Eli Manning, Kurt Warner and Drew Brees are off to hot starts. Overall, 10 quarterbacks leaguewide are completing at least 70 percent of their passes.
The addition of Brett Favre to the Jets was supposed to make the AFC the dominant passing conference this season. Surprisingly, the AFC has been running the ball more. Five AFC teams are running the ball more than passing it. Last year, only five teams leaguewide called more running plays than pass plays.
Things will level out over the next 15 weeks, but the early results indicate the NFC might finally have a chance to claim regular-season supremacy. The NFC has had three ties in head-to-head competition since 1995 but no victories.
Q: John, how can you not name Browns-Steelers as the best rivalry in the NFL's history? Sure it's been lopsided lately, but the Browns and Steelers hate each other. The cities hate each other. The fans come to blows whenever they're in the same place.
Dave in Cleveland
A: Dave, what wasn't made clear was the assignment given me. I was asked to rate the top five current rivalries, not the best in NFL history. If the assignment called for top rivalries in history, I would have never chosen Eagles-Cowboys over Commanders-Cowboys. Using a historical perspective, Browns-Steelers would rate higher. This was a "now'' rating.
You saw the Eagles-Cowboys game Monday night. It was one of the best games in years and added to the current rivalry. The Browns-Steelers game Sunday night was hard-hitting but one-sided, as normal. The Steelers have won 10 in a row, but I still gave the series some respect. Remember, I grew up in Pittsburgh. I know the historical significance of this series. Colts-Pats win out now. Browns-Steelers win over time.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=3592777
