The NFL has a lot of issues on it’s plate, most of it spawning from the commissioner himself, but one of the issues that faces the league is the lack of logical divisions. You have some of the most northern teams playing in the south, some of the most southern teams playing in the east, and frankly it all is not necessary.
One issue that may bring this to the forefront is the potential inevitable move of one or two teams to L.A. which would potentially put two teams in the same division (Raiders, Chargers) in the same stadium and the same division, which the NFL seems to be against judging by the Giants/Jets stadium, not also to mention the home game issues and other issues I’m sure exist as far as scheduling. Any ways, let’s talk realignment.
DISCLAIMER: All of this is just for fun and should be treated as such, anyone(s) who takes this to heart should remember to breathe, think, and calm down… that being said… Enjoy!
NFC WEST: Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, Denver
When you look west, there is not much outside the coastline until you reach Denver. Unless Vegas gets a team, this division is set up to be more about making sure all three California teams aren’t in the same division. These are also the four (current) most northern teams in the west.
AFC WEST: San Diego, Arizona, Dallas, Kansas City
YOU CAN’T MOVE DALLAS! oh, but we can, as much as Dallas loves to claim they are an eastern team I checked a map and saw they are actually south and west of the Mississippi River. Thus, southwest, which almost all these teams are located in that region. Dallas being an NFC East team made sense when there was only a handful of teams in the league, now, sorry, but the whole notion they are an eastern team makes no sense.
NFC NORTH: St. Louis, Minnesota, Green Bay, Chicago
One division that actually makes sense is the North divisions on both sides, but we’re here to make new enemies! Detroit will find a lovely home in the AFC North, and the Chicago/ St. Louis rivalry can be completed across every sport in which both cities are represented.
AFC NORTH: Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis
Why Indy is south but Dallas is east and once the Rams were south makes/made no sense. We corrected that by making the longest drive for fans in the AFC North being 317 miles instead of 1,022 miles from Indy to Houston, or 873 miles to Jacksonville, or even the 870 miles from Jacksonville to Houston. Sorry I use logic NFL, I know, logic makes way to much sense.
NFC SOUTH: Miami, Tampa, Houston, New Orleans
Houston to New Orleans is a short trip, Tampa to Miami is not that bad either. While the NFL flies to games I am looking at fans ability to travel short distances. These are the most southern teams remaining, except the previously mentioned Jacksonville, but no way three teams in the same state play in the same division.
AFC SOUTH: Jacksonville, Atlanta, Carolina, Tennessee
A short flight and in most cases a decent drive to each city makes it ideal for fans, it also has a four different states and regions represented. Sorry to not post to much here. I used logic and logistics.
NFC EAST: NY Jets, Pittsburgh, Washington, Baltimore
I won’t crush every rivalry in the NFL. I’ll just add the D.C. vs Baltimore rivalry, and keep the Steelers/Ravens intact. This would be a great division of rivalries and would be must watch TV nearly every time this division faces itself. The Jets if they keep the defense first style they’ve had for years would surely make quick rivalries in this division.
AFC EAST: New England, NY Giants, Buffalo, Philadelphia
Alas, our final teams whom battle in the bitter cold nearly half the season. No more are the days of Miami being a vacation game, no more do the Dolphins go north to a complete disadvantage in the tundra. Also, the whole Giants/ Patriots thing makes for plenty of storylines… yet, New England would still win the division probable every year.
There you have it! The shake up is complete. Tell us what you think about it and again, have fun with it. Heck, think outside the box, let us know how you would realign the NFL.
