Rethinking NFL Divisions: A Geographic Realignment Concept
In discussion forums, fans often express frustration over the current NFL divisional structure, which often seems disconnected from geographical realities. This sentiment rings especially true when looking at the Dallas Cowboys, located in Texas yet competing with teams from the Eastern United States, or the Miami Dolphins, far removed from other contenders in the AFC East. Such observations lead to the intriguing question: What if the NFL revisited its divisional alignments, basing them on geography rather than historical rivalries?
While a complete realignment is unlikely due to the cherished nature of traditional rivalries (like the Cowboys’ annual clashes with the Giants, Eagles, and Commanders), it's fun to explore how the league could look if divisions were reshaped with a geographical mindset.
The proposed divisions would forgo the existing AFC and NFC structure in favor of Eastern and Western Conferences. This move introduces a fresh layout of eight divisions.
The New Divisional Structure
Western Conference Divisions
Pacific Division: Comprising the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Rams, this division bears a resemblance to the current NFC West with minor adjustments.
Central Division: This unusual combination includes the Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, and Dallas Cowboys, creating a diverse but geographically distant grouping.
Midwest Division: This division mirrors much of the existing NFC North, featuring the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Chicago Bears, with the Chiefs stepping in for the Lions.
Southern Division: In this division, we have the Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Tennessee Titans. While less competitive, it maintains regional ties.
Eastern Conference Divisions
Great Lakes Division: Centered around the Great Lakes, this division includes the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Indianapolis Colts.
Atlantic Division: Featuring teams like the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Washington Commanders, this division captures the eastern seaboard essence.
Northeast Division: This tightly packed division consists of the two New York teams, the Giants and Jets, alongside the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles.
Southeast Division: Comprised entirely of teams from Florida (the Dolphins, Jaguars, and Buccaneers) as well as the Carolina Panthers, this division covers the southeastern region.
The geographic reimagining significantly reduces travel distance for division matchups from approximately 28,000 miles to around 18,000 miles, enhancing player travel experience and fan interactions.
Intriguingly, once this proposed realignment is established, the next step is to review how well current NFL standings would fit into these new divisions. As of late December, a simulation using the Madden NFL 23 video game was employed to test the outcomes based on real-time NFL standings.
The playoff picture unfolded as follows:
Western Conference Matchups
Pacific Division: The San Francisco 49ers (10-4) faced the Seattle Seahawks (7-7), resulting in a closely contested game with the 49ers emerging victorious.
Central Division: The Cowboys entered the playoff as division winners (10-4) but faced the Chargers (8-6), suffering an unexpected loss.
Midwest Division: The top teams were the Vikings and Chiefs (both at 11-3), leading to an intense rivalry.
The playoffs would then play out as a blend of hyper-competitive games leading to a Super Bowl matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles, in particular, showcased their strength during the season but ultimately faced a strong defense from the Chiefs in the concluding game, ending with a nail-biting victory for Kansas City.
This 'what-if' exercise of realigning NFL divisions reveals not just a novel structure but potential for healthier rivalries based on geography, providing an enjoyable experience for players and fans alike. Though such changes are improbable due to the established nature of current divisional alignments and rivalries, they spark discussions that undeniably resonate with many devoted fans. The notion invites further exploration into how the league can evolve while honoring its rich history and regional connections.
Part 1/8:
Rethinking NFL Divisions: A Geographic Realignment Concept
In discussion forums, fans often express frustration over the current NFL divisional structure, which often seems disconnected from geographical realities. This sentiment rings especially true when looking at the Dallas Cowboys, located in Texas yet competing with teams from the Eastern United States, or the Miami Dolphins, far removed from other contenders in the AFC East. Such observations lead to the intriguing question: What if the NFL revisited its divisional alignments, basing them on geography rather than historical rivalries?
Part 2/8:
While a complete realignment is unlikely due to the cherished nature of traditional rivalries (like the Cowboys’ annual clashes with the Giants, Eagles, and Commanders), it's fun to explore how the league could look if divisions were reshaped with a geographical mindset.
The proposed divisions would forgo the existing AFC and NFC structure in favor of Eastern and Western Conferences. This move introduces a fresh layout of eight divisions.
The New Divisional Structure
Western Conference Divisions
Part 3/8:
Central Division: This unusual combination includes the Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, and Dallas Cowboys, creating a diverse but geographically distant grouping.
Midwest Division: This division mirrors much of the existing NFC North, featuring the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Chicago Bears, with the Chiefs stepping in for the Lions.
Southern Division: In this division, we have the Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Tennessee Titans. While less competitive, it maintains regional ties.
Eastern Conference Divisions
Part 4/8:
Atlantic Division: Featuring teams like the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Washington Commanders, this division captures the eastern seaboard essence.
Northeast Division: This tightly packed division consists of the two New York teams, the Giants and Jets, alongside the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles.
Southeast Division: Comprised entirely of teams from Florida (the Dolphins, Jaguars, and Buccaneers) as well as the Carolina Panthers, this division covers the southeastern region.
The geographic reimagining significantly reduces travel distance for division matchups from approximately 28,000 miles to around 18,000 miles, enhancing player travel experience and fan interactions.
Testing the Theoretical Divisions
Part 5/8:
Intriguingly, once this proposed realignment is established, the next step is to review how well current NFL standings would fit into these new divisions. As of late December, a simulation using the Madden NFL 23 video game was employed to test the outcomes based on real-time NFL standings.
The playoff picture unfolded as follows:
Western Conference Matchups
Pacific Division: The San Francisco 49ers (10-4) faced the Seattle Seahawks (7-7), resulting in a closely contested game with the 49ers emerging victorious.
Central Division: The Cowboys entered the playoff as division winners (10-4) but faced the Chargers (8-6), suffering an unexpected loss.
Midwest Division: The top teams were the Vikings and Chiefs (both at 11-3), leading to an intense rivalry.
Part 6/8:
Eastern Conference Matchups
Great Lakes Division: The Bengals (10-4) showed dominance over their rivals.
Atlantic Division: The Bills led the standings and continued their winning streak against the Commanders.
Northeast Division: The Eagles finished at a remarkable 13-1, securing home-field advantage.
Southeast Division: The Dolphins ultimately came out on top within their division.
Part 7/8:
The playoffs would then play out as a blend of hyper-competitive games leading to a Super Bowl matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles, in particular, showcased their strength during the season but ultimately faced a strong defense from the Chiefs in the concluding game, ending with a nail-biting victory for Kansas City.
Conclusion: The Wishful Thinking
Part 8/8:
This 'what-if' exercise of realigning NFL divisions reveals not just a novel structure but potential for healthier rivalries based on geography, providing an enjoyable experience for players and fans alike. Though such changes are improbable due to the established nature of current divisional alignments and rivalries, they spark discussions that undeniably resonate with many devoted fans. The notion invites further exploration into how the league can evolve while honoring its rich history and regional connections.