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ShareThisBest and worst divisions
Posted by Doug on June 27, 2007
Here is a list of every division since 1970, sorted by the average of their teams' ratings according to the simple rating system. The Record column shows the division's combined record in interdivisional games.
Yr Division Record avRating Teams (with NFL rank) ====================================================================== 1970 NFC Central 22-10-0 +7.4 min 1, det 2, chi 8, gnb 17 2004 AFC East 25-15-0 +6.3 nwe 1, buf 5, nyj 6, mia 18 2005 AFC West 24-16-0 +6.2 den 2, sdg 3, kan 7, oak 20 1976 AFC Central 22-10-0 +5.5 pit 1, cin 3, cle 17, hou 18 2002 AFC West 24-16-0 +5.2 oak 1, kan 4, den 7, sdg 20 1975 AFC Central 24- 8-0 +5.2 pit 1, cin 7, hou 9, cle 22 1984 AFC West 31- 9-0 +5.0 sea 3, den 4, rai 5, kan 14, sdg 15 1979 AFC West 27-13-0 +4.7 sdg 2, den 6, oak 7, sea 11, kan 13 1979 AFC Central 24-16-0 +4.5 pit 1, hou 4, cle 9, cin 18 1977 AFC Central 19-13-0 +4.4 hou 6, pit 7, cle 11, cin 12 1991 NFC West 22-18-0 +4.3 sfo 2, nor 3, atl 9, ram 24 1991 NFC East 27-13-0 +4.3 was 1, phi 6, dal 7, nyg 13, pho 23 1998 AFC East 24-16-0 +4.2 nyj 2, mia 6, buf 7, nwe 9, ind 23 1999 AFC West 20-20-0 +4.1 kan 3, oak 4, sea 7, den 9, sdg 20 1999 AFC East 29-11-0 +4.1 buf 2, ind 6, nyj 11, nwe 14, mia 16 1972 NFC Central 17-13-2 +4.0 gnb 4, min 8, det 10, chi 16 2004 AFC West 22-18-0 +4.0 sdg 3, den 8, kan 10, oak 24 1974 NFC East 17-13-0 +3.9 was 1, dal 6, stl 7, phi 10, nyg 22 2006 AFC East 23-17-0 +3.8 nwe 1, buf 12, nyj 13, mia 16 1992 NFC East 23-17-0 +3.7 dal 2, phi 3, was 7, nyg 16, pho 19 2004 AFC North 24-16-0 +3.6 pit 4, bal 7, cin 11, cle 22 2005 NFC East 24-16-0 +3.6 nyg 6, was 8, dal 12, phi 19 1990 AFC West 23-17-0 +3.5 kan 3, rai 4, sea 11, sdg 13, den 15 1998 NFC West 20-20-0 +3.4 sfo 3, atl 4, nor 14, car 16, stl 17 2002 NFC South 25-14-1 +3.3 tam 2, atl 6, nor 12, car 24 2002 AFC East 23-17-0 +3.2 mia 5, nwe 8, nyj 10, buf 19 1977 AFC West 21-17-0 +3.2 den 1, oak 2, sdg 10, sea 20, kan 21 1983 NFC East 23-17-0 +3.2 was 1, dal 3, stl 16, nyg 19, phi 23 2000 AFC East 23-17-0 +3.2 ind 4, mia 6, nyj 9, buf 20, nwe 22 1992 NFC West 26-14-0 +3.2 sfo 1, nor 4, ram 18, atl 22 1983 NFC West 22-18-0 +3.1 sfo 2, ram 6, atl 10, nor 12 1976 NFC Central 17-14-1 +3.0 min 5, chi 9, det 13, gnb 20 1982 NFC East 13- 6-0 +3.0 dal 2, was 4, nyg 13, phi 15, stl 19 1970 NFC East 16-12-2 +3.0 stl 4, dal 5, was 7, nyg 9, phi 20 1981 NFC East 26-14-0 +2.9 phi 1, dal 3, nyg 8, was 16, stl 24 1971 NFC West 17-13-2 +2.8 ram 4, sfo 6, atl 11, nor 15 1998 NFC Central 23-17-0 +2.8 min 1, gnb 8, tam 13, det 20, chi 21 1995 NFC Central 25-15-0 +2.8 det 4, gnb 5, min 7, chi 10, tam 25 1995 AFC West 26-14-0 +2.8 kan 3, den 8, oak 11, sdg 12, sea 15 2006 AFC North 21-19-0 +2.8 bal 3, cin 7, pit 10, cle 27 1989 NFC West 25-15-0 +2.7 sfo 1, ram 6, nor 7, atl 26 1973 NFC West 19-13-0 +2.6 ram 1, atl 8, sfo 14, nor 23 1975 AFC East 14-16-0 +2.5 mia 2, bal 5, buf 6, nwe 18, nyj 23 1993 NFC East 22-18-0 +2.4 dal 2, nyg 6, pho 7, phi 13, was 24 1985 AFC West 25-15-0 +2.4 rai 6, sea 7, den 9, sdg 11, kan 18 1987 AFC Central 19-17-0 +2.3 cle 2, hou 11, pit 12, cin 23 1984 NFC East 24-15-1 +2.2 was 6, stl 7, dal 12, nyg 13, phi 18 2003 AFC East 24-16-0 +2.2 nwe 4, mia 11, nyj 17, buf 19 1986 AFC West 23-17-0 +2.2 sea 5, den 8, kan 13, rai 15, sdg 21 1986 NFC West 23-17-0 +2.1 sfo 3, ram 11, nor 16, atl 17 1988 NFC West 23-17-0 +2.1 ram 3, sfo 6, nor 11, atl 24 1991 AFC West 22-18-0 +2.0 kan 5, den 10, rai 11, sea 12, sdg 18 1997 AFC Central 23-16-1 +1.9 jax 4, pit 6, ten 11, bal 17, cin 19 1989 AFC West 20-19-1 +1.9 den 2, kan 12, rai 13, sdg 16, sea 19 2006 AFC South 22-18-0 +1.9 jax 5, ind 6, ten 18, hou 26 1985 AFC East 21-19-0 +1.9 nyj 2, mia 4, nwe 5, ind 21, buf 27 1996 NFC Central 20-20-0 +1.8 gnb 1, min 16, chi 17, det 22, tam 24 2004 AFC South 21-19-0 +1.8 ind 2, jax 12, hou 14, ten 25 1987 AFC East 18-17-0 +1.7 ind 4, nwe 8, mia 10, buf 14, nyj 17 1987 NFC West 23-15-0 +1.7 sfo 1, nor 3, ram 19, atl 28 1999 NFC Central 23-17-0 +1.7 min 8, tam 13, det 15, gnb 17, chi 22 1996 AFC West 24-16-0 +1.7 den 3, oak 8, kan 10, sea 20, sdg 21 1990 NFC East 25-15-0 +1.7 nyg 2, phi 6, was 7, dal 20, pho 25 1993 AFC West 24-16-0 +1.7 den 4, kan 9, sdg 10, rai 18, sea 20 1982 AFC East 10-10-1 +1.6 nyj 1, mia 3, buf 11, nwe 18, bal 26 1988 AFC East 24-15-1 +1.6 buf 4, ind 8, nyj 12, nwe 14, mia 17 1978 NFC East 21-19-0 +1.6 dal 1, phi 9, was 14, nyg 21, stl 22 1971 NFC Central 17-14-1 +1.6 min 5, det 9, gnb 14, chi 16 1970 NFC West 15-16-1 +1.5 ram 3, sfo 6, atl 18, nor 23 1972 AFC West 16-16-0 +1.5 oak 3, kan 12, den 17, sdg 20 1986 NFC East 23-17-0 +1.4 nyg 1, was 7, dal 10, phi 20, stl 25 2005 AFC North 22-18-0 +1.4 pit 5, cin 11, bal 18, cle 23 1984 NFC West 24-16-0 +1.4 sfo 1, ram 11, nor 19, atl 24 2000 NFC Central 24-16-0 +1.4 tam 5, gnb 12, min 14, det 15, chi 26 2001 NFC Central 21-19-0 +1.3 chi 2, gnb 6, tam 8, min 26, det 29 1978 AFC West 21-19-0 +1.3 den 4, sdg 6, oak 8, sea 12, kan 25 1989 AFC Central 23-16-1 +1.3 cin 3, cle 8, hou 18, pit 21 2003 AFC South 22-18-0 +1.3 ind 3, ten 5, jax 22, hou 28 1988 NFC Central 16-24-0 +1.2 min 1, chi 2, gnb 19, det 22, tam 23 1985 NFC Central 19-21-0 +1.2 chi 1, gnb 13, min 16, det 19, tam 24 1997 NFC Central 25-15-0 +1.2 gnb 3, det 8, tam 10, min 16, chi 29 1978 AFC Central 24-16-0 +1.1 pit 2, hou 13, cin 16, cle 19 1988 AFC Central 25-15-0 +1.1 cin 5, hou 9, cle 13, pit 25 1997 AFC West 21-19-0 +1.0 den 1, kan 2, sea 15, oak 26, sdg 30 1973 NFC East 12-17-1 +1.0 dal 3, was 6, stl 16, phi 18, nyg 21 1980 AFC West 22-18-0 +1.0 sdg 6, oak 7, den 14, kan 16, sea 24 1980 NFC East 19-21-0 +0.9 phi 1, dal 2, was 17, stl 20, nyg 27 1982 NFC Central 12-12-1 +0.9 gnb 5, det 10, min 12, tam 14, chi 24 2001 AFC Central 19-17-0 +0.8 pit 4, bal 10, jax 12, cle 16, ten 20, cin 21 2006 NFC East 20-20-0 +0.8 dal 9, phi 11, nyg 17, was 23 2006 AFC West 22-18-0 +0.7 sdg 2, den 14, kan 15, oak 32 2000 AFC West 17-23-0 +0.7 oak 1, den 7, kan 19, sea 23, sdg 27 1974 AFC Central 16-15-1 +0.7 pit 3, cin 11, hou 16, cle 20 1994 AFC East 21-19-0 +0.7 mia 6, nwe 8, buf 13, ind 14, nyj 18 1994 NFC Central 23-17-0 +0.7 gnb 4, min 9, det 10, chi 17, tam 26 1977 AFC East 15-15-0 +0.6 mia 5, bal 8, nwe 9, nyj 22, buf 25 1974 AFC West 17-14-1 +0.6 oak 2, den 13, kan 17, sdg 21 1983 AFC West 22-18-0 +0.6 rai 5, kan 8, sea 9, den 21, sdg 25 1979 AFC East 19-21-0 +0.6 nwe 3, mia 5, buf 15, nyj 21, bal 22 1980 AFC Central 25-15-0 +0.5 pit 9, cle 10, hou 12, cin 21 1980 AFC East 20-20-0 +0.4 nwe 5, buf 8, bal 18, mia 19, nyj 23 2003 NFC North 19-21-0 +0.4 gnb 2, min 13, chi 24, det 27 1981 AFC West 22-18-0 +0.4 sdg 6, kan 9, den 14, sea 21, oak 22 1992 AFC Central 21-19-0 +0.4 hou 6, pit 9, cle 13, cin 24 2003 AFC West 19-21-0 +0.4 kan 1, den 8, oak 25, sdg 29 1972 AFC Central 18-14-0 +0.4 pit 2, cin 11, cle 14, hou 24 2001 NFC West 21-19-0 +0.3 stl 1, sfo 5, atl 25, nor 27, car 30 1981 NFC Central 18-22-0 +0.3 det 5, tam 10, gnb 17, min 18, chi 20 1978 AFC East 20-20-0 +0.3 mia 3, nwe 5, nyj 10, buf 23, bal 27 1996 AFC Central 19-21-0 +0.3 pit 5, hou 12, cin 15, jax 18, bal 23 1974 AFC East 16-14-0 +0.2 mia 4, nwe 8, buf 12, nyj 18, bal 24 1997 AFC East 17-23-0 +0.1 nwe 5, nyj 9, mia 13, ind 24, buf 25 2003 NFC West 21-19-0 +0.1 stl 7, sea 10, sfo 12, ari 32 1994 NFC East 19-21-0 +0.1 dal 2, phi 12, nyg 16, ari 19, was 25 1986 AFC Central 21-19-0 +0.1 cle 9, cin 12, pit 18, hou 22 1971 AFC West 17-13-2 +0.0 kan 8, oak 10, sdg 18, den 21 2001 AFC West 18-22-0 -0.0 oak 9, sdg 14, den 15, kan 17, sea 19 2003 AFC North 17-23-0 -0.0 bal 6, pit 20, cin 21, cle 23 1979 NFC East 23-17-0 -0.1 dal 8, phi 10, was 12, stl 19, nyg 23 1995 NFC West 21-19-0 -0.1 sfo 1, atl 14, nor 22, car 23, stl 27 1977 NFC East 18-12-0 -0.2 dal 4, was 14, phi 15, stl 16, nyg 23 1970 AFC West 16-14-2 -0.2 kan 10, oak 11, sdg 15, den 19 1975 NFC East 18-12-0 -0.2 dal 10, stl 11, was 12, phi 19, nyg 21 1993 AFC Central 19-21-0 -0.2 hou 3, pit 11, cle 19, cin 27 1971 NFC East 15-14-1 -0.3 dal 2, was 7, stl 19, phi 20, nyg 25 1973 AFC West 14-14-4 -0.3 oak 7, den 10, kan 12, sdg 25 1994 NFC West 19-21-0 -0.4 sfo 1, nor 22, atl 23, ram 24 1972 NFC East 16-14-0 -0.4 was 6, dal 7, nyg 9, stl 21, phi 25 1989 NFC East 19-21-0 -0.4 nyg 4, phi 5, was 11, pho 25, dal 28 1987 NFC East 18-17-0 -0.4 was 7, nyg 15, stl 16, phi 18, dal 20 1976 NFC East 18-12-0 -0.4 dal 10, was 12, stl 14, nyg 19, phi 23 1981 NFC West 18-22-0 -0.4 sfo 2, atl 7, ram 19, nor 27 1990 NFC West 20-20-0 -0.5 sfo 5, nor 17, atl 19, ram 23 2005 AFC South 20-20-0 -0.5 ind 1, jax 10, ten 29, hou 30 1994 AFC Central 16-24-0 -0.5 cle 3, pit 5, cin 27, hou 28 1980 NFC West 18-22-0 -0.6 atl 3, ram 4, sfo 25, nor 28 1995 NFC East 17-23-0 -0.6 dal 2, nyg 18, phi 19, was 21, ari 28 2000 AFC Central 18-18-0 -0.6 ten 2, bal 3, pit 8, jax 16, cin 29, cle 30 1996 AFC East 19-21-0 -0.7 nwe 6, buf 7, mia 14, ind 19, nyj 30 1981 AFC Central 20-20-0 -0.7 cin 4, pit 12, hou 25, cle 26 1973 NFC Central 15-16-1 -0.8 min 5, det 11, gnb 19, chi 24 1994 AFC West 22-18-0 -0.8 sdg 7, kan 11, rai 15, den 20, sea 21 1991 AFC Central 15-25-0 -0.9 hou 4, cle 16, pit 20, cin 25 1976 AFC East 13-17-0 -0.9 bal 4, nwe 6, mia 15, buf 24, nyj 26 2002 NFC East 22-18-0 -1.0 phi 3, nyg 16, was 26, dal 28 1977 NFC West 13-19-0 -1.0 ram 3, atl 13, sfo 19, nor 27 1993 NFC Central 20-20-0 -1.0 gnb 8, min 14, chi 15, det 16, tam 25 1992 NFC Central 15-25-0 -1.0 min 5, gnb 14, det 17, chi 21, tam 23 1983 AFC East 22-18-0 -1.0 mia 4, nwe 14, nyj 17, buf 24, bal 26 1982 AFC West 12-11-0 -1.0 sdg 6, rai 7, kan 16, sea 23, den 27 1987 AFC West 17-19-1 -1.0 den 5, sea 9, rai 13, sdg 24, kan 26 1973 AFC East 14-16-0 -1.0 mia 2, buf 13, nyj 17, nwe 20, bal 22 1989 NFC Central 18-22-0 -1.1 min 10, chi 14, gnb 17, det 20, tam 23 2001 AFC East 21-19-0 -1.1 nwe 7, mia 11, nyj 13, ind 23, buf 31 1985 NFC West 18-22-0 -1.1 sfo 3, ram 10, nor 23, atl 25 1993 NFC West 17-23-0 -1.1 sfo 1, nor 21, atl 23, ram 26 1971 AFC East 13-16-1 -1.2 bal 1, mia 3, nwe 22, nyj 23, buf 26 1988 NFC East 17-23-0 -1.2 phi 7, nyg 10, was 16, pho 18, dal 27 1998 AFC West 22-18-0 -1.4 den 5, sea 12, kan 18, oak 25, sdg 28 1996 NFC East 22-18-0 -1.4 dal 9, was 11, phi 13, nyg 25, ari 27 1990 NFC Central 15-25-0 -1.4 chi 10, min 12, det 18, gnb 22, tam 26 1973 AFC Central 16-14-2 -1.4 pit 4, cin 9, cle 15, hou 26 1997 NFC East 15-24-1 -1.5 nyg 12, was 14, dal 18, phi 20, ari 27 1982 AFC Central 10-10-0 -1.6 pit 8, cin 9, cle 22, hou 28 1972 NFC West 12-19-1 -1.6 sfo 5, ram 15, atl 18, nor 23 2001 NFC East 18-22-0 -1.6 phi 3, nyg 18, was 22, ari 24, dal 28 1995 AFC Central 14-26-0 -1.6 pit 6, hou 13, cin 20, cle 24, jax 29 1978 NFC Central 16-24-0 -1.6 min 11, gnb 15, det 18, chi 20, tam 24 2002 AFC South 19-21-0 -1.7 ten 13, ind 15, jax 18, hou 30 1992 AFC West 18-22-0 -1.7 kan 10, sdg 11, rai 15, den 20, sea 27 1996 NFC West 16-24-0 -1.7 sfo 2, car 4, stl 26, nor 28, atl 29 2006 NFC North 18-22-0 -1.7 chi 4, min 24, gnb 25, det 28 2003 NFC South 19-21-0 -1.8 tam 14, nor 15, car 18, atl 30 1974 NFC Central 15-17-0 -1.8 min 5, gnb 14, det 15, chi 25 1990 AFC Central 18-22-0 -1.8 hou 8, pit 14, cin 16, cle 27 2000 NFC West 17-23-0 -1.9 stl 10, nor 18, car 21, sfo 24, atl 28 1990 AFC East 19-21-0 -1.9 buf 1, mia 9, ind 21, nyj 24, nwe 28 1993 AFC East 18-22-0 -2.0 buf 5, nyj 12, mia 17, nwe 22, ind 28 1999 NFC East 16-24-0 -2.0 dal 10, was 12, nyg 24, phi 25, ari 27 1976 AFC West 17-21-0 -2.0 oak 7, den 8, sdg 16, kan 21, tam 28 2005 NFC South 21-19-0 -2.1 car 9, tam 16, atl 17, nor 31 2002 AFC North 16-23-1 -2.2 pit 11, cle 14, bal 22, cin 32 1975 NFC Central 15-17-0 -2.2 min 4, det 13, gnb 16, chi 25 1984 NFC Central 11-28-1 -2.2 gnb 8, chi 9, tam 20, det 23, min 25 1985 NFC East 22-18-0 -2.3 nyg 8, dal 12, was 20, phi 22, stl 28 1980 NFC Central 16-24-0 -2.3 det 11, chi 13, min 15, tam 22, gnb 26 1986 AFC East 16-24-0 -2.3 nwe 6, mia 14, nyj 19, buf 24, ind 27 2004 NFC East 19-21-0 -2.4 phi 9, was 21, nyg 23, dal 30 2006 NFC South 17-23-0 -2.4 nor 8, car 19, atl 20, tam 30 2005 AFC East 16-24-0 -2.5 nwe 13, mia 15, buf 26, nyj 27 1975 AFC West 12-20-0 -2.6 oak 8, den 14, kan 17, sdg 24 1983 NFC Central 15-25-0 -2.6 det 7, chi 15, gnb 18, min 22, tam 27 2003 NFC East 19-21-0 -2.6 phi 9, dal 16, was 26, nyg 31 1971 AFC Central 11-20-1 -2.6 cle 12, cin 13, pit 17, hou 24 2000 NFC East 19-21-0 -2.7 phi 11, nyg 13, was 17, dal 25, ari 31 1981 AFC East 16-24-0 -2.7 mia 11, nyj 13, buf 15, nwe 23, bal 28 2004 NFC South 19-21-0 -2.8 car 15, atl 17, tam 19, nor 28 1997 NFC West 18-22-0 -2.8 sfo 7, car 21, stl 22, atl 23, nor 28 1985 AFC Central 15-25-0 -2.8 pit 14, cin 15, cle 17, hou 26 1986 NFC Central 14-26-0 -3.0 chi 2, min 4, det 23, gnb 26, tam 28 2005 NFC West 16-24-0 -3.0 sea 4, ari 24, stl 25, sfo 32 1978 NFC West 18-22-0 -3.0 ram 7, nor 17, atl 26, sfo 28 1972 AFC East 13-16-1 -3.1 mia 1, nyj 13, bal 19, buf 22, nwe 26 2005 NFC North 17-23-0 -3.1 chi 14, min 21, gnb 22, det 28 1991 NFC Central 18-22-0 -3.2 det 14, chi 15, min 17, gnb 22, tam 27 1995 AFC East 17-23-0 -3.2 mia 9, buf 16, ind 17, nwe 26, nyj 30 1999 AFC Central 17-19-0 -3.3 jax 5, ten 18, bal 19, pit 23, cin 29, cle 31 1975 NFC West 11-21-0 -3.3 ram 3, atl 15, sfo 20, nor 26 1983 AFC Central 16-24-0 -3.3 cin 11, pit 13, cle 20, hou 28 1984 AFC Central 13-27-0 -3.4 pit 10, cin 17, cle 21, hou 27 1984 AFC East 16-24-0 -3.4 mia 2, nwe 16, nyj 22, ind 26, buf 28 1976 NFC West 12-25-1 -3.5 ram 2, sfo 11, nor 22, atl 25, sea 27 2002 NFC West 17-23-0 -3.5 sfo 17, sea 21, stl 25, ari 31 2002 NFC North 13-27-0 -3.5 gnb 9, min 23, chi 27, det 29 1987 NFC Central 14-24-1 -3.5 chi 6, min 21, gnb 22, tam 25, det 27 1998 AFC Central 15-25-0 -3.5 jax 11, ten 15, pit 22, bal 24, cin 29 1989 AFC East 14-26-0 -3.6 buf 9, ind 15, mia 22, nwe 24, nyj 27 2004 NFC North 17-23-0 -3.7 gnb 13, min 16, det 27, chi 31 1992 AFC East 17-23-0 -3.8 buf 8, mia 12, nyj 25, ind 26, nwe 28 1970 AFC Central 11-20-1 -3.9 cle 12, cin 13, pit 22, hou 24 1999 NFC West 13-27-0 -3.9 stl 1, car 21, atl 26, sfo 28, nor 30 1979 NFC West 13-27-0 -4.0 ram 16, nor 17, atl 24, sfo 26 1982 NFC West 7-15-0 -4.0 sfo 17, nor 20, atl 21, ram 25 1988 AFC West 14-25-1 -4.1 sea 15, den 20, rai 21, kan 26, sdg 28 1974 NFC West 12-20-0 -4.6 ram 9, sfo 19, nor 23, atl 26 1998 NFC East 16-24-0 -5.5 dal 10, nyg 19, ari 26, was 27, phi 30 1979 NFC Central 14-26-0 -5.7 chi 14, tam 20, gnb 25, min 27, det 28 1991 AFC East 16-24-0 -5.8 buf 8, nyj 19, mia 21, nwe 26, ind 28 2006 NFC West 17-23-0 -5.8 sea 21, stl 22, ari 29, sfo 31 1977 NFC Central 14-24-0 -6.4 min 17, chi 18, det 24, gnb 26, tam 28 1970 AFC East 11-19-0 -6.8 bal 14, mia 16, nyj 21, buf 25, bos 26 2004 NFC West 13-27-0 -6.8 sea 20, ari 26, stl 29, sfo 32
This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 27th, 2007 at 4:47 am and is filed under General, History. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Is it mathematically to compare 4-team averages with 5-team averages?
Also, how is avRating computed? Is that the difference between that division's average and the league average (which would be a constant)?
The top division for 2006 was the AFC East? It looks like that's only because there was no doormat, not because there were several great teams.
I'm not sure that's the best method for comparing divisions. I'd reccomend a method of over-weighting the top teams. That would reward divisions for having several very competitive teams vying for the division title, without penalizing them for having a single poor team.
Brian, some would say that no doormats is an important characteristic of a strong division. Had I given more weight to the top teams, someone could have said, "this doesn't feel quite right. The 2000 AFC West ranks as a very strong divsion despite having three teams that were well below average."
Sagarin ranks conferences by over-weighting the middle teams. I've never understood exactly why, except that it feels right to him, which is OK.
The bottom line is that if you try to boil down the strengths of 4 or 5 (or 6) different teams into a single number, you're necessarily going to lose some information. Certain methods would feel righter to certain people, I'm sure, but I don't necessarily see a reason to use something other than the simplest number: the average.
Any chance of getting a breakdown by division of which one is generally the hardest or the easiest?
the NFC West is a freaking embarrasment. They should disband it.
Using the data provided
old divisions 1970-2001
(Average)
AFC East -0.21
AFC Central -0.05
AFC West 0.88
NFC East 0.44
NFC Central -0.2
NFC West -0.25
and recently the NFC west has been as terrible as the AFC west has been good.
This list generally feels right, since as long as I can remember the AFC West seems to have been as wild as the old west. Even when Denver kept going to Super Bowls in the late 80s they were always having to fend off the Seahawks, Raiders, etc. I'd put the '05 West over the '04 AFC East actually since the East has been the Pats and everyone else from '03 until last season.
I'm very surprised that the '72 AFC East wasn't at the bottom, but I can see how having an unbeaten team could prop it up a bit
I also thought the '89 AFC Central would be much higher, since I can't remember any last place team in any division who could've made the playoffs had they won their final game like the '89 Bengals.
I've always wondered if there's anything inherent to the current alignment of teams/divisions/conferences that gives a particular division or conference a long term advantage/disadvantage. Something like average market size or historical fan base or geographic location, etc. It does seem like some divisions are always stronger, but I've never seen anyone check whether they are more unbalanced than you'd expect by chance.
Count me among those who think no doormat is an important characteristic of a strong division. One thing could possibly make Brian happier is if division's were rated by what the average (some record) team in the NFL's record would have been in that division. I think you might find the toughest division for a 14-2 team isn't necessarily the same as the toughest division for a 10-6 team.
A 14-2 or 15-1 team might see the no-bad teams but all middling teams as the easiest division in the NFL. OTOH, I'm guessing a 9-7 team would find it much harder to win in a division where the other 3 teams were 9-7, 8-8, 7-9, than in a division where the other 3 teams were 15-1, 4-12, 4-12.
I still like simple average as a division rater, but there is another question there that might satisfy Brian more.
This is a great post because the amount of raw information. You want to figure out how many times the #1 ranked SRS team missed the playoffs, you can. (The answer is zero).
Something has to be tweaked to the rating system if it says the Patriots were #1 last year. That's absurd. Teams that get shutout 21-0 to 6-10 teams with Joey Harrington at QB are automatically disqualified from being #1.
LMAO!!! My thoughts exactly.
Sorry for the necropost but I was curious... is there any correlation between strength of division and the success of its representative(s) in the playoffs?
Clearly this isn't a straightforward question to answer. For one, it is likely partly self-correlated. Also success in playoffs is difficult to define (e.g. losing to the best team in the opening round might not be "worse" than going 1-1 vs 2 lower ranked teams). Including WC entrants may also complicate matters.
Maybe compare strength of division-except-me to any of 1) SB wins/appearances, 2) best team beat, 3) rank of KO opponent, 4) # unexpected wins - # unexpected loss, 5) weighted version of 4 by rank differentials, etc? It'd be interesting to see if having stronger opponents in your division truly does make a team more playoff-hardened, more depleted, or has no impact at all...