Since 2000, the AFC has been the superior conference in the NFL, with the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 2007 New York Giants being the only NFC teams to win Super Bowls this decade.
But after New York's monumental upset of then 18-0 New England in the Super Bowl - coupled with Tom Brady's season-ending injury - it seems the balance of power has shifted to the NFC. Four weeks into the season, we've learned a lot more about each team, and here is a division-by-division breakdown of the NFC.
NFC East
While many preseason predictions are destroyed in the opening month of the NFL season, one common belief has proven to be true - that the NFC East is the best division in football. For the past two seasons, the East has provided three playoff teams, and each got better heading into this season.
New York Giants (3-0) - New York had the luxury of a bye week last weekend, enabling it to jump to first in the division with Dallas' loss to Washington. Sure, the Giants' only quality win came against the Redskins in Week 1, but their defense has looked surprisingly good thus far. It seems all the talk of their Super Bowl win being a fluke has lit a fire under New York, and we have to take the team seriously as a contender as long as the Giants are playing with a chip on their shoulder.
Washington Redskins (3-1) - Hard to imagine them rising to No. 2 in the division after their offense got bulldozed by the Giants and considering the hot starts Philadelphia and Dallas got off to. However, going into Texas Stadium and knocking off the Cowboys vaulted them into must-be-taken-seriously mode. You can argue that Dallas, Philadelphia and New York have more talent, but the Redskins don't have any glaring weaknesses that have been exposed yet. Washington can make a run at the division title, as unfathomable as that might be to some.
Dallas Cowboys (3-1) - The consensus preseason NFC Champion looked every bit the part in the first three games, blazing to a 3-0 start. Then Washington blindsided them, and it's clear Dallas is not as invincible as previously thought. The Cowboys have some holes in the secondary, but, perhaps more importantly, this team may actually destroy itself. I know talking about Terrell Owens as a cancer is a bit tired, and I was willing to concede that he wouldn't explode on Dallas, but that argument is teetering after the loss. T.O. was already complaining about not getting the ball even in wins, and he took it to another level after losing to Washington. Despite having 19 plays called for him, he had the nerve to complain about not getting enough looks Sunday. While he wasn't directly called out, Wade Phillips, Tony Romo and other Cowboys seemed annoyed with his cries. If it stays on track, Dallas can probably crush every opponent in sight. But if the chemistry issues continue, don't be surprised if the Cowboys suffer another playoff meltdown.
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Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) - A lot of teams would be content with two wins at this point, but it has to be frustrating for the Eagles. They hung with Dallas throughout Week 2 and fell just short of upsetting the division favorites. Then, without top offensive weapon Brian Westbrook, they lost a heartbreaker to Chicago on Sunday. In a division as loaded as the East, they can't afford many more slipups. Injuries to Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook are a concern, but Philadelphia has proven it has the talent to compete for a playoff spot this season. Philadelphia's Week 5 matchup with Washington will be as vital a game that a team can have at this point.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals (2-2) - The fact that Arizona is the cream of the crop in the West shows how much catching up this division has to do with the East. Anyway, the Cardinals do have potential, especially on offense. Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald remain one of the top wide receiver tandems in the NFL, and senior citizen Kurt Warner has been more than capable at quarterback. The thing is, it's hard to imagine him and running back Edgerrin James holding up long enough for the Cardinals to make a real impact this season.
San Francisco 49ers (2-2) - San Francisco has been surprisingly competitive up to this point and is a hard team to figure out. The defense does have some studs, such as Patrick Willis and Nate Clements, but the unit hasn't quite come together yet. The same can be said for the offense. Frank Gore can be a top-5 running back on a given day but is inconsistent at times. J.T. O'Sullivan has been impressive at quarterback, but he will undoubtedly have his growing pains. Fortunately for San Francisco, the West will leave room for some error.
Seattle Seahawks (1-2) - No doubt the most talented team in the West, and they are starting to get healthy coming off a bye week. It was a struggle to put points on the board with their top 27 wide receivers missing the first month, but Matt Hasselbeck and company will progress, especially with Julius Jones having a revival since leaving Dallas.
St. Louis Rams (0-4) - What a disaster. The 0-4 record doesn't do this team's ineptitude justice. With the likes of Torry Holt and Steven Jackson on offense, you would think they could muster a little more production. However, the offensive and defensive lines are so horrid that there really isn't hope for the Rams to climb out of this hole. The only interest NFL fans have in St. Louis is whether its team is lucky enough to have the Rams scheduled this season.
NFC North
Chicago Bears (2-2) - Chicago's grind-out win over Philadelphia on Sunday showed that the Bears can hang with the best NFC teams and that the defense has returned to its classic, punishing form. More importantly, Chicago has some balance on offense. Rookie running back Matt Forte has been outstanding so far, not only running the ball well, but being a factor in the passing game by catching passes and blocking effectively. Anytime you're relying on Kyle Orton to quarterback your team, you can't feel too confident, but with a solid running game and stout defense, Chicago will stick around.
Green Bay Packers (2-2) - It has been one heck of a roller coaster for Aaron Rodgers, who was booed during the preseason, intensely praised for the 2-0 start and has come back to Earth with back-to-back losses and a shoulder injury. Running back Ryan Grant has been disappointing so far, but if he comes around the Packers have one of the better offenses in the NFC. If the defense can get healthy, the division is theirs to lose.
Minnesota Vikings (1-3) - The Vikings had a rough opening schedule and play a near must-win game against New Orleans in Week 5. Usually, running effectively and stopping the run are enough to compete in the NFL, but quarterback play has been a huge problem for Minnesota. Adrian Peterson remains one of the most fun players to watch in the league, but if they don't get a semblance of a passing game, the playoffs will be out of reach for the Vikings.
Detroit Lions (0-4) - Getting rid of incompetent GM Matt Millen was a start, but the Lions are too much of a mess for this to be turned around. Calvin Johnson is a freak of a wide receiver, and Detroit is a scary offense to face, but until the defense can get stops, expect a tough season in the Motor City.
NFC South
Carolina Panthers (3-1) - If Jake Delhomme can continue to play at a high level, there's no reason Carolina shouldn't get separation in this division. As long as Steve Smith doesn't punch out another teammate in practice, the offense has a strong balance, and Smith provides big-play capability in the passing game. The defense isn't full of household names but is solid against the run, and the secondary can make plays from time to time. From what we've seen at this point, Carolina could be a dangerous playoff team.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) - Between them and the Saints, an NFC South team can feasibly steal a playoff berth from the East. Tampa Bay is the less likely of the two, but as long as the aging defense can hold up, they should keep most games close. Brian Griese seems to be an improvement over Jeff Garcia at quarterback, but the wide receivers are less than stellar.
New Orleans Saints (2-2) - A much more potent version of the Lions, New Orleans can score with any team in the NFL, but its defense has a hard time getting stops. When Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and company are on their game, it causes migraines for even the best of defenses. But the truth is, any offense is going to see its speed bumps throughout the season, and the defense doesn't have enough to make up for those mishaps.
Atlanta Falcons (2-2) - Two wins in the first month is a positive surprise for this young team, but it still has a long way to make any significant impact. Michael Turner has shown tremendous explosion and can take over games - if Atlanta keeps handing him the ball. Still, don't look for the Falcons to do anything more than play spoiler during the stretch run of the season.
