AFC East v. NFC South

[WilliamPitt]

Pop quiz: Name the last National Football Conference team to beat the New England Patriots in the regular season?

If you said the Carolina Panthers, reward yourself by circling Dec. 13 on this year's calendar when the Panthers visit Gillette Stadium in a Week 14 duel.

Since a Sept. 18, 2005, loss to the host Panthers, the Patriots have treated the NFC like it's the Washington Nationals. New England has a 15-game nonconference winning streak. Still, last season's 4-0 romp through the NFC West could not secure New England a playoff berth.

The AFC East champion Miami Dolphins were 3-1 against the NFC West in 2008, and the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills were 2-2 in interconference play. For the Jets and Dolphins, those records were huge improvements over 0-for-4 marks versus the NFC East in 2007. The Bills were 1-3 in interconference play that season. What success can the Patriots and their AFC East brethren expect to have against the NFC South this fall? These factors might come into play:

The rest: http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afceast/0-9-29/Interconference-matchups--AFC-East-NFC-South.html

(...pre-season begins less than a month from now...)

( :):):):) )

[TZ]

1. Jeezus christ.

Even the football writers can't resist a shot at the Nats..:eyes:

[NJmaverick]

2. hmmm.... How did the Patriots do against the NFC in Arizona

Oh about a hear and a half ago?

[JonLP24]

3. NFC South is a rough division

It might just be the toughest in the NFC with the NFC East a close second. AFC East is arguably the toughest division in the entire NFL which I happen to agree with. A football game has so many variables so it is unclear at this point who is going to play well or who is going to play flat.

[WilliamPitt]

4. Agreed.

The Pats have a rough ride this year. Makes up for the creampuff schedule they had last year.

[JonLP24]

5. They still played 6 games inside the AFC East

One thing the commentators said whenever they picked the Falcons, Panthers(playoffs) over the Cardinals they brought up the fact they played in the NFC West so essentially they were weak. It is true they do play in a relatively weak division but they swept them and if they didn't beat San Francisco, the 49ers would've been a 10-6 team. But aside from the 6 division games they played 4 against the AFC East and 4 against the NFC East and if you'd believe me not only is it tough to play against those divisions but it is tough to travel across country to play a game. Also the two teams they played against the other two in-conference divisions were Division champs! Carolina(NFC South) and Minnesota (NFC North)

So overall the Cardinals played a tough schedule when you factor in their whole schedule.

[rep the dems]

8. The NFC East is a stronger division that the South.

Nothing against any of those teams, but the East went 4-0 against the South last year and sent a team to the NFC Championship Game while the Panthers and Falcons combined to go 0-2 in the playoffs. Plus nobody in the South has the kind of defense that the Eagles and Giants have. Best division in the NFC.

[mix]

9. NFC East, tough division, good defenses

[madinmaryland]

10. Yeah, good call. The NFC East is a strong division.

Nice picture, also!

[mix]

11. prediction

Dallas will have a top 5 defense and be #1 in its division...Wade is the HC and DC, so he'll be calling the defensive plays and be much more aggressive this year. The Cowboys are loaded on that side of the ball. Now if they can stay healthy...
:hi: Ware is a beast.

[madinmaryland]

12. The only thing that concerns me, is that too much will be put on the d-line

and the linebackers. The secondary could be an issue, though.

[rep the dems]

15. I think Dallas is destined to finish 3rd again.

Eagles and Giants will be 1 and 2 respectively, imo.

[mix]

16. time will tell...one of the toughest divisions no doubt

to a good season my dear NFC East rival

:toast:

[rep the dems]

17. Thanks buddy.

I look forward to it! :toast:

[Forkboy]

6. Mmmmm....football.

[trotsky]

7. 18-1

Was it an AFC or NFC team that gave them the "1"?

[Forkboy]

13. Hater's bitterness is fuel to us New England people.

:P

[mix]

18. I think it's quaint that New England has a football team.

:hi:

[Forkboy]

19. LOL

:rofl:

[trumad]

14. Well--- if you're using that meter---then you can say it was the NFC---

that gave the Pat's 3 SB wins in the last decade.