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NFL, everyone knows that, but are you talking about the National Football Conference in American Football….WHAT?!?
The National Football Conference (NFC) is one of the two leagues of the National Football League (NFL). The other league is the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFC is the NFL's oldest league, founded in 1970 after a merger with the American Football League (AFL).
In this article I discuss the history, rules and teams of the NFC.
What we discuss in this comprehensive post:
The National Football Conference: The Divisions
The NFC East
The NFC East is a division where the big boys play. With the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, the New York Giants, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins, this division is one of the most competitive in the NFL.
The NFC North
The NFC North is a division known for its tough defense. The Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings are all teams that have made their mark in the NFL.
The NFC South
The NFC South is a division known for its offensive explosiveness. With the Atlanta Falcons, the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, this division is one of the most compelling to watch.
The NFC West
The NFC West is a division where the big boys play. With the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale near Phoenix, the San Francisco 49ers, the Seattle Seahawks and the St. Louis Rams, this division is one of the most competitive in the NFL.
How do the AFC and NFC differ?
The NFL has two conferences: the AFC and NFC. But what's the difference? While there are no differences in rules between the two, they have a rich history. Let's take a look at what they have in common and what sets them apart.
History
The AFC and NFC were created after the merger between the AFL and NFL in 1970. The former AFL teams formed the AFC, while the remaining NFL teams formed the NFC. The NFC has much older teams, with an average founding year of 1948, while the AFC teams were founded on average in 1965.
Matches
AFC and NFC teams only play each other four times per season. This means that you only face a certain AFC opponent once every four years in the regular season.
Trophies
The NFC champions receive the George Halas Trophy, while the AFC champions win the Lamar Hunt Trophy. But the Lombardi Trophy is the only one that really counts!
The Geography of the NFL: A Look Inside the Teams
The NFL is a national organization, but if you put the teams on a map, you'll see that they're roughly divided into two areas. The AFC teams are mainly concentrated in the Northeast, from Massachusetts to Indiana, while the NFC teams are roughly located around the Great Lakes and in the South.
AFC Teams in the Northeast
The AFC teams in the Northeast are:
- New England Patriots (Massachusetts)
- New York Jets (New York)
- Buffalo Bills (New York)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Pennsylvania)
- Baltimore Ravens (Maryland)
- Cleveland Browns (Ohio)
- Cincinnati Bengals (Ohio)
- Indianapolis Colts (Indiana)
NFC Teams in the Northeast
The Northeast NFC teams are:
- Philadelphia Eagles (Pennsylvania)
- New York Giants (New York)
- Washington Football Team (Washington DC)
AFC Teams in the Great Lakes
The AFC teams in the Great Lakes are:
- Chicago Bears (Illinois)
- Detroit Lions (Michigan)
- Green Bay Packers (Wisconsin)
- Minnesota Vikings (Minnesota)
NFC Teams in the Great Lakes
The NFC teams in the Great Lakes are:
- Chicago Bears (Illinois)
- Detroit Lions (Michigan)
- Green Bay Packers (Wisconsin)
- Minnesota Vikings (Minnesota)
AFC Teams in the South
The AFC teams in the south are:
- Houston Texans (Texas)
- Tennessee Titans (Tennessee)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (Florida)
- Indianapolis Colts (Indiana)
NFC Teams in the South
The NFC teams in the south are:
- Atlanta Falcons (Georgia)
- Carolina Panthers (North Carolina)
- New Orleans Saints (Louisiana)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Florida)
- Dallas Cowboys (Texas)
Conclusion
As you now know, the NFC is one of the two leagues of professional American Football teams. The NFC is the league in which most of the OLDER teams are, such as the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints.
If you like American Football it's also good to learn a bit more about the background of the league and how it all works so I'm glad I could explain a bit about how this all works.