alexonfyre

Not surprising considering that the "AFC Easy" has been the worst division in the AFC for that long as well. You give an NFC division ~1 more win than everyone else on average, and you tend to end up highly seeded in the playoffs.

WillSaints81

No, its not that. The giants were 9-7 but 4-0 against AFC East, the niners 11-4 also 4-0 and packers 10-6 2-2...............Its the battle test and the AFC East had three different elements of three different teams in that division

the high powered offense of the pats
the corner tandem, pass defense of the jets
the blitz, pass rushing and run defense of the dolphins

Also despite the fact the pats swept these teams last two years(dolphins three) the jets with Revis did give people fits and the dolphins do play tough with the better teams. SF, Seattle, Indy, Cincinatti were all wins or close losses.

Now before Revis, the pats were the only team battle testing. Its also this, teams get a rise out of beating NE or almost beating them because to this day they are sick of hearing about what they accomplished 9 years ago. I think the confidence of beating them is huge and the losing to them makes them want to get a second chance at them. It proves another thing if you have the offense or defense to beat NE then you can beat anyone else. A defense that beats Brady can beat any other offense, funny these defenses never got to face saints in playoffs though. A offense that can outduel Brady in Foxborough is good enough to beat any other qb.

Interesting last three NFC winners have went to NE.................we go to NE but it could be the other way around. Because when we went we had hosted NE that season. Personally, I think it will be us or falcons and I hope and pray not the latter. Also, there's a unusual pattern of same division teams playing each other when they play. Steelers played seahawks and cards then switched to NFC North and packers. Eagles and giants played pats. Manning played two different divisions however the north and south. But I think he is pitted against our division though. Ravens was maybe a one time rep playing NFC West team. Next time SF, Sea, or StL go to sb I'm thinking its going to be texans or colts(who is two years away from being elite maybe). So its going to be us or falcons and I think Manning will be the AFC rep but it COULD be San Diego, his division rival. Imagine if they make playoffs with their easy schedule next year and get Manning in Denver a second time and history repeats itself? That would be the biggest confidence booster for that team.