Now that we’re officially halfway through the 2011 season (and slightly past the halfway point for the teams that haven’t had their bye weeks yet), it’s a good time to take a broader look at the league to determine the toughest divisions in the NFL at this point.
NFL Division Grades: Ravens, Bengals, Steelers Make AFC North Elite At Halfway Point
Through the first half of the first half of the 2011 NFL Season, here’s how each division has fared and what grades they deserve.
After a long mid-term grading period, this what we came up with.
Valedictorian: AFC North
In-Conference Win Percentage: 60 percent
Non-Conference Win Percentage: 75 percent
The AFC North is one of two divisions in the NFL that would send three teams to the playoffs if the season were to end today. The very surprising Bengals would go as the top seed in the AFC and both the Ravens and Steelers would be wildcard teams. Even the Browns, the division’s worst team, have a better record than eight other teams in the league.
Grade: A
Salutatorian: NFC North
Average Strength of Schedule: 12th
In-Conference Win Percentage: 65 percent
Non-Conference Win Percentage: 67 percent
Average Odds That Super Bowl Champ Comes from the NFC North: 90.4
Like the AFC North, the NFC North would send three teams to the playoffs if the season ended right now, so deciding between the AFC North and NFC North was actually difficult. On one hand, the top of the NFC North is stronger because the Packers are far and away the best team in the NFL. But on the other hand the Ravens and Steelers might be a better No. 2 and 3 than the Lions and Bears. If the Vikings, had a better record at this point in the season, the NFC North might be your valedictorian.
Grade: A-
Graduating With Honors: AFC East
Average Strength of Schedule: 7th
In-Conference Win Percentage: 48 percent
Non-Conference Win Percentage: 57 percent
Average Odds that Super Bowl Champ Comes from the AFC East: 269.8
The AFC East is one of the few divisions in the league with three winning teams but these three teams are still collectively below the AFC North and NFC North, record-wise. The Patriots have a great offense but their defense is such a huge weakness that they’ve lost two straight games. The Jets struggle at times as well and, together, those teams haven’t shown the consistency others above them have. The Dolphins also drag this division down badly.
Grade: B+
Middle of the Pack: NFC South
1. Saints (6-3)
2. Falcons (5-3)
3. Buccaneers (4-4)
4. Panthers (2-6)
Average Strength of Schedule: 13th
In-Conference Win Percentage: 41 percent
Non-Conference Win Percentage: 100 percent
Average Odds that Super Bowl Champ Comes from the NFC South: 116.3
The Saints are a good team that is capable of beating anybody in the league. The Falcons have the talent to beat most teams but have underachieved this season, especially early. The Buccaneers are mediocre and the Panthers can’t figure out how to transfer the exciting play of rookie quarterback Cam Newton into wins. The NFC South falls in the middle of the pack.
Grade: B-
Middle of the Pack: NFC East
Average Strength of Schedule: 19th
In-Conference Win Percentage: 52 percent
Non-Conference Win Percentage: 43 percent
Average Odds that Super Bowl Champ Comes from the NFC East: 146
The NFC East is only in this position because of A.) the Giants and B.) that there isn’t a team with a record worse than 3-5 in the division. They’re ranked above the AFC South and the other divisions mainly because the worst teams in the NFC East are better than the worst teams in other divisions.
Grade: C
Middle of the Pack: AFC South
Average Strength of Schedule: 10th
In-Conference Win Percentage: 43 percent
Non-Conference Win Percentage: 0 percent
Average Odds that Super Bowl Champ Comes from the AFC South: 541.5
The AFC South contains the only winless team left in the NFL, the Indianapolis Colts. But it also has a pair of winning teams including the Texans, who have the No. 1 ranked defense in the NFL right now. The Jaguars and Colts drag this division down but the Texans and Titans keep them from failing grades.
Grade: C-
Class Clown: AFC West
Average Strength of Schedule: 7th
In-Conference Win Percentage: 50 percent
Non-Conference Win Percentage: 33 percent
Average Odds that Super Bowl Champ Comes from the AFC West: 119
The AFC West is the only division in the NFL without a singe team with a winning record but, as you've noticed, they're still ranked above one other division. That's because having three teams with 4-4 records is still stronger than whatever they're offering in the NFC West. The Chargers are good but Philip Rivers leads the league in turnovers and in reality, this division could be anybody's, even the Broncos', who are one game out.
Grade: D
Drop Out: NFC West
Average Strength of Schedule: 28th
In-Conference Win Percentage: 42 percent
Non-Conference Win Percentage: 25 percent
Average Odds that Super Bowl Champ Comes from the NFC West: 629
Even though this division has the easiest schedule, they can’t win games. The 49ers look like a legit contender but the rest of this division is just straight awfulness. The Seahawks, Cardinals and Rams are awful and this division is the clear choice to be the worst in the NFL.
Grade: F
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