From 1985 until 1997, every Super Bowl winner came from the NFC. The Denver Broncos broke that streak with consecutive wins against the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons in 1998 and 1999 respectively, but the AFC promptly forfeited the Vince Lombardi Trophy right back to the NFC, as the St. Louis Rams won the next season. Last year, the AFC's Baltimore Ravens claimed the title, which seemed to symbolize a balance of power in the league.
However, it may be time for the AFC to get some revenge. The teams that carried the NFC during the 13-year run - the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, and San Francisco 49ers - aren't the powers they once were. And while the New York Giants, who won two Super Bowls during the NFC's reign, are still a contender, they are indicative of a number of NFC teams this year; they, much like the Philadelphia Eagles, Packers, 49ers, and New Orleans Saints, are a strong team but not balanced enough to win it all.
So if you're looking for an early season pick to win the Super Bowl, the AFC is ripe with contenders. Starting with the defending champs, the AFC has three teams with legitimate shots to win the championship.
The Ravens are 3-2, but their defense alone is enough to win a championship, as it proved last year. Teams simply don't run the ball against Baltimore, which makes it hard for them to win. The offense has covered up the loss of running back Jamaal Lewis by importing quarterback Elvis Grbac from Kansas City. Grbac is now comfortable in the offense and with his receivers, which means the offense should put up enough points to win most games from now on. Of course, the defense is so good that Grbac only needs about ten points a game to win.
The Oakland Raiders may be the best team in the AFC, as they attack opponents with a careful, balanced system. Coach Jon Gruden, one of the top coaches in the league, has transformed Rich Gannon into one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Gannon's improvement in the past few years is due in no small measure to the personnel surrounding him.
Wide receiver Tim Brown has been a Raider since 1988, but Oakland has brought in Jerry Rice to line up opposite him and Charlie Garner to carry the load in the backfield. Garner, a running back who came with Rice from San Francisco in the offseason, was supposed to split time with Tyrone Wheatley, though Garner has been impressive enough to get the majority of the carries. Garner's workload will only increase in the upcoming weeks as Wheatley recently suffered a right knee injury which will keep him on the sidelines for three to four weeks.
The final team on this list is the Broncos, but if Brian Griese's shoulder injury lingers much longer, it will become a two-team race. The Broncos are 3-2 and have looked like Super Bowl contenders in the three victories. They've also looked terrible in their two losses, the most recent a 34-21 embarrassment in Seattle last Sunday.
If the offense can find a suitable replacement for injured wide receiver Ed McCaffrey, it should return to the top of the league. New defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes has brought with him a defense that makes Denver balanced enough to win in the playoffs. Furthermore, Denver boasts the best punter, punt returner, and one of the top kickers in the league.
If you were expecting to see the Indianapolis Colts on this list, look again when quarterback Peyton Manning stops throwing interceptions, and they start playing some defense.
The good
The way that the Rams and Raiders won their games last Sunday. Both were close, low-scoring games against top teams, but the two teams - who could face each other in the Super Bowl - figured out ways to win. The Rams scored a touchdown in the final minutes with their backup running back, Trug Canidate, to beat the Giants 15-14. The Raiders intercepted a Manning pass in the final drive to thwart Indianapolis' comeback hopes.
The Rams are the only undefeated team and the Raiders are 4-1. As it stands right now, getting to the Super Bowl means getting past one of these teams.
The bad
The Monday Night Football game between the Redskins and the Cowboys, neither of which had won a game, was bad. The fact that the game received higher television ratings than game five of the New York Yankees - Oakland A's series was worse.
What led people to tune in as the Cowboys kicked three field goals on their way to their first victory of the year is beyond understanding. How the Redskins could allow only three field goals and lose the game is also beyond understanding. To Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder, the owners of these once-proud franchises - good job.
The ugly
The bonehead play by Detroit Lions wideout Germane Crowell, at the end of the Lions - Minnesota Vikings game. With the Lions on the final drive of a tremendous comeback, still down by a score, and without timeouts, Crowell caught a pass, and instead of getting out of bounds, made a juke and was tackled in bounds. Time expired before the Lions could get off another play.
If nothing else, the Lions, who have yet to win a game this year, are doing a good job of producing goats. First Ty "7-pick" Detmer, now Germane "stay in the lines" Crowell.
