AFC/NFL

[Sabre]

Hey,
Someone explain the difference? Is one of a lesser standard than the other? And, they both merge for the Superbowl games right?

Football Newbie here!

Thanks

[elcid]

I was wrong once before, but I believe NFL is the League (well, I know that part), and AFC and NFC are Conferences. The way baseball has American League and the National League, and Hockey (in the day) Had the Norris, Adams, Patrick and Smythe Divsions

[rivera213]

NFL is the league.

There are 2 conferences-

AFC.

NFC.


The winner of each conference play each other in the Superbowl.

[Hikey Mikey]

Rivera's got it! Question answered, so I would love to hijack this thread for a moment. Consider that there are football fans who are just as . . .well, fanatic, about the sport as we are about high-end Ibanez guitars. Who have no idea who Steve Vai is and (couldn't care less if they found out) but could recite their favorite player's numbers by heart.

I mean, do any of you ever consider that something that means so much to you and your life means absolutely nothing to some other person? My co-workers and family can't grasp my obsession.

Oh gosh, it's late, I'm tired, and rambling. I'm gonna go to bed now . . .

[rivera213]

Yeah, music more so than sports is an individual thing.

I think it requires a certain type of intellect (not bettr or worse), just different, to like music the way we do to those who put it on as background noise.

BTW- In 2007, there will be a regular season game coming to London, played at Wembley & the rumour is it could be my Giants!!!!

I'm well happy, i get to see Big Mike kick some ass!

[Sabre]

Thanks Rivera.

[Demiurge]

For a little history- as to why there are those two conferences- the NFC conference (that is, its constituent teams) used to be the NFL proper, while the AFC was a separate upstart league that started afterwards. Eventually, the AFC merged with NFL. I'm sure the details are more complicated than that, but there's the summary to add to what has already been explained.

[jb4674]

American football is not my cup of tea, it shouldn't even be called football. There already is a sport called football and the only country in which is called something else is in the US.

Jimmy

[rivera213]

I believe Gridiron is the official term for it?

It'd make sense to call it Gridiron rather than football since only the kicker uses his foot.

Soccer comes from the word "Association" Football.

[jimmi]

US Football was played different than it is today, just like basketball used to have an actual basket with a bottom. Anyway, the arguement is like macs vs pcs, dogs vs cats....you like what you like (usually what you played as a child).

[j.arledge]

yep they got it right .

i think it would be more intersting if they pitted the two division aginst each other for the entire playoff picture , like the number 1 seed from both divsions play each other then the number 2 ,so on and so fourth that way you dont have a weak team making it because the entire division is weak except like 2 teams.

[jemsite]

they've added a half-dozen teams since many of us were born and now 2 extra "divisions". i think the NFL is substandard and like all other sports, would greatly benefit from the removal of 4-6 teams for better competition myself... like it was before the NFL's primary concern was TV ratings and TV revenue.

some good recaps here:
http://www.football.com/history/index.shtml

and here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFL-NFL_Merger

longer read here (start in the 60s)
http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/1961-1970
... glen

[vette6600]

Originally Posted by Demiurge

For a little history- as to why there are those two conferences- the NFC conference (that is, its constituent teams) used to be the NFL proper, while the AFC was a separate upstart league that started afterwards. Eventually, the AFC merged with NFL

i thought the 'seperate upstart league' was the AFL, and then became the AFC when it merged with the NFL

[Demiurge]

Originally Posted by vette6600

i thought the 'seperate upstart league' was the AFL, and then became the AFC when it merged with the NFL

Oops, you're right- it was called the AFL before the merger.