Best division in the NFL?

The AFC South might be the best division in the AFC, but there's no way it's the best division in the NFL. That distinction has to go to the NFC East.

The NFC East boasted three playoff teams last year, including the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants, the regular-season NFC champion Cowboys, and the Redskins. The Eagles, the only team from the division not to make the playoffs, still managed an 8-8 record. Philadelphia would have been second in any of the other NFC divisions, and in every AFC division except the AFC North. Plus, every team has an extremely passionate fan base, making it difficult for any team to play a road game against the NFC East.

There's no way the AFC South, with the below-average to mediocre Texans and Titans, is the best division in football. That distinction belongs to the NFC East.

AFC South> >> NFC East

Indy (13-3), Jacksonville (11-5), Tenn (10-6), Houston (8-8), total (42-22)

Dallas (13-3), NY (10-6), DC (9-7), Philly (8-8), total (40-24

Outside the divisions:

Colts (8-2), Jaguars (9-1), Titans (6-4), Texans (7-3), total (30-10)

Cowboys (9-1), Giants (7-3), Redskins (6-4), Eagles (6-4), total (28-12)

Hornet King makes a great point, countering the crappy and not thought out argument that the AFC South is overrated because they play in a conference with those AFC East crap-shoots.  The NFC East played the AFC East this year, while the AFC South did not. 

Normally, I'd give this hands down to the AFC South, but having the SB champion in the NFC East pushes them into a tie.  This year, though, I definitely see the AFC South being the toughest, hands down.

Granted the Super Bowl winner came from the NFC East but I believe the AFC South is the toughest division.  I think it is a close call but if you consider that the Houston Texans were 8-8 but were banged up for much of the year with their #1 running back, #1 receiver, and #1 QB missing for good portions of the season that shows how tough the AFC South was top to bottom.  Also the AFC is tougher than the NFC if you look at top teams from each Conference the AFC definitely has more.  Definitely a close call but IMO the AFC South is tougher. 

Also, in regards to your comments about the Titans and Texans being below average or mediocre well the Titans made the playoffs and you saw the injury problems the Texans had.  Give any team in the NFC East those same injury problems and they wouldn't have finished 8-8.  I give full credit to the Texans and if they stay healthy next year they could be dangerous.  They are my definite dark horse team for this year.  I could say the same about the Eagles and Redskins in regards to being "below-average to mediocre" as they had a worse combined record than the Texans and Titans.

"The NFC East last year played the AFC East as their out of conference opponents.  Other than New England, that was easier than walking out your front door in the morning.  Perhaps everyone's records were a little bloated in the "NFC Beast". "

Excellent point Hornetking.  Those were 3 gimme wins there with the Bills, Jets, and Dolphins.  Talk about a cake walk. 

Is this argument suppose to be who is historically better, or who was stronger this season?

If we are talking about the past couple of seasons the NFC East is probably tougher because they consistently get at least 2 teams in the playoffs and for the last two seasons they have gotten both wild cards.

However, if we are talking about only this season the conversation becomes more difficult. This year the AFC was certainly stronger during the regular season than the NFC. And the AFC south managed to have stronger records then the NFC east teams.

But during the post season the NFC East had the looked better. They had the super bowl champs, and the AFC South did not even have a team in the conference championship.

So it seems to be a tie, and this is coming from a Giants fan.

Both divisions look to be the most dominant in the future as well.

Every NFC east team other than the Giants has made great offseason acquisitions and changes.

While teams in the AFC South have used the drafts to make their teams young and incredibly talented. Houston for instance, the bottom dweller of the South, has one of the youngest and most talented front 7 in the game.

Both divisions will continue to dominate the AFC and NFC respectively, but that has to be expected with how terrible the rest of the divisions are. (See AFC west San Deigo and no one, AFC Patriots, AFC North Pittsburg Steelers and disfunction, NFC North without Brett Farve the division may be the worst division ever, but wait there is the NFC West who is attrocious, and the NFC South hopefully New Orleans comes back so no one ever has to be bored by the Bucaneers again).