32 teams, 8 divisions, 4 teams per division. We can take rivalries into account, because that stuff does matter, but what's the ideal NFL divisional alignment? We can have teams switch conferences if necessary.
AFC East
New England
NY Jets
Buffalo
Baltimore
AFC South
Jacksonville
Tampa Bay
Atlanta
Miami
AFC North
Pittsburgh
Cleveland
Cincinnati
Indianapolis
AFC West
LA Chargers
Denver
Las Vegas
Kansas City
NFC East
Philadelphia
NY Giants
Washington
Carolina
NFC South
New Orleans
Houston
Dallas
Tennessee
NFC North
Minnesota
Chicago
Detroit
Green Bay
NFC West
LA Rams
Seattle
San Francisco
Arizona
So...
Miami moves from the AFC East --> AFC South
Baltimore moves from the AFC North --> AFC East
Indianapolis moves from the AFC South --> AFC North
Carolina moves from the NFC South --> NFC East
Dallas moves from the NFC East --> NFC South
Tennessee moves from the AFC South --> NFC South
Houston moves from the AFC South --> NFC South
Atlanta moves from the NFC South --> AFC South
Tampa Bay moves from the NFC South --> AFC South
Seven teams have to move and this is WAY more geographically correct. I get that rivalries matter, but it's crazy to have the Cowboys in the "East" while Kansas City - which is 100+ miles east of Dallas, is in the "West". It was worse when the Rams were in St. Louis, which is about 300 miles east of Dallas, but was in the "West" while Dallas was in the "East".
I get that for Baltimore, it would remove them from the Steelers' division, but man a Ravens-Patriots in-division rivalry would be serious HEAT.
The AFC South is much better geographically, with three Florida teams plus Atlanta. The NFC South is also geographically ideal, with Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, and Tennessee all grouped together. The AFC North, likewise, is in very good geographical shape, with Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis.
It would make sense to have the Giants in the AFC East and have the Jets, Giants, Bills, and Patriots be the true northeast division, but for rivalry and history's sake, I wanted to keep the Jets and Giants separate. Plus it's good to have them in different conferences, even though they share a building. Same philosophy with the Rams and Chargers. Though it would make more geographical sense to have NYJ, NYG, Buf, and NE in a division, and move Baltimore to the NFC East, along with Carolina, Washington, and Philly. Oh well.
AFC East
New England
NY Jets
Buffalo
Baltimore
AFC South
Jacksonville
Tampa Bay
Atlanta
Miami
AFC North
Pittsburgh
Cleveland
Cincinnati
Indianapolis
AFC West
LA Chargers
Denver
Las Vegas
Kansas City
NFC East
Philadelphia
NY Giants
Washington
Carolina
NFC South
New Orleans
Houston
Dallas
Tennessee
NFC North
Minnesota
Chicago
Detroit
Green Bay
NFC West
LA Rams
Seattle
San Francisco
Arizona
So...
Miami moves from the AFC East --> AFC South
Baltimore moves from the AFC North --> AFC East
Indianapolis moves from the AFC South --> AFC North
Carolina moves from the NFC South --> NFC East
Dallas moves from the NFC East --> NFC South
Tennessee moves from the AFC South --> NFC South
Houston moves from the AFC South --> NFC South
Atlanta moves from the NFC South --> AFC South
Tampa Bay moves from the NFC South --> AFC South
Seven teams have to move and this is WAY more geographically correct. I get that rivalries matter, but it's crazy to have the Cowboys in the "East" while Kansas City - which is 100+ miles east of Dallas, is in the "West". It was worse when the Rams were in St. Louis, which is about 300 miles east of Dallas, but was in the "West" while Dallas was in the "East".
I get that for Baltimore, it would remove them from the Steelers' division, but man a Ravens-Patriots in-division rivalry would be serious HEAT.
The AFC South is much better geographically, with three Florida teams plus Atlanta. The NFC South is also geographically ideal, with Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, and Tennessee all grouped together. The AFC North, likewise, is in very good geographical shape, with Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis.
It would make sense to have the Giants in the AFC East and have the Jets, Giants, Bills, and Patriots be the true northeast division, but for rivalry and history's sake, I wanted to keep the Jets and Giants separate. Plus it's good to have them in different conferences, even though they share a building. Same philosophy with the Rams and Chargers. Though it would make more geographical sense to have NYJ, NYG, Buf, and NE in a division, and move Baltimore to the NFC East, along with Carolina, Washington, and Philly. Oh well.