With another exciting NFL season kicking off, you may feel a bit lost when your buddies start raving about the latest news in the National Football Conference. As a newcomer to football fandom, the NFC likely sounds like an intimidating nest of mysterious team names and intense rivalries. But having a basic grasp of the NFC’s structure and history will help you hold your own at watch parties and pick out a team to support.
This guide breaks down everything an NFC newbie needs to know in simple terms, from what the conference is to how its 16 teams stack up. You’ll learn about classic NFC heavyweights like the Packers and 49ers, as well as recent success stories like the Rams and Buccaneers. So read on to get up to speed on the National Football Conference teams and culture so you can jump right into enjoying the hard-hitting NFC football action.
What Is the National Football Conference (NFC)?
The National Football Conference (NFC) is one of two conferences in the National Football League (NFL). It was created in 1970 when the NFL merged with the American Football League (AFL).
- The National Football Conference consists of 16 teams split into 4 divisions – NFC North, NFC South, NFC East, and NFC West. Some of the popular NFC teams include the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Giants.
- Each year, the 4 division winners plus 2 wild card teams from the NFC advance to the NFL playoffs. This determines who represents the NFC in the Super Bowl against the champion from the American Football Conference (AFC).
- Fun fact – the NFC has historically performed better in the Super Bowl with a record of 27 wins and 25 losses! NFC teams like the Cowboys and 49ers have 8 Super Bowl wins each to lead the conference.
- Major rivalries in the NFC include Packers vs Bears, Cowboys vs Redskins, 49ers vs Rams, and Giants vs Eagles among others. These division battles feature some of the oldest franchises in NFL history.
So in summary, the NFC is one of two conferences that make up the NFL. It consists of 16 teams battling through a tough regular season and playoff schedule, hoping to emerge as NFC Champion and play in the prestigious Super Bowl. This makes for exciting football drama!
History of the National Football Conference
The National Football Conference (NFC) is one of two conferences in the National Football League (NFL), with the American Football Conference (AFC) being the other. The National Football Conference was created in 1970 as part of the AFL-NFL merger between the NFL and the American Football League (AFL).
- Prior to the merger, the NFL consisted of 16 teams split between the Eastern and Western Conferences. When the AFL merged with the NFL, three AFL teams – the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Colts – joined the AFC, while the remaining 13 NFL teams made up the NFC.
- The NFC was originally divided into the Capitol and Century Divisions. In 1967, a Central Division was added with four expansion teams – the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Cincinnati Bengals from the NFL and the Houston Oilers from the AFL.
- Over the years, various team movements have shifted the NFC’s alignment. Currently, it consists of 16 teams divided into the East, North, South, and West divisions.
Some key events in the NFC’s history:
- In the 1980s, the San Francisco 49ers dominated with Hall of Fame players like Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, winning four Super Bowls. The Washington Redskins and New York Giants also won championships that decade.
- In the 1990s, the National Football Conference champion Dallas Cowboys faced off against the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl four straight years, winning two. The Green Bay Packers also rose to prominence, with Brett Favre leading them to victory in Super Bowl XXXI.
- The 2000s saw the Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers add Super Bowl wins, while the Seattle Seahawks went to back-to-back Super Bowls in 2014-2015, defeating the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
With many storied franchises and iconic players, the National Football Conference has cultivated a long, dramatic history in professional football. New fans can look forward to learning more about these teams’ epic clashes.
Current Teams in the NFC
As you’re learning about the National Football Conference (NFC), it helps to know which teams currently make up this conference in the NFL. The NFC consists of 16 teams split into these 4 divisions:
– NFC East
This division includes:
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Washington Commanders
The NFC East is one of the oldest divisions in the NFL. Fierce rivalries between these teams make for exciting matchups.
– NFC North
The NFC North contains:
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
Some of the NFL’s classic franchises with long histories are in this division. Games played in cold midwestern weather late in the season can be intense.
– NFC South
The NFC South has:
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
As one of the younger NFL divisions, exciting offensive playmakers have put recent NFC South teams on the map. Division games in warmer southern cities provide great road trip potential.
– NFC West
This division consists of:
- Arizona Cardinals
- Los Angeles Rams
- San Francisco 49ers
- Seattle Seahawks
Representing the western half of the NFC, these teams have seen resurgences in recent years with talented rosters and creative coaching. Their passionate fanbases make division matchups even more thrilling to follow.
Check the current NFC standings throughout each NFL season to see how your favorite teams stack up against their divisional opponents!
How the NFC Playoff System Works
The National Football Conference (NFC) utilizes a playoff system to determine its annual champion. Here is a quick guide on how it works:
As the regular NFL season wraps up, the top teams in the NFC qualify for the playoffs based on their win-loss records. Specifically:
- The four division champions automatically make the playoffs. The NFC has four divisions:
- NFC East
- NFC North
- NFC South
- NFC West
- Two wild card teams with the best records next make the playoffs to round out the six playoff spots.
Once the playoff teams are set, the postseason kicks off with the Wild Card round featuring the #2 division champion hosting the #7 wild card team, and the #3 hosting the #6. Winners advance to the Divisional round.
- The Divisional round has the #1 division champion hosting the lower ranked advancing wild card team, while the #2 hosts the other winner.
The winners from these two games will meet in the National Football Conference Championship game. The winner represents the conference in the NFL’s championship, the Super Bowl!
The path to the Super Bowl always goes through tough National Football Conference playoff battles. With single elimination games, upsets happen often, making for exciting football in January.
- Key elements like postseason experience, quarterback play, defensive disruption and special teams impact games.
While the playoffs bring lots of intensity, the final two teams demonstrate resilience on the way to the season’s final game.
Understanding the National Football Conference playoff format allows new fans to better follow the postseason action. With division rivals and wildcard upstarts clashing, unexpected outcomes keep things interesting!
Frequently Asked Questions About the National Football Conference
The National Football Conference can seem confusing for new fans. Here are answers to some common questions to help you understand this conference better:
What is the National Football Conference (NFC)?
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences in the National Football League (NFL), along with the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFC consists of 16 teams that compete against each other each regular season to win a spot in the playoffs and ultimately, the Super Bowl.
What are the NFC divisions?
The National Football Conference is divided into four divisions of four teams each: NFC North, NFC South, NFC East, and NFC West. Rivalries typically run strong within divisions as teams play each other twice per regular season.
Which teams are in the NFC?
Current National Football Conference teams include the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks.
How do the playoffs work?
At the end of each regular season, the NFC division winner with the best record gets the #1 seed. The other three division winners get the #2 through #4 seeds. The two non-division winners with the best records get the two Wild Card spots. These six teams advance to the playoffs.
Understanding the basics of the NFC structure and playoff system can help you follow the action and root for your favorite squad. With so many passionate fanbases, exciting rivalries, and talented players, the NFC promisesthrills all season long.
Conclusion
And there you have it – a complete guide to get you up to speed on the National Football Conference and its 16 teams. As a new fan, the key is to watch some games, pick a team, learn their history and key players, and enjoy the hard hits and exciting plays. Don’t be overwhelmed by all the rules and details. Football is best enjoyed with friends over some wings and drinks. Now you’ve got the basics – so sit back and get ready to cheer on your new favorite NFC squad!