There’s an ongoing shift that tips the balance of power in the NFL.
When the Pro Bowl comes, and the elite players suit up, the NFC might not defeat the AFC.
The 2022 offseason featured a massive player movement favoring the American Football Conference.
It’s like in the NBA when the Western Conference was clearly the stacked competition.
The NFL is having its version of that transition, as ESPN’s Field Yates pointed out.
The NFC-to-AFC pipeline this offseason now includes: Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan, Davante Adams, Chandler Jones, Khalil Mack, Von Miller, Stephon Gilmore, Terron Armstead, Amari Cooper, Robert Woods, Marcus Williams, Brandon Scherff, La'el Collins, Randy Gregory… and more.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 15, 2022
Yates listed the athletes that made the NFC-to-AFC move, and he ran out of Twitter characters to mention the top players.
Russell Wilson and Randy Gregory joined the Denver Broncos, while Chandler Jones and Davante Adams signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Matt Ryan and Stephon Gilmore are now with the Indianapolis Colts.
Khalil Mack is with the Los Angeles Chargers, while Von Miller joined the Buffalo Bills on a six-year, $120 million deal.
Amari Cooper teamed up with Deshaun Watson with the Cleveland Browns, while Marcus Williams will play for the Baltimore Ravens.
Offensive linemen Brandon Scherff, La’el Collins, and Terron Armstead will now line up for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, and Miami Dolphins, respectively.
The AFC Becomes The Wild West
With several players shifting to the AFC, the competition for playoff spots gets tougher.
Therefore, their representative for the Super Bowl might be at a disadvantage for all the beating they took in the earlier rounds.
The AFC playoff picture will also become a massive unknown because more than seven teams are capable of clinching a postseason berth.
Meanwhile, the NFC presents an easier path to the Super Bowl, and a handful of teams are shoo-ins.
It would be shocking if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams, and the Green Bay Packers don’t make it.
Come Super Bowl time, NFC teams might be fresher and are dealing with fewer injuries.
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