What is the Difference Between NFC and AFC?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC) are two conferences within the National Football League (NFL) in the United States. They were created in 1970 as part of the merger between the NFL and the American Football League (AFL). The key differences between the NFC and AFC are:
- History: The AFL began in 1960 with eight teams and added two more expansion clubs later, while the NFL had been in existence since 1920. The merger in 1970 resulted in the formation of the AFC and NFC, with all ten AFL teams and three NFL teams forming the AFC, and the remaining thirteen NFL teams forming the NFC.
- Teams: Each conference has 16 teams, divided into four divisions (North, South, East, West). The teams in each conference compete against each other during the regular season, and the top six teams from each conference (division leaders and two wild card teams) play each other in the playoffs.
- Super Bowl: The AFC champion plays the NFC champion in the Super Bowl. Since the merger in 1970, AFC teams have won 27 Super Bowls, while NFC teams have won 24.
Overall, the primary difference between the NFC and AFC is their historical background and the teams that make up each conference. Both conferences have a similar structure and compete against each other in the NFL playoffs.
Comparative Table: NFC vs AFC
The table below highlights the differences between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC) in the NFL:
Feature | NFC | AFC |
---|---|---|
Teams | 16 teams in 4 divisions: NFC East, NFC West, NFC North, and NFC South | 16 teams in 4 divisions: AFC East, AFC West, AFC North, and AFC South |
Formation | Formed in 1971 | Formed in 1970 |
Origins | Includes former NFL teams | Includes former AFL teams |
Playing Style | Aggressive defense-heavy playing style | More focused on offense |
Super Bowl | Champions of each conference compete for the NFL championship | Champions of each conference compete for the NFL championship |
Regional Rivalries | NFC teams often have regional rivalries with AFC teams in the same market/region | AFC teams often have regional rivalries with NFC teams in the same market/region |
Both conferences, NFC and AFC, were formed as a result of the merger between the American Football League (AFL) and the NFL in 1970. Each conference has 16 teams divided into four divisions. The champions of the two conferences compete against each other in the Super Bowl for the NFL championship.
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