NFC News 'N' Notes Week Four

OLD HEAD · 09-27-07, 11:53 AM

NFC News 'N' Notes -- Week 4
2007, Week 4, 09/25/2007

DIVISION RIVALRIES SPARK WEEK 4
With only 16 games per team, every game is critical. But those six games on the schedule against your division seem to have even more significance.

“Division games are so important,” says Indianapolis head coach TONY DUNGY, who guided the Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI last season. “That’s where you’ve got to win if you’re going to win your division.”

These always-intriguing matchups take center stage this week as eight of 14 games feature divisional opponents. And while no single factor can predict playoff fortunes, recent history is clear: if a team hopes to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February, success within the division is key.

Since the current eight-division format was instituted in 2002, the 10 teams that have advanced to the Super Bowl have posted a combined divisional record of 47-13 for an impressive .783 winning percentage.

The Week 4 division slate:

Division
Visitor
Home

AFC East
New York Jets
Buffalo

AFC North
Baltimore
Cleveland

AFC West
Kansas City
San Diego

NFC East
Philadelphia
New York Giants

NFC North
Chicago
Detroit

NFC North
Green Bay
Minnesota

NFC South
Tampa Bay
Carolina

NFC West
Seattle
San Francisco

Among the most anticipated division matchups this week is the NFC East meeting between the Eagles and Giants on Sunday night. Philadelphia enters the game fresh off a 56-21 victory over Detroit, the most regular-season points scored by the Eagles since 1953 (56-17 over Chicago Cardinals), while the Giants used a late goal-line stand to defeat division- rival Washington.

“The NFC East is an important part of our schedule and you want to take care of business there,” says Eagles head coach ANDY REID. “It’s great competition in the division this year, so we’re looking forward to it.”

Since 2002, the Eagles have compiled a 21-10 (.667) record against the division, one of the best marks in the NFL. Philadelphia has won the NFC East four times in that span, tied with Indianapolis and New England for the most division titles in that time.

“Division games are big,” says head coach JON GRUDEN of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who take on NFC South-rival Carolina on Sunday. “You’ve got to take care of business not only in your division, but also in your conference because those are the tiebreakers. Those are the things that come down to making the playoffs at the end of the season.”

Following are the teams with the best division record and the clubs with the most division titles since divisional realignment was introduced in 2002:

TEAM
DIVISION RECORD
PCT.
TEAM
DIVISION TITLES

Indianapolis
25-7
.781
Indianapolis 4

New England
25-7
.781
New England 4

Pittsburgh
22-9
.710

Philadelphia 4
Philadelphia
21-10
.677

Green Bay 3
Green Bay
20-10
.667

Seattle 3

09-27-07, 11:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
OLD HEAD SCI Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: JOISY !! Posts: 1,554	NFC News 'N' Notes Week Four NFC News 'N' Notes -- Week 4 2007, Week 4, 09/25/2007 DIVISION RIVALRIES SPARK WEEK 4 With only 16 games per team, every game is critical. But those six games on the schedule against your division seem to have even more significance. “Division games are so important,” says Indianapolis head coach TONY DUNGY, who guided the Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI last season. “That’s where you’ve got to win if you’re going to win your division.” These always-intriguing matchups take center stage this week as eight of 14 games feature divisional opponents. And while no single factor can predict playoff fortunes, recent history is clear: if a team hopes to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February, success within the division is key. Since the current eight-division format was instituted in 2002, the 10 teams that have advanced to the Super Bowl have posted a combined divisional record of 47-13 for an impressive .783 winning percentage. The Week 4 division slate: Division Visitor Home AFC East New York Jets Buffalo AFC North Baltimore Cleveland AFC West Kansas City San Diego NFC East Philadelphia New York Giants NFC North Chicago Detroit NFC North Green Bay Minnesota NFC South Tampa Bay Carolina NFC West Seattle San Francisco Among the most anticipated division matchups this week is the NFC East meeting between the Eagles and Giants on Sunday night. Philadelphia enters the game fresh off a 56-21 victory over Detroit, the most regular-season points scored by the Eagles since 1953 (56-17 over Chicago Cardinals), while the Giants used a late goal-line stand to defeat division- rival Washington. “The NFC East is an important part of our schedule and you want to take care of business there,” says Eagles head coach ANDY REID. “It’s great competition in the division this year, so we’re looking forward to it.” Since 2002, the Eagles have compiled a 21-10 (.667) record against the division, one of the best marks in the NFL. Philadelphia has won the NFC East four times in that span, tied with Indianapolis and New England for the most division titles in that time. “Division games are big,” says head coach JON GRUDEN of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who take on NFC South-rival Carolina on Sunday. “You’ve got to take care of business not only in your division, but also in your conference because those are the tiebreakers. Those are the things that come down to making the playoffs at the end of the season.” Following are the teams with the best division record and the clubs with the most division titles since divisional realignment was introduced in 2002: TEAM DIVISION RECORD PCT. TEAM DIVISION TITLES Indianapolis 25-7 .781 Indianapolis 4 New England 25-7 .781 New England 4 Pittsburgh 22-9 .710 Philadelphia 4 Philadelphia 21-10 .677 Green Bay 3 Green Bay 20-10 .667 Seattle 3 __________________ SHOW NO EMOTION
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