L
lapsed_pacifist
Guest
In the modern 32-team NFL, each division plays all teams in one conference division, and all teams in one opposing conference division. There are 16 games in each division vs division series. Has any division ever swept another division 16-0, or what is the most lopsided that the matchup has ever been?
My guess would be that a 16-0 sweep by a division would be even more unlikely than an undefeated regular season record by a single team, which has only happened once in the 32-team league and only twice ever, simply because there is generally more variation in quality within divisions than among a team's performance week to week in a season. I would also guess that 15-1 or 14-2 would be less likely than the corresponding single-team season records.
The current matchup between the NFC East and the NFC West is the most unbalanced in recent memory, though. I could see an NFC East team in 4th place with 9 or 10 wins and the NFC West winner making it in with 7 or 8, since NFC East also plays AFC North (worst in the AFC, just one contender) and NFC West also plays AFC East (currently best AFC record, all except Pats improved). Still, I'd like to hear if anyone has the records on whether there were any even more lopsided in the past.
My guess would be that a 16-0 sweep by a division would be even more unlikely than an undefeated regular season record by a single team, which has only happened once in the 32-team league and only twice ever, simply because there is generally more variation in quality within divisions than among a team's performance week to week in a season. I would also guess that 15-1 or 14-2 would be less likely than the corresponding single-team season records.
The current matchup between the NFC East and the NFC West is the most unbalanced in recent memory, though. I could see an NFC East team in 4th place with 9 or 10 wins and the NFC West winner making it in with 7 or 8, since NFC East also plays AFC North (worst in the AFC, just one contender) and NFC West also plays AFC East (currently best AFC record, all except Pats improved). Still, I'd like to hear if anyone has the records on whether there were any even more lopsided in the past.