How Does A Strong Division Relate To A Team's Success? Just A Thought I Had...

[OnlyPantherFaninMaine]

The idea for this thread came to me late last night as I had just closed my laptop in bed after reading the Huddle for a little while and could not contain my excitement for the upcoming season. This may seem confusing, as it deals with the intellectual side of football to some extent and how divisional opponents impact the speed at which a team progresses and goes from a struggling team, to a playoff contender in just a couple seasons (i.e. Carolina Panthers)

I got to thinking: The NFCS has been strong for some time now. As of the late, the Saints** and Falcons have had their grip on our division. During this time, both our Panthers and the Bucs have been abysmal at one time or another during this span. However, do you think, in some way, that having a traditionally strong division relates in any way to the speed in which a franchise can turn it around? Now, there are certainly many factors that play into this (drafts, coaching injuries etc.), but I was just curious. Is it possible that when a division has two playoff/Super Bowl contenders year in and year out, that it somehow almost propels the weaker divisional opponents to catch up in a hurry? On paper, at least, the Bucs and our Panthers have without a doubt closed the gap on both of our other divisional rivals this past season and off-season. Playing stronger opponents twice a year may go a long way in giving a struggling team the experience needed and motivation to get their act together in a timely manner.

I realize this may near impossible to prove empirically or with any real causality, but it is just something to think about. I feel as though traditionally weaker divisions fail to get better overall as fast as divisions where there are 1 or 2 contenders year in and year out. There are several divisions that have four teams which can compete for a playoff or even a Super Bowl birth, while there have been others over the recent decade that the divisional champions go one and done.

Maybe it just has something to do with the endless cycle of good teams having to rebuild, while up and coming franchises exercise their hegemony on the league during that time. I'm not exactly sure.

What's your take?

[PhillyB]

I think there is a correlation, but it's probably explained by a natural lowering of record when facing two dominant teams in the same division that allows for higher draft picks. when those draft picks are used for franchise players, and when those poor records cause owners to hit reset buttons and start over staff-wise, you get that team on the rise. and then the other teams fall. atlanta, unless matty ice has a good year, is on its way to falling and burning it all down and starting over. the Saints* shot themselves in the ass and their fall has only just begun.

the only teams that seem to find any sort of immunity to this natural order of things are the ones with fifteen-year dynastical franchise quarterbacks that can sit atop a division for years because of their singular eliteness at the position.

which is awesome because we will likely be in that position for a while.

[Lumps]

I don't think a hard division means a faster turn around teams around the league look at the bigger picture, not just what it is going to take to win the division. Well, the good ones at least with the long run in mind. The only thing I think speeds things up is chemistry. Chemisty from coaching to players from the FO to coaching. When everyone gets along, understands their jobs and can rely on another person doing what their suppose to, things start to click. Things like preparation come down to everyone doing their job correctly, still personal responsibility. I also think you're jumping ahead a bit. We haven't caught up yet and until things change on the defensive side we are not even close.

We may or may not catch up next year, if not we are headed towards 5 years of playing catch up which I don't feel is very fast but I am a greedy panther fan who likes wins.

[Kurb]

A weak division helps a team far more than a strong division.

One of the major factors in the Pat's dominance has been their shitty division.

[cultclassiccat]

I certainly think it gives us thicker skin.

Nice post.

[bababoey]

You used big words like "empirically" and "causality". That hurt my brain. I think I am going to leave the huddle and never post here again because of that. (sarcasm in case you could not tell)

[Snake]

Weaker Div means weaker opponents both in and out of your div. Which translates to less injuries and easier wins.

Harder Div means harder opponents both in and out of your Div. Which translates to more injuries and harder wins.

None of this matters as long as you make the playoffs but getting to the Playoffs is a hell of a lot harder.

[panthers55]

As for getting into the playoffs it makes it much harder. Once you get in though playing in a tough division makes you tougher yourself.

[Argus Plexus]

Really I believe it all comes down to the Coaching staff. If they can make the right decisions early on, it makes things much easier later in the line. Rivera is doing all the right things thus far, here's to hoping our good luck continues.

[panthernation23]

its hard to say, divisions like afc north with the ravens and steelers definatly made those teams extreamly stronger due to competition, and u could even include the bengals in there as well. And overall in the past decade the ravens and steelers have done well vs the Pats in the playoffs.

However the division with the patriots is a super cake walk to a first round bye which does help immensly.

The NFC east is a powerhouse as well but the only team to accel from that division is the NY Giants, which beat the Pats twice in the superbowl.

Overall i believe teams that do come out of tuffer divisions will more likely be prepared to win the superbowl. Former superbowl winners generally have come from the powerhouse divisions of the nfl. Teams like the steelers, giants, and even the Saints** account for 5 superbowls in the last 6 years i believe. The only 2 teams that have won superbowls from horrific divisions in the past 10 years were Indy and the Pats.

[Catweisers]

This is a major factor in our toughness of schedule ratings and why we have one of the most brutal ones in the NFL year after year!

Go Panthers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[L-TownCat]

The thought that a weak division helps your cause is just a little more than pooty. These dogfights in the tougher divisions lead to players already having that killer instinct when they reach the playoffs. Playing a bunch of candyass teams like the NFC West ensures a good record if your team is slightly above average but as soon as you meet up with a strong team from a strong division the scales tip the other way and usually the weaker division team goes home at the end of the day. I would much rather watch my team go up against tougher competition than sub par opponents any day.

[Dex]

The thought that a weak division helps your cause is just a little more than pooty. These dogfights in the tougher divisions lead to players already having that killer instinct when they reach the playoffs. Playing a bunch of candyass teams like the NFC West ensures a good record if your team is slightly above average but as soon as you meet up with a strong team from a strong division the scales tip the other way and usually the weaker division team goes home at the end of the day. I would much rather watch my team go up against tougher competition than sub par opponents any day.

2008 Cardinals > 2008 Panthers

Even though I agree.

[Lumps]

You guys totally missed his question. The question is does a tougher, more competitive division help a newer team assemble faster and more efficientley because of the fact they are in a tougher division, not does a tougher division make your team stronger and tougher. The latter being highly debatable because of things like injuries and tons of examples that could support the argument either way.

The question regarded teams building, and the time it takes them to become successful, and the division's influence on said success or failure building a team in a 'timley manner'.

Good discussion either way, just thought I'd point that out.