Which NFL Division Has the Best Teams?

Have you ever wondered which NFL division is the best? If so, we’ve done the work for you. Here’s a look at each division and where it stacks up compared to the others.

AFC East:

Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets

Even when Belichick and Brady were leading the Patriots to glory in the 2000s, the AFC East wasn’t the best division in football. In fact, the other three teams struggled mightily during that period, which often helped the Patriots pick up six wins a year, as teams play all their division foes twice. Today, the Patriots are in a full-blown rebuild with a first-year head coach and started a rookie QB in week six. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have struggled mightily since Tua Tagovailoa went down with another concussion.

The Buffalo Bills are the best team in the division, a fact that they proved when they beat the New York Jets in their week-six Monday Night Football matchup. The Jets have underachieved and currently sit at 2-4. Even if the AFC East isn’t the worst NFL division, it’s far from the best.

AFC West:

Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers,

It’s easy to look at a division with the Chiefs and assume that it’s the strongest NFL division, but that’s not the case at all. The Denver Broncos have been in a rebuild since Peyton Manning retired, and while the Chargers have a great QB in Justin Herbert, the team largely dismantled the offense in the offseason. New head coach, Jim Harbaugh, will likely get the Chargers back on their feet, but they’re not there yet.

The Las Vegas Raiders have questions at virtually every position and just traded their best offensive player when they sent Davante Adams to the Jets. Even if you consider the Chargers a middle-of-the-pack team, the AFC West cannot be considered the best division in football.

AFC South:

Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans

The AFC South has some of the best young quarterbacks in football. However, their presence hasn’t translated to wins. The Houston Texans are the class of the division, thanks in large part to CJ Stroud, the second-year signal-caller who led the team to the playoffs last season. The Colts’ roster looks good on paper, but Anthony Richardson, the QB who they selected last year, has struggled with injuries.

The biggest question mark in this division is the Jaguars, who have Trevor Lawrence, a strong supporting cast, and a recent playoff appearance under their belt. However, the Jags are only 1-5 on the season, and coach Doug Pederson is firmly on the hot seat. Combined with the woes of the Tennessee Titans, the AFC South has the potential to be the best division in the NFL, but it’s just not there yet.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers

For years, the AFC North has been known as the strongest division in the NFL. The teams all have deep-seated rivalries and have played some of the most historic games in NFL history. Last season, the AFC North sent three teams to the playoffs, a testament to just how good the division is.

The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers have looked great so far in 2024, and the Cincinnati Bengals, who have struggled so far, are still a threat every week. While the Browns have taken a step back this season, their defense is still strong enough for this division to be considered among the best in the NFL.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders

If someone said that the Commanders would be leading the NFC East seven weeks into the season, most people would have scoffed. But with rookie QB, Jayden Daniels putting up historic numbers, the team looks great. The Philadelphia Eagles have taken a small step back, but they're a proven commodity in a league where those are few and far between.

The Giants are once again bringing up the rear, which puts the attention on the Dallas Cowboys who go into every season with a load of expectations. They haven’t met them so far in 2024, but they’re a contender every week. However, the uncertainty around the Cowboys is enough to keep this from being the best NFL division.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams

A couple of years back, the NFC West was considered one of the best divisions in football. However, age and injuries have pulled the Rams back down to Earth, and the Seahawks, who may have overachieved last year, look much beatable now after starting this season 3-0. The Arizona Cardinals have some great young pieces but need time to gel, which means the San Francisco 49ers are the only real Super Bowl contender in the division. There’s a case to be made for the NFC West being the worst NFL division.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Carolina Panthers are the worst team in the league, but that doesn’t mean that the entire division is terrible. The Atlanta Falcons are 3-2, and have a franchise QB on the roster again in Kirk Cousins. The Bucs, led by Baker Mayfield, have looked impressive in most games, but have struggled to consistently win over the last couple of seasons.

That leaves the Saints who can’t seem to get over the hump after signing Derek Carr at QB. To make matters worse, Carr is injured, and the team is now starting rookie Spencer Rattler. With a head coach on the hot seat, things look bleak in New Orleans, and the NFC South is arguably the worst overall division in the league.

NFC North

Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings

This may be the strongest NFL division right now. The Vikings, who were expected to struggle, are undefeated thus far in 2024. Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions seem to have picked up right where they left off and are poised to make the postseason again in 2024. The Green Bay Packers, who missed last year’s playoffs by one game, went 2-0 with a backup QB, and have looked great in their four victories.

The biggest surprise is the Chicago Bears, who are also 4-2 this season. In fact, no team in the North has fewer than four wins, making this the best division in football ahead of week seven.