Since the 2000 season, four teams have held near complete dominance over the AFC. New England, Pittsburgh, Baltimore & Indianapolis. The four have now combined to represent the AFC in 13/15 Super Bowls in that time. (87%) They have combined to appear in 22/30 slots in the AFC Title Game. (73%) They have combined to appear in 34/60 slots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. (57%) And they have combined to take 44/90 AFC playoff slots overall. (49%) Its really time for someone else to get a turn! 7/16 AFC teams have not appeared in the conference title game this century. Six teams have combined for three divisional playoff games between them. Tennessee and Oakland have combined for six divisional games, but only one since 2003.
Unless our team and the other AFC teams can fix their dysfunctional management and leadership, it won't happen any time soon.
A few other tid bits. In the same time period, 9/16 AFC teams have appeared in the Championship game. By contrast, 13/16 teams in the NFC have. Six AFC teams have gone 20 years or more since their last appearance (or never been - Houston). Only two NFC teams have gone that long. In the past decade, 7/16 AFC teams have been in the game. 11/16 NFC teams have gone in the same period. 14/16 NFC teams have been to the Super Bowl since 1991. Only 9/16 teams in the AFC have gone in that span. Only one NFC team (Detroit) has never been to the Super Bowl. Three AFC teams never have (Cleveland, Houston, Jacksonville) and two others (Jets & Chiefs) last went before the merger, as members of the AFL. Of all teams to have ever won an AFC Championship game (since 1970), no one has gone longer without an appearance than Miami.
Its is. The NFC has been a thing of beauty the last 20 years or so. Teams constantly in flux makes it better for fans everywhere.
