The main difference between the AFC and NFC is that they’re two separate conferences within the NFL. They used to be different leagues entirely, but now they both exist in the NFL. Each season, the best team from the AFC plays the best team from the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Read on to discover what makes these two conferences different from each other.
Table of Contents
AFC vs NFC – Key Differences
| AFC | vs | NFC |
| American Football Conference | Name | National Football Conference |
| 27 titles | Super Bowls |
28 titles |
| New England Patriots | Valuable Asset | Dallas Cowboys |
| Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets | East Division |
Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and Philadelphia Eagles |
| Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Baltimore Ravens | North Division | Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings |
| Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, and Indianapolis Colts | South Division | Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, and San Diego Chargers | West Division | Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks |
| Lamar Hunt Trophy | Divisional Award | George Halas Trophy |
Differences Between AFC and NFC
Name
Before becoming one of the two National Football League (NFL) conferences in 1970, the American Football Conference (AFC) was known as the American Football League (AFL).
There are now four teams in each AFC division. This means there are 16 teams split among four divisions in each conference.
When the NFL and AFL merged in 1970, the NFC (National Football Conference) changed its name to National Football League.
Similar to the AFC, the NFC has 16 teams split into four divisions. Each division has four teams.
Championships
The NFC has already won 28 Super Bowl titles, while for the AFC, it’s 27. Both the AFC and NFC have specific rules governing their respective championships for each season.
A team competes against another team in a match-up in each division. Each season, the match-up will take place twice. The top six clubs from the NFC and AFC will then get a chance to compete against one another in the playoffs.
Eventually, there will be a top team from the AFC and a top team from the NFC. These two teams will compete for the Super Bowl title.
Most Valuable Team
The New England Patriots are the most valued team in the AFC, and the Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable in the NFC.
The Patriots are well-known for having a value of $1.8 billion and for having won 10 championships so far.
The Cowboys are a popular team, and they’re the highest valued team in the NFL as well as the NFC at $2.3 billion. The Cowboys have won eight championships.
East Divisions
AFC East Teams
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
NFC East Teams
- Washington Commanders
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles
North Divisions
AFC North Teams
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
NFC North Teams
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
South Divisions
AFC South Teams
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tennessee Titans
NFC South Teams
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
West Divisions
AFC West Teams
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Las Vegas Raiders
NFC West Teams
- Arizona Cardinals
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
- San Francisco 49ers
The Award
The AFC champion earns the Lamar Hunt Trophy, which was initially designed by the American Football League’s creator. The NFC champion earns the George Halas Trophy.
George S. Halas, the NFC’s first creator, had significantly contributed to the league. This served as the inspiration for the naming of the trophy.
Which Conference Will You Support?
Football is a sport that attracts over a billion fans worldwide. They watch their favorite team compete in the NFL, which is the highest level of play. Find a team to cheer on in either of these conferences!
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