The NFL is experiencing a shift in superiority from the AFC to the NFC. Not only has the NFC won four of the last five Super Bowls, but now the NFC has also established at least four locks into the playoffs whereas the AFC has only two teams above .500 in their record. In the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens are at 5-1, two games ahead of the 3-3 Cincinnati Bengals and the 2-3 Pittsburgh Steelers (that’s right the Steelers are 2-3). The Houston Texans are 5-1 and they are three games ahead of the Indianapolis Colts and are showing no signs of slowing down, except for the dud they had against the desperate Green Bay Packers.

So we know that Baltimore and Houston are looking like sure contenders in the playoff picture that begins to take shape in November. But look at the AFC East. Since 2001, with the exception of 2002 and 2008, the New England Patriots have won that division every year. But so far this season, every team in that division is 3-3. In the AFC West, the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers are tied for the division, but the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs are characteristically slow-starting teams and could make a play later on in the season.

This is still early in the season though. Most teams are still figuring each other out including within their own divisions. But the NFC is looking to be the most competitive conference with teams such as the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants each having to look within their division and see a threat. There are two teams that are 2-3, Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions, which could easily make a push later this season being only two games behind in their division, and Dallas has already beat New York once. If there is one message that will come out of this season, it is that each game counts and that from one week to the next you can’t tell how the season will go.

Here is the sports news from around West Texas A & M University:
• Lady Volleyball Gets Swept by Matt Watkins: http://bit.ly/SYHLrI
• Matt Watkins also covered this weekend’s Homecoming Football game against Abilene Christian University: http://bit.ly/T9falv
• Lady Buffs Soccer Sweeps Weekend by Tyler Anderson: http://bit.ly/SYHLrI
• The hot topic from last week was the booing of Matt Cassel in front of his home audience in Kansas City, Keltin Wiens has his take on the controversy: http://bit.ly/R3cYtk

Disclaimer: The opinions and views in blogs do not necessarily reflect the views of The Prairie editorial board.