I decided to do a little research in response to the trolls who still say that the AFCE is a weak division (thread)
@ThatDaveBrown @Ironhead334 @reisner_steven @BBCInMemoriam @Granite603 @floydianship

I reviewed the last 20 Super Bowl winners, and for each, I looked at the combined W-L records of their division rivals, EXCLUDING games vs. the eventual SB champion.
Surprise, surprise: The AFCE had 3 of the TOP 6 records since 2000.

The AFCE's records in 2001 and 2014 were a bit lower, but essentially they are in a 5-way tie for 10th place with 3 other divisions.

Oh, by the way, notice that Drew Brees' Saints and Rodgers' Packers are part of that 5-way tie. Did they play in crap divisions?

And yeah, it's true, the 2018 AFCE was bad, but then again, that was the year that Miami, a 7-9 team, beat NE in wk 14, knocking the Pats from the 1 seed. But no matter--our 41-yo QB went into the loudest stadium in the NFL and led THREE late go-ahead TD drives to win the AFCCG.

Next game, he had another 4th qtr, go-ahead TD drive to win the Super Bowl.

I just keep wondering: If the Patriots have such a soft schedule, why is it that they keep beating all these elite teams in the playoffs?

And speaking of Kansas City, it seems they came from a pretty weak division themselves in 2019. Any of you guys have complaints about that, or does this criticism only apply to the Patriots? /endrant

PS Peyton Manning was in the AFCE in 2001, and the division had a better record WITHOUT him in 4 of the 6 Patriot Super Bowl years.