(May
22, 2001) — The NFL will have a new alignment for
the 2002 season, as announced by Commissioner Paul
Tagliabue at the owners' meetings.
Highlighting
the changes:
Seattle
Seahawks' switch from the AFC West to the NFC West,
Arizona Cardinals' move from the NFC East to the NFC
West,
Creation
of two new groupings — the NFC and AFC South
divisions. For the 'Hawks, it's a homecoming of sorts
— they were a part of the NFC in their inaugural
season of 1976.
In
addition, the old Central divisions stayed together
for the most part under a new name, the North.
The other
primary beleuf of the plan is in terms of crafting the
schedule. Under the plan, every team will meet every
other team at least once every four years. Gone will
be situations like the one between the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers and the Seahawks, who went 16 seasons
without meeting after their 1977 clash.
NFC
EAST: Dallas, New York Giants, Philadelphia,
Washington
NFC
SOUTH: Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay
NFC
NORTH: Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota
NFC
WEST: Arizona, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle
AFC
EAST: Buffalo, Miami, New England, New York Jets
AFC
SOUTH: Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville,
Tennessee
AFC
NORTH: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland,
Pittsburgh
AFC WEST:
Denver, Kansas City,
Oakland, San Diego
