Move over, AFC powerhouses; now it's time for NFC to reign

In the bipartisan world of the NFL, another power shift is underway. The AFC's decade-long NFL dominance is about to be undercut by a deeper and more-talented NFC.

This is not to suggest the Patriots are retreating or the Steel Curtain is falling. But beyond the dynamic duo is a new group of superheroes waiting to claim NFL supremacy and most are wearing an "N" on their chests.

The NFC is deeper, and we don't mean that in any Deepak Chopra kind of way.

We present as evidence.. .

• Last season's final statistics.

The top four passers in the NFL in 2008 all are NFC guys this season: the Saints' Drew Brees, the Cardinals' Kurt Warner, the Packers' Aaron Rodgers and the Bears' Jay Cutler, who came from the AFC's Broncos in the offseason.

The top four rushers in the NFL in 2008? All NFC guys: Minnesota's Adrian Peterson, Atlanta's Michael Turner, Carolina's DeAngelo Williams and Washington's Clinton Portis.

The NFC also was tops in team offense, passing and rushing.

• The support of Las Vegas.

Say what you will about oddsmakers, but they do their homework. Almost every sports book has New England and Pittsburgh as the first and second choices, respectively, to win the Super Bowl.

After that, five of seven teams are from the NFC: Philadelphia, New York Giants, Minnesota, Dallas and Chicago. Only the AFC's Chargers and Colts squeezed inside that group.

• The agreement of analysts.

ESPN's current power rankings, for example, have four AFC teams in the bottom six. The West Division is well represented by Denver, Kansas City and Oakland. And don't forget about Cleveland — did the Browns really hire the Raiders' defensive coordinator?

That's one reason the scales are tipping in the NFC's favor. The cream of the slop in the NFL is definitely on the AFC side.

No offense, gentlemen.

Meanwhile, some of the NFC's perpetual cellar-dwellers — hello, Cardinals — have done an about-face.

There never is an easy answer as to why the power shifts when it does in the NFL.

Part of it simply is the swing of the league's talent pendulum. Years of head-scratching drafts will catch up with a team.

But it also is about those rare organizations that can build dynasties.

Beginning in 1985, the NFC won 13 consecutive Super Bowls. The power shifted in 1998 and the AFC has won nine of the past 12, including five of the past six.

Much of that had to do with a few teams who put together strong runs. During the NFC's surge. San Francisco and Dallas combined to win seven of the 13 Super Bowls.

During the AFC's run, it has been the Patriots who captured three Super Bowls and the Steelers and Broncos who won two each.

Offseason moves appear to be helping the NFC's case this year. Brett Favre jumped from the AFC's Jets to the NFC's Vikings. Cutler went from the Broncos to the Bears.

Injuries also can play a role. The Patriots know what losing a player the caliber of quarterback Tom Brady can do.

The Patriots and the AFC still have plenty of muscle. But in terms of depth, this is the NFC's year.