Welcome to another edition of Benni's Breakdown.  This time we are going to address some of the gossip in regards to the which conference is better.  We are going to look at the offensive breakdown in the conferences, the defensive breakdown, and other applicable stats in regards to who truly qualifies as the "better conference".

NOTE:  Not all games might be in to completely conclude up to this point.  Stats are taken on what is currently available according to Madden.

Offense

NFC

Average Yards Gained: 3809 Yards Gained Per Team

Average Passing Yards: 2332 Passing Yards Per Team

Average Rushing Yards: 897 Rushing Yards Per Team

Average Points Per Game: 24.4 PPG 

Total Passing Touchdowns: 296 Passing TD 

Total Rushing Touchdowns: 169 Rushing TD

AFC

Average Yards Gained: 4359 Yards Gained Per Team

Average Passing Yards: 2355 Passing Yards Per Team

Average Rushing Yards: 1045 Rushing Yards Per Team

Average Points Per Game: 26.4 PPG 

Total Passing Touchdowns: 311 Passing TD

Total Rushing Touchdowns: 210 Rushing TD

Analysis:  In the offensive category breakdown, the only category that is too close to give it one way or another is the pass yards per team.  In every other aspect of the offensive game the AFC is clearly dominating the league and more specifically the NFC.  The AFC runs the ball more, they score more points, throw more touchdowns, and thoroughly dominate on ramming it in the endzone.  

Conclusion:  AFC gets the nod on the statistical side on the offensive end.

Defense

NFC

Average Points Allowed: 255 Points Allowed Per Team

Sacks: 268 Sacks

Fumbles Recovered: 62 Fumbles Recovered

Interceptions: 297 Interceptions

AFC

Average Points Allowed: 268 Points Allowed Per Team

Sacks: 251 Sacks

Fumbles Recovered: 54 Fumbles Recovered

Interceptions: 282 Interceptions

Analysis: In the defensive category breakdown, it becomes pretty clear that the NFC takes the lead in nearly every major aspect.  The distance between the two conferences isn't huge, but it is significant enough to clearly give the nod to the NFC on the defensive end.

Conclusion:  NFC Gets the nod on the statistical side on the defensive end.

Wins

The most important factor might come down to the simpliest, yet most complex statistic of all...

NFC: 80 Total Wins 
AFC: 76 Total Wins 

Final Conclusion:  The statistics are not perfect...  The stats do show that the league is pretty divided on terms of talent.  The total wins might be altered by teams that haven't had their bye weeks yet, or other factors which others could explore.  The Kittens may have won the super bowl last year on a heroic comeback, but the AFC is not taking another L this year to the losers on the other side of the spectrum.

Welcome to the first edition of Benni's Breakdown.  To begin I must say how much I enjoy being in the primer because its unlike any other league that I have been apart of.  While I do wish I could spend more time chatting, and being apart of the "family"; everything does have limitations.  Regardless of whatever limitations each person has, the conversations have been great and fun to be apart of.  Meeting different people and their unique personalities such as, Dookie being the most amazing sports player in the world, or to prime thinking Indiana actually has good pizza...  I've enjoyed all of it.

This edition I'm going to breakdown the top 10 in primer power rankings, and make it a point to point out Fins mistake of trading his ever amazing offensive lineman.

Power Rankings

1. New York Jets

• Jonesy is dubbed the best player to ever play Madden...  Is this even a question?  On a serious note, there is cause for alarm in what happened last season in regards to his late season slipped and collapse in the playoffs.  For such a solid player that was quite a surprise.  This season is another animal, Jonesy started out 9-0 at the time of this writing with notable wins against the Bengals, Titans, and 49ers.  With a stifling defense that ranks 3rd in the league, backed up by a top ten offense; Jonesy is a beast at his own level.  Brenton Stanley continues his mission against the world with a jaw dropping 19 touchdowns, and a stretch of 4 straight games with over 100 yards and 7 total touchdowns.  Eyes are on Jonesy to see if he can get over his collapse last year and continue the prolific run that he is on.

2. Carolina Panthers

• Defending champs baby!  Ostrich is a beast to be reckoned, and his historic comeback in the super bowl will go down as one of the best madden games watched in a long time.  He continues his tear this year with a 8-1 record, with a surprising loss to Finny.  Interestingly enough, Morris only had 37 yards in that game, so he clearly isn't a major factor.  The one knock I would put against the kittens is that they havent played a very difficult schedule, and have one of the easiest schedules to date.  Despite the fact that he hasn't played many good teams outside of Denver & LV, he has taken advantage of the schedule that has been put in front of him.  With a league leading defense, eyes are also on the kittens to see if they can march their way to another Simbardi.

3. Cinncinati Bengals

• The Bengals are a juggarnaut, and have been from the moment they came into the league.  Superbowl birth in his first season was very exciting to see, but is defintely overshadowed by the collapse to the Kittens.  Despite the difficult end to the last season, the Bengals have shined in nearly every aspect of the game.  With a very balanced offense, coupled by a stifling defense the Bengals prove to be a nightmare matchup.  Two strong wins against the Texans & the Ravens showcase the talent the team has, and continue to prove that the only thing stop this team from another Superbowl birth is the user behind the team.  Take for example the last 4 weeks, uncharacteristic interceptions have cost them a game, and have driven their efficency down.  Despite this, I believe that the Bengals will clean up the mistakes and continue to roll to the playoffs.

4. Houston Texans

• I hate playing this guy.  His idea of coverage is quite baffling, and recent photographs paint that picture quiet clearly.  All jokes aside the Texans are a matchup nightmare, with a extremely good user behind the team who makes very few mistakes on the offensive end.  Second best offense in the league lead by a balanced attack led by ZJ & DW.  Watson remains one of the few quarterbacks with under 10 interceptions, which in a Madden league that clearly has issues turning the ball over; this is quite impressive.  The record doesn't do this team justice, and I look to see them competing deep into the playoffs this season.
   

5. Tennessee Titans

• I will not toot my own horn, but I will say that the addition of a star lineman has been very noteworthy to the turnaround of the offense.  Morris seemed to slowed the offense down, and ever since he was traded the offense is the number 1 rated offense in the league.  TOOT!

6. Dallas Cowboys

• The cowboys are not a team that I have not watched very closely because of the conference difference.  I think they have taken advantage of their schedule and proven through 9 weeks that they aren't an easy win.  A balanced attacked has again proven to be the difference maker for them, aided by a defense that ranks in the top 10 in every category, the cowboys are in position for another playoff run.  Strong matchups in the coming weeks will show more clearly how strong this team is, and eyes are on them if they can continue their impressive start to the season.

7. Seattle Seahawks

• Seattle was on a tear, and then a sim loss put an end to the perfect season.  (Thanks Grams) Seattle has gone through some battles, and comes into week 9/10 boasting a top 5 offense and defense.  A strong defense with notable players such as J Adams, makes this team a tough matchup for anyone.  While they do have some strong matchups to battle against in their coming weeks, I see this team coming out 13-3 and clinching a playoff birth.  

8. Philadelphia Eagles

• Philly has one strong plus that only a few other teams can boast and that is a low turnover rate.  That is often the difference maker in ths game, and they have been rather successful is not giving the ball away.  Rowin has a very tough stretch ahead of him, and I think they he perhaps scheduled his upcoming vacation to coincide with his matchups versus the kittens, and bengals.  But I digress...  ;) I repeat one of the most important factors for this team moving forward is not throwing the ball to the other team.  It seems as if Carson Wentz finally realized which color to throw the ball to.

9. Baltimore Ravens

• Mike Mike Mike Mike Mike...  When he isn't tending to people at his night job, he's keeping us in line or throwing a million interceptions with LJ.  Mikey does come into this week with a strong offense with solid games against notable matchups.  I do hope that Mikey doesn't regress, and continues to showcase the explosive offense that he started the season with.  9 Interceptions in the last 3 games is not a good trend, but we will be giving the Ravens the benefit of the doubt and endorsing them in this edition of Benni's Breakdown.

10. Detroit Lions

• Jimmy was on a tear through his first 7 games battling through games and sneaking some wins out, and then two losses have been a little bit of a damper on the team and their fire.  The lions were a tight squeeze with a noteable mention going to the Los Angeles Rams for their strong start to the season.  I like the lions to win the NFC North, and the next several weeks will be critical with strong opponents coming to town.   

Thats all folks for this edition of Benni's breakdown, only took 6 miller lites, and 2 nasty stares from the wife for being this devoted to a blog.

- Benni