Mythbusting: Patriots benefit from a weak division?

[mgteich]

I am discussing what we have discussed for years. Consider 4 teams: NE, PITT, DEN and INDY. As NE would you want to trade positions with PITT? with DEN? or with INDY? I would rather play the 6 division games against our division than those of the other divisions.

Hard to say how the Pats would have fared in a different division as you'd need to know who they replaced. Replacing the Steelers vs the Browns would be a huge difference. I do think the AFCE has helped but do not think its been significant.