Road to the Super Bowl?

I was thinking about how the Chiefs' best year this decade was 2003, and that like this year, their out of conference games were against the NFC North. I was wondering if that might have helped their 03 season. Here's a look at who the Super Bowl teams have been lined up against, going back only til 2002 when the divisions were realigned.


2006
Colts faced NFC East
Bears faced AFC East

2005
Steelers faced NFC South
Seahawks faced AFC South

2004
Patriots faced NFC West
Eagles faced AFC North

2003
Patriots faced NFC East
Panthers faced AFC South

2002
Raiders faced NFC West
Bucs faced AFC North

Results
AFC South 2
AFC North 2
NFC West 2
NFC East 2
AFC East 1
NFC South 1
AFC West 0
NFC North 0

Trends
Well, no division has consistently paved the way as a doormat to the Super Bowl. The AFC West and NFC North are the only divisions to not have a Conference winner go through their schedule.

Predictions
Ironically, this trend would not bode well for any teams in the AFC West or NFC North, since these divisions are playing against each other this year. Bad news for the Chargers or Packers.

If you were looking for a scheduling edge between the Pats and Colts, the Pats are facing the NFC East (2) while the Colts play the NFC South (1).

As always, Hoagie Central takes you deeper.