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Which division is the most difficult?

NFL." data-reactid="16">There have been terrible divisions in the NFL.

AFC South has been really bad for a few years. NFC West has been so bad a year that a Seattle Seahawks 7-9 team won it. The same goes for the NFC South and the Carolina Panthers 7-8-1 team that won it.

NFL season. That doesn’t mean all the divisions are equal. There are still divisions that are better than the rest, and that’s why we ranked all eight divisions from easiest to toughest." data-reactid="22">There’s no division that looks absolutely terrible on paper as this NFL season approaches. This does not mean that all divisions are equal. There are still some divisions that are better than the others, and that’s why we have ranked the eight divisions from easiest to hardest.

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Albert Corona)

Here’s a look at why each division ranks where it ranks:

8. NFC East

Football Team might be the worst in the NFL. We’ll see a lot of this division on television, because we always do, but it might not be good football." data-reactid="36">The run between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys should be good, but last year those teams were struggling to hit .500. The New York Giants have been bad for a while and no one knows if Joe Judge will be a good coach. Washington’s football team could be the worst in the NFL. We’ll see a lot of this division on TV, because we always do, but it might not be good football.

7. AFC East

If we knew more about the New England Patriots, maybe the AFC East would improve. If the Patriots have double-digit wins again, the race with them and the Buffalo Bills will be great. But the Patriots have lost a lot, the Miami Dolphins are improving but still have a long way to go, and the New York Jets are in a mess.

6. AFC South

Maybe this division should be higher. The Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans could all be playoff contenders. But there isn’t a single team with a huge advantage. We don’t know if Ryan Tannehill is for real for Tennessee, what Philip Rivers left to the Colts, or how DeAndre Hopkins’ trade will affect Houston. What we do know is the Jacksonville Jaguars should be terrible.

5. NFC North

This is probably the only division in which you can make a reasonable argument that one of the four teams can win it. The Green Bay Packers will fall 13-3, but should still be pretty good. The Minnesota Vikings have lost a lot, but still have a good core. The Chicago Bears were fantastic two seasons ago and could bounce back. And if Matthew Stafford stays healthy, the Detroit Lions could have a really good offense.

4. AFC West

You can’t put a division with defending champions and Patrick Mahomes too low. The Kansas City Chiefs have dominated this division for a while, but there may be hope for another team to make a run. The Denver Broncos finished well last season and had a good offseason. The Los Angeles Chargers are very talented; they just need proper quarterback play. The Las Vegas Raiders might not be close to competing for a division title, but they shouldn’t be a cinch either.

3. NFC West

If you meant to say this is the other division where all four teams have a realistic shot to win it, that’s fair. The San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks fought for NFC West until the dying seconds of the season, and will be good again. The Los Angeles Rams have lost a few key pieces but still have plenty of stars. And the Arizona Cardinals might come as a surprise if that connection between Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins finds early chemistry.

2. AFC North

This division is going to be fun. The Baltimore Ravens are loaded, led by MVP Lamar Jackson. The Pittsburgh Steelers will also be very good if Ben Roethlisberger is healthy. Just because the Cleveland Browns flopped last season doesn’t mean they don’t have a talented roster yet. Maybe a coaching change is all they need to make the leap. And the Cincinnati Bengals will be at least more interesting to watch with first pick Joe Burrow at quarterback. If all this ranking gives us is another great Steelers-Ravens race, it deserves this ranking.

Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens could be challenged by TJ Watt (90) and the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. (Justin K. Aller / Getty Images)

1. NFC South

Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Matt Ryan in the same division. Brees and Brady are all-time 1-2 in passing yards and Hall of Famer touchdowns and locks. Ryan is a former MVP and perhaps closer to a Hall of Fame resume than anyone has given him credit for. The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers both feel like Super Bowl contenders, and the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers each have intriguing offensive talent.

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