Is it possible to realign the divisions?

[RaiderKtulu]

Quote: Originally Posted by Redskins_Hokies

History and rivals. After the recent division change when Arizona was moved over to the West everything is perfect. So you move Miami into the South and then lose the NY Jets vs Phins rivalry. St. Louis is in the West because they used to be in LA and then moved. KC is again in the West because of........RIVALRIES! Baltimore - same thing.

So how does one decide which rivalries should be maintained and which shouldn't? Is the Cowboys/Redskins rivalry *really* more important than the Seahawks/Broncos was? Would it really take that long for Giants fans to start hating the Panthers instead of the Cowboys? Do 49ers fans currently not despise the Cardinals as much as they used to hate the Falcons?

Rivalries are not that hard to form. Basing divisions around history isn't a bad thing... but why use geographic names then?

[stlpimpmonsta]

Quote: Originally Posted by mjhyankees

It's better than it was but having Dallas in the East? Miami in the East instead of the South? Indy in the South instead of the North? Baltimore in the North Instead of the east? Stl Louis and Kc in the west instead of more central? They do the best they can, I'm not knocking that but MLB has far more accurate divisions geographically. KC and Pitt are more central USA as is STL.

STL is between KC and pitt.How are they more central when STL is inbetween both?

[Spanky]

Quote: Originally Posted by RaiderKtulu

Is the Cowboys/Redskins rivalry *really* more important than the Seahawks/Broncos was? Would it really take that long for Giants fans to start hating the Panthers instead of the Cowboys?

You must not know much about football if you have to ask these questions.

[Redskins_Hokies]

Quote: Originally Posted by RaiderKtulu

So how does one decide which rivalries should be maintained and which shouldn't? Is the Cowboys/Redskins rivalry *really* more important than the Seahawks/Broncos was? Would it really take that long for Giants fans to start hating the Panthers instead of the Cowboys? Do 49ers fans currently not despise the Cardinals as much as they used to hate the Falcons? Rivalries are not that hard to form. Basing divisions around history isn't a bad thing... but why use geographic names then?

Well let me put the Cowboys vs Redskins rivalry into perspective for you. Skins vs Cowboys 101 shall we:

Sports Illustrated has called it the top NFL rivalry of all time and "one of the greatest in sports."^[3] During the tenure of this rivalry, the two franchises have won 27 combined division titles and eight combined Super Bowls.^[4] They are the two wealthiest franchises in the NFL.^[5] The rivalry started in 1960 when the Cowboys joined the league as an expansion team.^[6] During that year they were in separate conferences, but played once during the season. In 1961, Dallas was placed in the same division as the Redskins, and from that point on, they have played each other twice during every regular season.

Texas oil tycoon Clint Murchison, Jr. was having a hard time bringing an NFL team to Dallas, Texas. He tried buying two teams, but the negotiations fell through. In 1958, Murchison heard that George Preston Marshall, owner of the Washington Redskins, was eager to sell the team. Just as the sale was about to be finalized, Marshall called for a change in terms. Murchison was outraged and canceled the whole deal.^[7]
Around this time, Marshall had a falling out with the Redskin band director, Barnee Breeskin. Breeskin had written the music to the Redskins fight song, now a staple at the stadium; additionally, Marshall's wife penned the lyrics to the song.^[7] Breeskin wanted revenge after the failed negotiations with Marshall. He approached Tom Webb, Murchison’s lawyer, and sold the rights for $2,500.^[7]
Murchison then decided to create his own team, with the support of NFL expansion committee chairman, George Halas. Halas decided to put the proposition of a Dallas franchise before the NFL owners, which needed to have unanimous approval in order to pass. The only owner against the proposal was George Preston Marshall. However, Marshall found out that Murchison owned the rights to Washington's fight song, so a deal was finally struck. If Marshall showed his approval of the Dallas franchise, Murchison would return the song. The Cowboys were then founded and began playing in 1960.^[7]




Redskins vs Cowboys in the postseason has Washington leading 2-0


Rivalry status 100 meetings


All-time series Dallas Cowboys lead 60-38-2


Week 2 of the 2005 season, the Redskins were at Dallas in a game where Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, and Michael Irvin were inducted into the Cowboys' "Ring of Honor" with a pre-game and halftime ceremony. Throughout a poorly played game, Dallas kept the Redskins out of the endzone, and led 13–0 with less than four minutes to go. It was at that point that the Redskins, led by quarterback Mark Brunell, took the lead thanks to two long touchdown passes to Santana Moss to win the game.


In Week 9 of the 2006 season, during the fourth quarter, the game was tied 19–19 (Due in part to a missed two point conversion by the Cowboys). With 31 seconds to go, the Redskins' recently acquired kicker, Nick Novak, missed a 49-yard field goal. The Cowboys then worked their way up the field to set up Mike Vanderjagt, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, for a 35-yard field goal with only seconds remaining. However, the kick was blocked by Troy Vincent, a safety who had been picked up by the Redskins off waivers earlier that week. The ball was scooped up by the Redskins' free safety, Sean Taylor, who recovered the blocked kick and ran it back to the Cowboys' 44-yard line, where the Cowboys' offensive lineman Kyle Kosier grabbed him by his facemask in an attempt to tackle him. The game would have gone into overtime had it not been for Kosier's defensive penalty, which added fifteen yards to the end of the return (by rule an NFL game cannot end on a defensive penalty). Novak set up for a 47-yard field goal with no time left on the clock. Despite missing the first one wide right, Novak was able to make the field goal to give the Redskins a thrilling victory with no time on the clock.


On September 28, 2008, the Redskins beat the Cowboys 26–24 in the final Redskins/Cowboys game at Texas Stadium.


On December 19, 2005, Dallas Mavericks guard Darrell Armstrong was fined $1,000 for grabbing a microphone before a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the American Airlines Center and yelling "How 'bout those Redskins!" Only a few hours prior, the Cowboys had been routed by the Redskins 35-7, in the most lopsided loss of Bill Parcells coaching career. Armstrong was raised in North Carolina as a Redskins fan.


The playoffs in 1972 pitted Washington against the Green Bay Packers. The final score was Washington 16, Green Bay 3. The victory sent the Redskins to the NFC Championship Game against the Cowboys who entered the playoffs as a wild-card entry. The Cowboys, who had been runner-up to the Redskins in the regular season defeated the NFC West champions, the San Francisco 49ers, 30-28.
The game was played in Washington. Staubach was back for the Cowboys, and Dallas fans were thrilled to have him. But Billy Kilmer for the Redskins was the better quarterback that day. After a field goal got the scoring started, Kilmer connected with Charley Taylor on a 15-yard touchdown pass and Washington had a 10-3 lead at halftime. In the fourth quarter, Kilmer again went to Taylor, this time for a 45-yard touchdown. Knight added three more field goals that period and the Over-the-Hill Gang defense allowed only a second-quarter field goal. The final score was Washington 26, Dallas 3.


On November 28, 1974, the Redskins were 8-3 and ready to secure a playoff berth with a win against the Cowboys (6-5) in a nationally televised game in Dallas. With less than ten minutes to go in the third quarter, Washington was leading 16-3, when Redskins linebacker Dave Robinson knocked Roger Staubach out of the game. Rookie Clint Longley led the Cowboys to a last-minute come-from-behind victory, throwing a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson with 28 seconds left. The final score was Cowboys 24, Redskins 23.
The Redskins were stunned. "I don't have very much to say," coach George Allen said when it was over. "It was probably the toughest loss we ever had."

In December of 1988 at RFK stadium, The Cowboys spoiled the playoff hopes for the reigning Super Bowl champion Redskins, 24-17. The upset was led in part to the three touchdown scoring performance of rookie and eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver, Michael Irvin. This game would prove to be the final win for legendary Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry.

an. 22, 1983, NFC Championship Game at RFK Stadium, the Redskins defeated the Cowboys to earn a trip to Super Bowl XVII. Prior to the game the stadium physically shook as a capacity crowd of 54,000 chants "We Want Dallas!" The game is best remembered for the sack by Dexter Manley that sent Cowboys' quarterback Danny White into the locker room shortly before halftime and defensive tackle Daryl Grant's interception of a Gary Hogeboom pass tipped by Manley to score the decisive points. John Riggins rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries and the Redskins went on to defeat Miami for their first Super Bowl championship.





Now HONESTLY say that the Cowboys vs Redskins ARE NOT more important than Broncos and Seahawks or any other rivalry for that matter

[RememberMe12]

Quote: Originally Posted by Redskins_Hokies

Well let me put the Cowboys vs Redskins rivalry into perspective for you. Skins vs Cowboys 101 shall we: Sports Illustrated has called it the top NFL rivalry of all time and "one of the greatest in sports."[3] During the tenure of this rivalry, the two franchises have won 27 combined division titles and eight combined Super Bowls.[4] They are the two wealthiest franchises in the NFL.[5] The rivalry started in 1960 when the Cowboys joined the league as an expansion team.[6] During that year they were in separate conferences, but played once during the season. In 1961, Dallas was placed in the same division as the Redskins, and from that point on, they have played each other twice during every regular season. Texas oil tycoon Clint Murchison, Jr. was having a hard time bringing an NFL team to Dallas, Texas. He tried buying two teams, but the negotiations fell through. In 1958, Murchison heard that George Preston Marshall, owner of the Washington Redskins, was eager to sell the team. Just as the sale was about to be finalized, Marshall called for a change in terms. Murchison was outraged and canceled the whole deal.[7] Around this time, Marshall had a falling out with the Redskin band director, Barnee Breeskin. Breeskin had written the music to the Redskins fight song, now a staple at the stadium; additionally, Marshall's wife penned the lyrics to the song.[7] Breeskin wanted revenge after the failed negotiations with Marshall. He approached Tom Webb, Murchison’s lawyer, and sold the rights for $2,500.[7] Murchison then decided to create his own team, with the support of NFL expansion committee chairman, George Halas. Halas decided to put the proposition of a Dallas franchise before the NFL owners, which needed to have unanimous approval in order to pass. The only owner against the proposal was George Preston Marshall. However, Marshall found out that Murchison owned the rights to Washington's fight song, so a deal was finally struck. If Marshall showed his approval of the Dallas franchise, Murchison would return the song. The Cowboys were then founded and began playing in 1960.[7] Redskins vs Cowboys in the postseason has Washington leading 2-0 Rivalry status 100 meetings All-time series Dallas Cowboys lead 60-38-2 Week 2 of the 2005 season, the Redskins were at Dallas in a game where Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, and Michael Irvin were inducted into the Cowboys' "Ring of Honor" with a pre-game and halftime ceremony. Throughout a poorly played game, Dallas kept the Redskins out of the endzone, and led 13–0 with less than four minutes to go. It was at that point that the Redskins, led by quarterback Mark Brunell, took the lead thanks to two long touchdown passes to Santana Moss to win the game. In Week 9 of the 2006 season, during the fourth quarter, the game was tied 19–19 (Due in part to a missed two point conversion by the Cowboys). With 31 seconds to go, the Redskins' recently acquired kicker, Nick Novak, missed a 49-yard field goal. The Cowboys then worked their way up the field to set up Mike Vanderjagt, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, for a 35-yard field goal with only seconds remaining. However, the kick was blocked by Troy Vincent, a safety who had been picked up by the Redskins off waivers earlier that week. The ball was scooped up by the Redskins' free safety, Sean Taylor, who recovered the blocked kick and ran it back to the Cowboys' 44-yard line, where the Cowboys' offensive lineman Kyle Kosier grabbed him by his facemask in an attempt to tackle him. The game would have gone into overtime had it not been for Kosier's defensive penalty, which added fifteen yards to the end of the return (by rule an NFL game cannot end on a defensive penalty). Novak set up for a 47-yard field goal with no time left on the clock. Despite missing the first one wide right, Novak was able to make the field goal to give the Redskins a thrilling victory with no time on the clock. On September 28, 2008, the Redskins beat the Cowboys 26–24 in the final Redskins/Cowboys game at Texas Stadium. On December 19, 2005, Dallas Mavericks guard Darrell Armstrong was fined $1,000 for grabbing a microphone before a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the American Airlines Center and yelling "How 'bout those Redskins!" Only a few hours prior, the Cowboys had been routed by the Redskins 35-7, in the most lopsided loss of Bill Parcells coaching career. Armstrong was raised in North Carolina as a Redskins fan. The playoffs in 1972 pitted Washington against the Green Bay Packers. The final score was Washington 16, Green Bay 3. The victory sent the Redskins to the NFC Championship Game against the Cowboys who entered the playoffs as a wild-card entry. The Cowboys, who had been runner-up to the Redskins in the regular season defeated the NFC West champions, the San Francisco 49ers, 30-28. The game was played in Washington. Staubach was back for the Cowboys, and Dallas fans were thrilled to have him. But Billy Kilmer for the Redskins was the better quarterback that day. After a field goal got the scoring started, Kilmer connected with Charley Taylor on a 15-yard touchdown pass and Washington had a 10-3 lead at halftime. In the fourth quarter, Kilmer again went to Taylor, this time for a 45-yard touchdown. Knight added three more field goals that period and the Over-the-Hill Gang defense allowed only a second-quarter field goal. The final score was Washington 26, Dallas 3. On November 28, 1974, the Redskins were 8-3 and ready to secure a playoff berth with a win against the Cowboys (6-5) in a nationally televised game in Dallas. With less than ten minutes to go in the third quarter, Washington was leading 16-3, when Redskins linebacker Dave Robinson knocked Roger Staubach out of the game. Rookie Clint Longley led the Cowboys to a last-minute come-from-behind victory, throwing a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson with 28 seconds left. The final score was Cowboys 24, Redskins 23. The Redskins were stunned. "I don't have very much to say," coach George Allen said when it was over. "It was probably the toughest loss we ever had." In December of 1988 at RFK stadium, The Cowboys spoiled the playoff hopes for the reigning Super Bowl champion Redskins, 24-17. The upset was led in part to the three touchdown scoring performance of rookie and eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver, Michael Irvin. This game would prove to be the final win for legendary Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry. an. 22, 1983, NFC Championship Game at RFK Stadium, the Redskins defeated the Cowboys to earn a trip to Super Bowl XVII. Prior to the game the stadium physically shook as a capacity crowd of 54,000 chants "We Want Dallas!" The game is best remembered for the sack by Dexter Manley that sent Cowboys' quarterback Danny White into the locker room shortly before halftime and defensive tackle Daryl Grant's interception of a Gary Hogeboom pass tipped by Manley to score the decisive points. John Riggins rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries and the Redskins went on to defeat Miami for their first Super Bowl championship. Now HONESTLY say that the Cowboys vs Redskins ARE NOT more important than Broncos and Seahawks or any other rivalry for that matter

It is important, but that rivalry can't even touch the Packers and Bears.

[Redskins_Hokies]

Quote: Originally Posted by RememberMe12

It is important, but that rivalry can't even touch the Packers and Bears.

I'd say they are almost on the same level

[DJG]

As far as the topic goes I wouldn't want to be able to change up the divisions. Its cool as it is. Those great games with the Cowboys/Redskins, Dolphins/Jets, even Colts/Texans have lately gave us some real good ones. And I'd say its been a long time since a Packers/Bears game has meant less than a Boy's/'Skins game as far as overall relevence in the NFL. This is comin from a Redskins fan.