NFC Least

A plagued Division diminishes the entire DelFL

The platonic rivalries of the early season now turn hazardously inwards with the opening of Division play. Old wounds will be reopened. Clocks could tick on. Brother will fight brother. Father against son. Uncle versus nephew. Dawg versus Fish. Bird versus Dawg. And in the Bench Press Factor Division? Crickets.

The 2020 season, even with all of its abnormalities, showed the similitudes of years past.

Once again, the so-called ‘SEC’ of the DelFL won the Inter-Division Championship with an 8 game over .500 record (2 more than the Family Division). Once again, the so-called ‘3rd Division’ was crushed, finishing last for the 6th time in 7 years. Let’s repeat that. The Bench Press Factors have finished last every year since 2014 except once.

The disparity is alarming. As the NFC East farcifies the competitiveness of the NFL, the Bench Press Factor Division has done the same for the DelFL. While not openly calling for realignment, that struggling Division must strive for something greater than the incompetency it has settled for. The fact that this Division has crowned 4 of the last 9 Champions isn’t a rebuttal, but instead, an indictment of the lack of depth each and every year. The hegemon (the baton has passed on from the Dawgs to Sqwid and now to the White Wolf) walks into the Playoffs unscathed, while his competition feebly crawls in from the attrition of an actual Divisional schedule.

The DelFL deserves better.

Here is a quick look at the Inter-Division results from 2009-2020, when the DelFL switched to a 3 division format:

2020 Inter-Division Standings

Pig & Sushi: 26-22 You’re So Fat: 28-20 Bench Press Factor: 18-30

Total Inter-Division Standings (since 2009)

Pig & Sushi: 264-282 You’re So Fat: 304-242 Bench Press Factor: 251-295

Inter-Division Championships (since 2009)

Pig & Sushi: 3 (2014, 2015, 2017) You’re So Fat: 5 (2009, 2010, 2016, 2019, 2020) Bench Press Factor: 3 (2012, 2013, 2018)

Most Inter-Division Wins in a season 34 (You’re So Fat, 2009)

Now that division play begins in week 9, let the internecine bloodbath begin.