If/When the San Diego Chargers & Oakland Raiders Move to Los Angeles, How Should the NFL Realign?
An interesting tidbit reemerged out of the CBS Sports article last Thursday about the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders potential joint-move to Los Angeles. According to Bleacher Report, the Raiders have apparently agreed to move to the NFC West if they are one of the two teams to move back to Los Angeles. The conference and division move would shift one of the AFC's original AFL teams.
Putting some pen to paper, if the Raiders do indeed move to the NFC West, I could see the St. Louis Rams moving to the AFC West to keep the AFC & NFC at 16 teams each. The potential move of the Rams to the AFC West also allows them, or the Chargers, to move to Los Angeles too and not disrupt the NFL's divisional landscape.
One other option the NFL would have for AFC realignment if the Chargers move to Los Angeles is to move the Houston Texans from the AFC South to the AFC West, joining the L.A. Chargers, Denver Broncos & Kansas City Chiefs. The Rams could then join the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South.
As a Texans fan, I wouldn't be in favor of a move to the AFC West because that would end the rivalries with the Colts and Titans and force more 3 o'clock start times on Sundays.
CBS Sports' Jason LaCanfora is convinced the Raiders are all-in for L.A. and it's between the Chargers and Rams for the second spot. If that holds true, the Summer of 2015 will become all about Los Angeles for NFL circles.