We're around half way through the season so here is a quick recap.
Pittsburgh is the only unbeaten team (though they were pretty close to a loss against the disappointing Cowboys yesterday) and the Jets still winless and clear favourites to get Trevor Lawrence in the draft next year. Looking at their schedule I could easily see them being a 0-16 team. Jaguars (1-7) the only other team with chances for a 1st overall pick if NYY let that happen as other teams have at least 2 wins already and I just don't see the Jets winning more than once if at all.
Anyway, back to relevant teams.
Following
Pittsburgh (8-0) in the AFC are
Kansas City (8-1; their only lose came against Las Vegas),
Buffalo (7-2; they have just blown out my Seahawks yesterday),
Tennessee and
Baltimore (both 6-2), followed by four teams with a 5-3 record (
Las Vegas, Miami, Cleveland and Indianapolis). Unless a team like the Broncos (3-5) will suddenly start to click and more of the 5-wins team will drop off I think we'll get 7 playoff teams among those 9 teams.
Surprise:
- Miami are in the playoff hunt with 4 consecutive wins (Tua Tagovailoa has started the last two games after their bye week). They've lost against Seattle but have beaten all three other NFC West teams so big props to them from my side.
Disappointments:
- LA Chargers (2-6) - Justin Herbert is doing well in his rookie season but they just find ways to lose close games.
- Houston (2-6) - They've fired Bill O'Brien following an 0-4 start but the damage was already done. They've won both games against the Jags but they should already start to prepare for the next season. What's even worse for them is whatever high draft pick they'll get it will go to Miami (the Laremy Tunsil trade). Feel sorry for Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt (I think he'll want to be traded to a contender in offseason).
Special mention:
- New England (2-6) - Cam Newton is clearly not Tom Brady. They're also suffering from some key players optioning out of the season and not having enough depth. They're probably in for a rebuild and will be interesting to see what Belichick will do.
In the NFC Tampa Bay with Brady looked like the best team until SNF last night when they were blown out by New Orleans who have now won both games against
Tampa (6-3) which basically give them a 1,5 win advantage in the division standings.
New Orleans (6-2) is currently #1 seed in the NFC although both
Seattle and
Green Bay have the same record. I think GB should win the North relatively easy.
Chicago (5-4) have started the season 5-1 (with some crazy comebacks) but have lost the last three games with their offense struggling after Nick Foles has taken over for Trubisky.
OTOH NFC West is still wide open as
LA Rams and Arizona (both 5-3) are just a win behind Seattle and we play them both in next two weeks when we'll probably get more answers (or things will get even more complicated). San Fran (4-5) are the most injured team in the league (with Jimmy G, Kittle, Bosa,... all on the IR) and probably don't have chances to sneak into the playoffs but could still prevent a divisional rival to do so.
Surprise:
- Arizona - don't know if they really count as a surprise team but there is no other team I'd point out so far. I expected them to be quite good but they were still projected to be the 4th best team in the toughest division in the football but they've beaten both SF and SEA. OTOH they've also had some losses they probably shouldn't like against Carolina and Detroit.
Disappointments:
- Minnesota (3-5) - after a 1-5 start they've won the last two, especially important their win vs Green Bay a week ago. They've had some close losses but were also blown out by Atlanta which shouldn't happen to a supposed playoff contender. Dalvin Cook had some injury problems but when healthy he was on fire and as long as he stays healthy with their elatively easy remaining schedule (besides road games against Tampa and New Orleans) maybe the Vikings can still somehow sneak in the playoffs.
- NFC (L)East. Philadelphia are leading the division with a 3-4-1 record. They are the best and most healthy team on paper and should win eventhough Wentz is turning the ball over way too much. But just a fact that 2-7 Dallas (without Prescott) and NY Giants (with Barkley being out for a whole season) teams still have good chances to get into the playoffs really tells all that needs to be said about the state of the division this season.
But playing behind that OL it was only a question of time before something bad would happen...
