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So the NFL has reached its mid-season. Nine of the eighteen weeks are complete, and each team has played at least 8 games, and some 9, and 8 1/2 games is halfway through the season. This is our analysis of the first quarter of the NFL season, with each team's surprise of the year. The parenthetical at the end of season rankings was that team's position in the quarter-season review.
AFC EAST
New England Patriots (7-2) This team was 5-0 during the second quarter of the season (and has won 6 games in a row to push to the top of the division. Although I fully expect the Bills to end up here at the end of the year, New England is a strong contender for the playoffs, The big surprise is that this team is 8th in scoring without a significant contribution from Trayveon Henderson, who, although the team's leading rusher with 283 yards, has only 13 more rushing yards than Drake Maye.
Buffalo Bills (6-2) A two-game losing streak - to New England and Atlanta - going into their bye dismantled what looked like an AFC juggernaut. Their biggest surprise is that this team is middle-of-the-pack in passing offense (14th).
Miami Dolphins (2-7) The Dolphins are 2-7 and sit in third place. The biggest surprise is that they are not in last.
New York Jets (1-7)
Awful. The biggest surprise is that they have not started trading veterans (Breece Hall, Quinnen Williams, Quincy Williams) yet.
AFC NORTH
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)
Mike Tomlin must be that good of a coach (that we knew), but this is his best job yet. That is because the surprise is that the Steelers are in first place while being ranked 30th in offense and defense.
Baltimore Ravens (3-5)
Is this the scariest 3-5 team in NFL history? injuries hurt, but the biggest surprise is how poor this defense is (27th overall).
Cincinnati Bengals (3-6)
The Joe Burrow injury is devastating. Surprise is that Joe Flacco is making this team exciting.
Cleveland Browns (2-6)
Among the worst teams in the league, even with the second-best defense in the NFL. That should have accounted for 1 or 2 more wins.
AFC SOUTH
Indianapolis Colts (7-2)
They have played exceptionally well this year. And are just a couple of Daniel Jones turnovers away from being 8-1. Jonathan Taylor's success isn't a surprise, so his candidacy for MVP is understandable, but Daniel Jones being a top candidate? Wow.
Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3)
A 2-2 quarter has flattened out the Jaguars curve, but Jacksonville is currently in playoff position if the season ended today. The biggest surprise? A virtually non-existent Brian Thomas, Jr. who has 30 receptions, only 5 more than Parker Washington.
Houston Texans (3-5)
Still one of the most disappointing teams in the whole league. Biggest surprise - Woody Marks. Not that he is surprising with his play, but the surprise is that the Texans have had to resort to Woody Marks.
Tennessee Titans (1-8)
Well, the are no longer winless! The surprise is Chimere Dike, who is developing into a solid wide receiver, and is already one of the best kick returners in the NFL. He has almost 350 more yards in kickoff returns than the next highest returner, and has the highest per return average as a punt returner.
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos (7-2)
The Broncos went 5-0 in the second quarter, and are solidifying themselves as a Super Bowl candidate. The surprise, they are doing this with only the 14th-best total offense in the NFL. If this offense actually gets on track, watch out.
Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)
Oh what could've been with Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. The surprise is that they are the second-rated offense without those two bookends!
Kansas City Chiefs (5-4)
The surprise is that they are third in their division!!!
Las Vegas Raiders (2-6)
No surprise that they are bad, the surprise is that they are only giving the ball to Ashton Jeanty 15 times a game.
NFC EAST
Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)
At the quarter mark, I noted the statistical fallacy of the Eagles being 4-0; and they went 2-2 the last quarter. The biggest surprise? That the Tush Push was ruled forward progress stopped instead of a fumble against the Giants.
Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1)
This defense is really bad, which limits the ceiling on this team, yet they still are buyers at the deadline acquiring Logan Wilson from Cincinnati. Surprise!!!
Washington Commanders (3-6)
A little regression from last year was to be expected, but not this much! The surprise is the second injury to Jayden Daniels!!! Perhaps let the running backs run?!
New York Giants (2-7)
Not a good team, but not as bad as their record. The surprise is the excitement for Jaxon Dart and Cam Skattebo!!! (Who am I kidding, we knew the over-exaggerated excitement for Skattebo was coming!).
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NFC NORTH
Green Bay Packers (5-2-1)
Went 3-1 the last quarter, but they haven't looked particularly sharp. A surprise loss to the Panthers could be the difference between a division title and traveling on wildcard weekend.
Detroit Lions (5-3)
This team can look dominating, or disappointing. I still think they are the class of the division. Too much firepower.
Chicago Bears (5-3)
Could the Bears be making a run for the playoffs? The surprise is that despite a lot of negative press coming from Bears fans, his numbers are virtually identical to those of Baker Mayfield, who some people have as an outside-MVP candidate.
Minnesota Vikings (4-4)
Their defeat of the Detroit Lions brings this division much closer from top-to-bottom. The biggest surprise is even the Vikings don't know which JJ McCarthy will show up from quarter-to-quarter: the one that plays essentially like a first-year starter, or the one that comes-from-behind in the fourth quarter.
NFC SOUTH
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2)
Tampa Bay is playing very consistently, and is 3-1 in each of the first two quarters. The big surprise is that Richaad White is the leading rusher, despite not having a rusher with over 300 yards on the season.
Carolina Panthers (5-4)
The surprise is that Carolina is 5-4!!!
Atlanta Falcons (3-5)
The inverse of the Carolina Panthers, the surprise is that Atlanta is only 3-5even with the number 3 ranked defense!
New Orleans Saints (1-8)
The surprise is that Alvin Kamara is still on the Saints.
NFC WEST
Seattle Seahawks (6-2)
Playing very well. This organization knows how to find QBs tossed away by other franchises (first Geno Smith, now Sam Darnold). Jaxson Smith-Njigba leads the entire NFL in receiving yards. Surprising that it looks smart to have traded DK Metcalf!
Los Angeles Rams (6-2)
Might actually be the best team in the division. Surprising that Matt Stafford is an MVP front-runner!
San Francisco 49ers (6-3)
In playoff contention despite running through wide receivers like the Kardashians ... run through wide receivers!
Arizona Cardinals (3-5)
Surprised they haven't pulled the plug on the Kyler Murray Experiment yet.
POWER RANKINGS
1. Indianapolis Colts (7-2) (8)
2. Denver Broncos (7-2) (14)
3. New England Patriots (7-2) (16)
4. Buffalo Bills (6-2) (1)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2) (5)
6. Seattle Seahawks (6-2) (9)
7. Los Angeles Rams (6-2) (7)
8. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) (2)
9. Green Bay Packers (5-2-1) (12)
10. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3) (3)
11. San Francisco 49ers (6-3) (6)
12. Detroit Lions (5-3) (4)
13. Chicago Bears (5-3) (18)
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3) (10)
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) (11)
16. Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) (13)
17. Carolina Panthers (5-4) (29)
18. Minnesota Vikings (4-4) (17)
19. Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1) (22)
20. Baltimore Ravens (3-5) (23)
21. Atlanta Falcons (3-5) (19)
22. Houston Texans (3-5) (24)
23. Arizona Cardinals (3-5) (20)
24. Washington Commanders (3-6) (15)
25. Cincinnati Bengals (3-6) (21)
26. Cleveland Browns (2-6) (28)
27. Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) (25)
28. New York Giants (2-7) (26)
29. Miami Dolphins (2-7) (27)
30. New Orleans Saints (1-8) (31)
31. New York Jets (1-8) (30)
32. Tennessee Titans (1-8) (32)
Biggest Movers: New England Patriots +13, Denver Broncos +12, Carolina Panthers, +12, Washington Commanders -9, Detroit Lions -8, Los Angeles Chargers -7
QUARTER SEASON AWARDS
Offensive MVP - Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Defensive MVP - Byron Young, Los Angeles Rams
Offensive Rookie of the Year - Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
Defensive Rookie of the Year - Jihaad Campbell, Philadelphia Eagles
Coach of the Year - Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts
Most Improved - Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
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