One third of the way through the NFL season we should have some clarity about where teams stand. Here's my stab at sorting things out.
The tankThe tank
These are the miserable sad sacks who have nothing to play for, other than getting their young guys some reps. Their eyes are already on the draft.
- Saints
- Titans
- Jets
Young and funYoung and fun
These teams have promising developing players. There are no expectations for this season so their fans can enjoy whatever happens.
- Giants
- Falcons
- Bears
- Panthers
- Patriots
Seasons from HellSeasons from Hell
These teams have some talent and could have been competitive, but something or other went horribly wrong and their fans just have to suffer.
- Ravens
- Bengals
- Raiders
- Cardinals
- Dolphins
- Browns
Rough startsRough starts
These teams seem to be getting back on track after rocky beginnings.
- Chiefs
- Texans
- Commies
Hot startsHot starts
No one expected much from these teams but that hasn't stopped them from racking up w's.
- Colts
- Jags
- Steelers
Fringe contendersFringe contenders
These teams seem to be pretty good but maybe not quite legit contenders.
- Seahawks
- 49ers
- Vikings
- Broncos
Legit contendersLegit contenders
These are the teams that look the most like plausible Super Bowl winners
- Eagles
- Bills
- Chargers
- Bucs
- Rams
- Lions
- Packers
For entertainment purposes onlyFor entertainment purposes only
Fittingly, there was only one team that didn't fit any of these categories.
- Cowboys
Pretty good.
I think the Chiefs are a legit contender. Rough start but Mahomes is playing really well and they are getting Rice back. Also D looks sharper the past couple weeks. I can't count them out. Not sure about the Chargers. I would put them on the fringe.
I had the Chargers on the fringe at first, but then it seemed hard to have the Bills an entire category above them and someone from the AFC has to be a contender.
I agree about the Chiefs, but they haven't really looked like obvious contenders so far.
AFC has definitely been knocked down a peg with the Chiefs slow and Ravens and Bengals disastrous starts.
not sure about the Bills and Chargers
Bills have benefited from 4 home games to start the season
Who looks the most like a contender from the AFC, then?
The Colts, I guess.
good point
Colts have been playing with house money, they should have lost to the Broncos, should have beaten the Rams, fortunate to beat Cardinals
Dump the Bills!
We'll see how things look at our second trimester checkup.
Chargers are fringe because of injuries and their OL
Someone from the AFC has to be a contender and the Chargers are more complete than Buffalo.
I think the issue this year is that no one is all that good.
That's fair
Good list
Thanks
I’d put Patriots in fringe contenders
The way I was thinking about it, any of the hot or rough start teams could also be contenders.
I wanted to highlight that we were expecting something different from them and maybe aren't convinced yet by their records.