We are eight weeks into the NFL season, and there’s still no clear favorite to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy in early February. Every year, there are usually a few dominant teams or clear frontrunners to win it all, however, this year that doesn’t hold true.
This is due to several factors, including injuries to key players. Viewers have already seen a long list of signal callers going down this year, including Joe Burrow, Jayden Daniels and Brock Purdy. Due to this, teams have been struggling and underperforming, including the Chiefs’ mediocre 4-3 start and the Raven’s 2-5 record. This leaves the door open for questions, especially in the AFC. The NFC teams are performing similarly to where analysts projected as the 49ers and Rams are tied for a division lead in the NFC West, and the Lions and Packers are neck and neck in the NFC North.
Even though the NFC teams are playing to form, there is still no true number one contender for this year’s Super Bowl. Many could argue that the Lions could be in the picture, however they have looked like a shell of their former selves. Similarly, the 6-2 Eagles don’t have the same magic that they had last year. San Francisco is also in a unique position. If or when Brock Purdy is healthy enough to come back, will Kyle Shanahan stick with Mac Jones, the quarterback? Jones has been playing good football and seems to have revitalized his career in the Bay. Tampa Bay, led by Baker Mayfield, also is having a career year. However, with limited postseason success in the past and lingering injuries, it will have a question mark behind their name until proven otherwise. It is truly anyone’s game in the NFC and even more in the AFC as truly anything could happen.
In the AFC, some of the most unlikely teams are at the top as the Colts, Broncos and Patriots currently hold the three best records in the conference. All three of these teams would not have been expected to be at the top as Denver was the most successful last year going 10-7. Indianapolis was second going 8-9, and the Patriots were in the bottom five of the league as they were only able to tally four wins. Something flipped so far for all three of these teams as certain pieces and cultural changes have shaped their records so far. For Denver they are now under another year of Sean Payton at the helm who has molded Bo Nix to take an elusive year two jump and become Denver’s franchise QB. New England has had a lot of turnovers in the past year, with the most notable change being their culture. Mike Vrabel has come in and lit a fire under the Patriots as he handles Drake Maye at QB, who is now tied for fourth in MVP odds. Maye throws to new addition Stefon Diggs who has been everything as advertised. Finally, the Colts, who have been mediocre since the Peyton Manning days, made a controversial call at QB as they went with Daniel Jones over Anthony Richardson to start the season. Jones’ tenure with the Giants was ridden by mistakes and losing, however it has been the opposite so far in the Indy as he looks like a changed player that just needed a fresh start. He and Jonathan Taylor, along with receiving targets Micheal Pittman Jr and Tyler Warren, have been great for coach Shane Stitchen as they look to get their franchise back in headlines and make a big push come playoff time.
There are also teams like the 5-2 Bills and the Chiefs that despite their record, should be in the talk to win the AFC this year, especially because of whom they have manning their offenses in Josh Allen and Mahomes. This year’s NFL season could be one of the most fascinating in recent memory and for good reason as there are a new bunch of teams that are coming into the mix along with others who have vanished from the spotlight.