NFL Midseason Shockers

Passing the midway point of the NFL season, it’s safe to say that NFL fans are in for a postseason no one could have predicted.

The journey begins at the National Football Conference (NFC), starting in the north. The NFC North, a conference historically run by the Green Bay Packers, seems to be in a Sunday limbo as back-to-back reigning MVP Aaron “Percocet” Rodgers and the Packers (4-7) are nowhere to be found. The “no receivers allegations” seem to have finally caught up with the Packers, as their refusal to draft or sign wide receivers has limited their once dynamic offense. Their second-round rookie, Christian Watson, is shaping out to be promising, with five touchdowns over the last two weeks. However, the Packers’ main hope for keeping their slim playoff chances alive is their backfield, consisting of the perfect agile and power dynamic between running backs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.

However, the Packers aren’t the only surprise in this conference, as the Minnesota Vikings (8-2), have seemed to finally figure it out under first-year head coach Kevin O’Connell, following many seasons of narrowly missing the playoffs. With Kirk Cousins finally getting his recognition as an elite quarterback and Justin Jefferson establishing himself as the number one receiver in the league, this skilled Vikings offense is quite formidable. Still, as the Vikings seem likely to run away with the NFC North following the addition of Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson from a trade with the Detroit Lions (4-6), the Chicago Bears (3-8) cannot be ignored. Though currently last in the division, all but one of their losses have been one-possession (eight points or less) games. With their first-round quarterback Justin Fields finally finding his rhythm in his second year, Bears fans should be excited about next season.

Let’s move on to the true trenches of the NFL, the NFC South. Led by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5), this division is really up for grabs, with all other teams being within three games of clinching the South. However, post-divorce Tom Brady and new head coach Todd Bowles have found their rhythm, overcoming their early season struggles of getting into the endzone. Brady, now 45 and in his 22nd season in the NFL, has not slowed down his offensive production, ranking top two in passing yards (2,805), and coming off consecutive wins heading into the Buccaneers bye week. While the Atlanta Falcons (5-6), New Orleans Saints (4-7), and Carolina Panthers (3-8) still have a shot, it is slim, as Brady, wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, and the once-Super Bowl-winning, heroic Bucs defense have finally gotten their act together. The Atlanta run game, handled by new quarterback Marcus Mariota, may foster some hope for a Wild Card position. However, the injuries to star wide receiver Michael Thomas and quarterback Jameis Winston of the Saints, alongside the quarterback carousel/offensive dysfunction/coach frenzy/struggling defense that is the Carolina Panthers, drag the NFC South down to the gutters of the NFL.

The NFC East is a whole other story. Once the NFC “Least,” with no team above a 0.500 record a mere two years ago, the East has shown up this year. In particular, the New York Giants (7-3) have finally been able to properly utilize a healthy Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley behind new head coach Brian Daboll and a mean Blue Defense. While the Giants are having their first good season since their 2015 Wild Card appearance’s notorious “Boat Pic,” it could not have come at a worse time, as they currently trail the Philadelphia Eagles (9-1) and Dallas Cowboys (7-3), with the Washington Commanders (6-5) right behind. Each of these teams possesses a formidable defense within the league, but ultimately, the division’s sudden success can be attributed to one position.

Despite what has been said about these teams’ quarterbacks in the past, their jump is what has granted their teams such success. The most expected of these jumps was in Philly through Jalen Hurts, especially after the acquisition of Titans star wide receiver A.J. Brown. The Eagles have been on a revenge tour since getting blown out by the Bucs in last year’s NFC Wild Card game, and they are favorites to reach their franchise’s fourth Super Bowl. The Cowboys’ Dak Prescott has been stellar following an injury earlier in the season, but everyone has been taken by surprise by the heroics of backup quarterback Cooper Rush, going 4-1 as a starter during Prescott’s recovery (only losing to the Eagles) and keeping playoff hopes alive for Cowboys fans. While quarterback Taylor Heinicke (Commanders) has turned it up following starter Carson Wentz’s injury, leading the Commanders to a winning record while handing Philly its only loss of the season, the true hero of this season is Daniel Jones. Facing a contract year and a reputation that had many questioning whether he was worth the 2019 sixth overall pick or even a starting job in the NFL, he has quickly silenced the haters, exposing his desire to win and his potential as a dual threat quarterback.

The final surprises of the NFC come in the East, as the Seattle Seahawks (6-4) lead the division despite trading away their Hall of Fame quarterback Russell Wilson earlier this offseason. No one could have predicted the emergence of Geno Smith, a career backup quarterback who is currently having a season worthy of the Comeback Player of the Year award, unifying the Seahawks and hoping to bring back their playoff glory. While the Seahawks and their solid rookie class of several Defensive/Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates are doing all they can to clinch the division, the San Francisco 49ers (5-4) are catching up. With the Week Two injury of second-year quarterback and 2021 third overall pick Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo has found his way back into the starting lineup and gone back to his winning ways. Recently acquiring Christian McCaffrey before the trade deadline to add to their versatile offense and with their young defense as strong as ever, the 49ers are dark horse candidates for not only the division, but also the Super Bowl. While these teams have hopes for a bright season, the same can’t be said of the Los Angeles Rams (3-7), who have fallen victim to Super Bowl hangover, or the Arizona Cardinals (4-6), who just can’t figure out their offense behind an awful coaching staff led by head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

The Atlantic Football Conference (AFC) has been far tamer this season, meeting expectations for the most part. To begin with, in the South, head coach Mike Vrabel and the Tennessee Titans (7-3) are en route to clinch the division with ease, despite the Indianapolis Colts’ (4-6-1) owner Jim Irsay’s midseason decision to fire head coach Frank Reich and hire Colts Hall of Famer center Jeff Saturday (1-1) in a desperate effort to turn the season around. The West is similar, with the Kansas City Chiefs (9-2) and Patrick Mahomes dominating as expected, and the Los Angeles Chargers (5-5), whose defense was hyped up this offseason with the acquisition of All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack and cornerback J.C. Jackson. The only surprise in this division is the Denver Broncos (3-7) and newly acquired quarterback Wilson, who rode themselves to their couches for this January.

The AFC East is more exciting, because similar to the NFC East, all teams have a winning record. The Buffalo Bills (7-3), under X-factor quarterback Josh Allen, are early Super Bowl favorites, second in the division. The Miami Dolphins (7-3) currently lead the division, thanks to new head coach Mike McDaniel’s innovative offensive mind and third-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s leap to stud status with the help of All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill. At the bottom are the New York Jets (6-4) and New England Patriots (6-4), who, despite poor offensive play, find ways to keep winning games with their standout defenses.

Last but certainly not least, is the dogpound of the NFL: the AFC North. Currently topped by the Baltimore Ravens (7-3), this division has evolved into a bout between the Cincinnati Bengals (6-4) and the Ravens, as each team looks to make a run at the playoffs. While both teams lost their best pass-catchers for some time this season (Baltimore tight end Mark Andrews, Cincinnati receiver Ja’Marr Chase), they have been able to keep winning as their run games step it up. At the bottom of the division are the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-7) and the Cleveland Browns (3-7). The Browns have waited desperately for their controversial Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson to return from suspension after signing him for a record deal this offseason, but even his Week 13 return will not be enough to save this team’s playoff hopes. The Steelers, however, have given up on their playoff dreams as they invest in a young trio of offensive rookies: Kenny Pickett, George Pickens, and Najee Harris. Though their offense has been abysmal this season, head coach Mike Tomlin refuses to turn to his offseason signee quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and is fully committed to have Pickett use this season as a learning experience. While this season may seem dim for the Steelers, they have a bright future to look forward to.