If the season continues the way it seems, and say the next one does, and the Jets are in need of another reset with a new head coach - please don't go with the great motivational defensive tactician again. I hate seeing Robert Saleh go there and fail, and so far Aaron Glenn doing so as well. That said, this season has been the opposite to those Saleh ones - the offense has been generally good (when Fields has played) but the defense has been awful.
31.) Las Vegas Raiders = 1-4 (83-139)
Hey - maybe combining a coach whose best asset (his defense) went out of style nearly a decade ago, an offensive coordinator who showed limited ability to adapt to the NFL, and a QB who apart from two seasons has been generally erratic, wasn't going to equal success? I will say, as much as that was snark, Geno being this bad has definitely been surprising. Something has to change. Also, their general shittiness is a great defense for Brady to use on how his analyst role is not helping the team.
30.) Tennessee Titans = 1-4 (73-141)
The Titans did win a game, sure, but also needed a combination of a the old fumble at the one yard line on a walk-in touchdown and an even more insane play with the interception turned fumble touchdown, and a few other Cardinals mistakes to win that game. For a good 50 minutes, they were having another fairly embarrassing performance. Nice they got a win, but at this level I don't think they'll have many more.
29.) Cleveland Browns = 1-4 (73-123)
Weird inversion of most of their other games this year. The Dillon Gabriel offense was markedly better than the Flacco one was. They have way more actual flow than Flacco just heaving up prayers in between Judkins runs. Then the defense has arguably its worst game of the season, letting a Carson Wentz offense seem comfortable, and blowing a late lead. In the end, I don't know which things are sustainable, or just a weird "Europe" induced fog.
28.) Cincinnati Bengals = 2-3 (85-156)
Will be interesting if the second half offense that looked somewhat competent was jsut a factor of it basically being garbage time, or a real sign that Browning found some rhythm. The worst part though is the interceptions - Browning just throws way too many poor passes, which wasn't an issue he had in his stretch of games in 2023. Defense had a decent game for a bit before the Lions OL/Run game just took over.
27.) New York Giants = 1-4 (87-127)
Jackson Dart if anything is more fun than Russell Wilson. He still hasn't figured out the speed of the NFL, and reverts to running way too much, but these are problems you expect him to improve on - though I do worry if the reverts to running will always be there given that's how he played often in college as well. The DL has to live up to its billing more consistently than it has.
26.) New Orleans Saints = 1-4 (92-135)
Saints got their first win - yes it was against a similarly bad team, but they won and controlled a game. That part is even more important to me. Rattler and the offense looked composed, in rhythm, and on schedule. The defense when healthy was already a decent unit. Aside from the massacre against Seattle, the Saints really have been just a plain below average team.
24.) Miami Dolphins = 1-4 (107-145)
I think losing Tyreek makes the Dolphins better, or at least more variable. It's made Mike McDaniel actually have to try - we saw the best Waller game and best Waddle game. We did not, however, see the best Tua game which is a problem. Don't know really what more we have to see there. He's not the long term answer. He's paid too much for them to cut bait though, I have to think.
25.) Carolina Panthers = 2-3 (102-119)
So the Panthers basically are either one of the worst teams in years for stretches, or they look magically competent, if not dominant. They've alternated that twice so far, this time long enough to get a win (against an admittedly poor Miami team). Not sure where that running game came from today, with Rico Dawdle having 200 yards, but Bryce Young still looks lost too much for me to see any real long term potential here.
23.) Baltimore Ravens = 1-4 (141-177)
The nightmare of a season continues. I really hope Lamar is not out for any more than 1-2 additional weeks. If Lamar was out and the defense was healthy, a Cooper Rush led offense would still be competitive. But it's crazy how many important defensive players are out as well. The Ravens basically just quit in that game, and the Rams next week could be more of the same unless Lamar is back. 1-4 isn't impossible to come back from. To be honest, in the 2025 AFC, 1-5 may not be either but I do worry if this becomes a multi-week thing.
22.) Chicago Bears = 2-2 (101-117)
Interested to see where the Bears season goes after their bye. Two straight good Caleb performances. Two straight games with decent OL play. Two games where Rome Odunze had showed the promise we all saw in college. We have to hope they keep up that momentum off of the bye. A MNF game against a good Commanders team (the top two picks from last year dueling) should give them the right motivation. I still just want to see Caleb be a bit more patient.
21.) Dallas Cowboys = 2-2-1 (151-154)
Dak is having an insane year. The offense is playing about as well as any in the NFL. The defense is not good. Their biggest issue will probably be how competitive the NFC is. I don't think a 9-7-1 is going to get you the #7 seed this season. The Cowboys offense is a special unit though. Really they are the 2024 Bengals of the 2025 season.
20.) Atlanta Falcons = 2-2 (76-86)
One of the bigger questions about the NFL season at this moment is if the Falcons 30-0 loss to Carolina is a meaningless super outlier, or a sign that this is a weak team that can dress up nicely every now and then. Their generally competent play the rest of the season makes me very nervously think it is the former - that the 30-0 will just be the single biggest outlier game of the season.
19.) Los Angeles Chargers = 3-2 (98-98)
Man, they need Joe Alt back quickly. The Commanders just ate the OL alive in that game. Herbert was not his best self anyway, but he was chased off his spot or forced to throw super quick way too often. Also I think they need to diversify the offense a bit too much - a late-career Keenan Allen shouldn't be this important to a 2025 offense, especially when they have a bunch of other options.
18.) Pittsburgh Steelers = 3-1 (96-98)
The AFC is becoming a waste-land (particularly the AFC North) and here we have Pittsburgh doing what they've basically done since 2021, which is keep treading above .500 even if they do it ugly. 3-1 with a negative point differential and one of the wins being an absolute robbery (of the Pats) is perfect Tomlin nonsense. But their best game was their last, and they saw their entire division lose on their bye week.
17.) Arizona Cardinals = 2-3 (103-96)
I don't know what to say. The Cardinals play with their food - they escaped twice in Week1 and Week 2 winning close in games they led comfortably, but it finally bit them in one of the most absurd losses you will ever see. The down-to-down performance of this team is still strong, but man they can't close games. That's not good enough in the NFC. Underlying numbers will still grade this team out reasonably well, but they're slipping behind in what will be a really competitive division/conference.
16.) Minnesota Vikings = 3-2 (123-97)
That Wentz performance probably takes away any hastiness the Vikings may have been feeling to rush McCarthy back. I watched none of that game except for highlights, but it shows what we know: the Vikings have enough front-line talent to win 10-11 games with Wentz / rookie-McCarthy level play. The question we all need to be asking is should they have kept Darnold, who has been the player he was from Weeks 1-16 so far.
15.) Washington Commanders = 3-2 (134-101)
The fact that the Commanders won a road game convincingly on a day that Jayden was maybe a B- at best is a really great sign. Now, as I mentioned in the Chargers section, I wouldn't say this performance by the Commanders defense is going to happen every week, but they went out in teh offseason and got in reinforcements on the DL and so far they're paying off (especially washed Von Miller). Get McLaurin back and healthy and baby we got a stew going.
14.) Houston Texans = 2-3 (108-61)
Look - I know the Titans and the Lamer-less Ravens are not good competition, but winning two games by a combined 70-10 should still mean something. Also meaningful was the defense being good before that as well. The OL is still rough, and Stroud is still gun-shy at times, but his accuracy has been way better these past few weeks. This could be the beginning of turning things around here. They're still two games behind the Colts, but the wild card race in the AFC is shaping up to be fairly fallow.
13.) New England Patriots = 3-2 (125-101)
Impressive win for New England, and especially Drake Maye who is really coming together. This is two great weeks for them - blasting a team they should beat easily (Carolina) and now stealing a game where their opponent made a bunch of mistakes, but many of them of the "forced" variety. Will be interesting to see how long this level of Stefon Diggs last (vs. that being just a revenge game), and what happens if someone finally realizes to not let Maye escape right as often. I've never seen someone more consistently better at throwing on the run to the right but seemingly incapable of doing so to his left.
12.) Los Angeles Rams = 3-2 (123-107)
Rough loss, primarily a rough, rough 4th down call in OT. That game should never have been all that close given who the 49ers were without, and the Rams offense generally playing well. The Rams much ballyhooed DL didn't really show up in that one. They've been too high variance this season, and need more down to down, drive to drive consistency, especially since the Rams CBs are a bit rough. This is still a very good team, but one that needs a few more high impact plays on defense to reach their max potential
11.) Denver Broncos = 3-2 (117-84)
Gutsy win, gutsy offensive performance after what was a rough first 40 minutes. It's weird that you leave that game without feeling that any of the units played all that well, given how slow Nix and the offense was for three quarters, and how even Surtain got beat a few times. But they never felt overwhelmed even when down 17-3 and that win was well earned throughout. This is a team with a really high ceiling. Don't know how consistently they will get there though.
10.) Kansas City Chiefs = 2-3 (125-107)
Really tough loss to a good team on the road. But that's twice we've written that about the Chiefs, The offense looked very good fort a third straight week, but the defense is back to getting too little pressure. The schedule doesn't get any easier also with the Lions next. The Chiefs may just end up sneaking into the playoffs, but they still to me will be scary, assuming a healthy, motivated Rashee Rice comes back.
9.) San Francisco 49ers = 4-1 (106-98)
I don't know how they do it. This team should be way worse. Even put aside all the injuries on offense, but coming into the year, the defense was a huge question mark. But honestly, as impressive a job Shanahan has done working with scraps, I'm equally impressed by what Saleh has done with teh same. And if anything, that is more important - as we expect Purdy to come back, adn Kittle, and eventually even Aiyuk, but the defense is the guys they have and they're playing super competently, which is all you need them to be.
8.) Green Bay Packers = 2-1-1 (104-84)
Let's hope the Packers took their bye to take a deep breath, forget all the plaudits that clearly went a bit to their heads after the first two games, and hopefully the defense is healthier and remembers how to play pass defense. The Packers probably should have lost that Cowboys game, so they really need to have taken that two week break to figure out how to end drives and not have so many coverage mistakes when they can't get home.
7.) Jacksonville Jaguars = 4-1 (127-100)
Even in a win, even being 4-1, you still think they should be more. Lawrence still makes too many weird decisions and mistakes (the fumble, the sack on the final drive when he should've thrown it away). The receivers still will randomly fall down. But the defense is very, very good - even in a game where Tavon Walker didn't play. The run game is consistent. They're 4-1, with decent underlying numbers, and a collapse away from being 5-0, and still could get better. But I can't just assume that consistency does come for them.
6.) Philadelphia Eagles = 4-1 (125-109)
Tough loss, and more than that a bit of a trend with this being the second straight week they let a big lead turn into a close game. First time they were able to make the key plays (the end zone pick), but here they couldn't. On the positive, Hurts and the passing offense once again looked good. I do worry about how quiet Barkley has been. You have to think he'll break out soon, but with RBs you just never know. In the end, a loss to an AFC team isn't that big of a deal, but for a team that wasn't playing as good as its record anyway, this could be a wake-up call.
5.) Seattle Seahawks = 3-2 (146-101)
Great game that was, and a tough loss. To be fair, Darnold escaped a pick on the 99-yard TD drive (the one where the Bucs read the quick screen) and had a miracle TD of his own, but that was an unfortunate way for the game to end. The offense though just has so many options right now, especially with Horton having progressed so well.
4.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers = 4-1 (135-132)
It's so hard to talk about the Bucs. A +3 point differential for a 4-1 record is pretty poor and could be a sign of worse things to come. But wins over the Seahawks in Seattle, the Texans in Houston, are good wins - even if close. The Jets game they were far better down to down than the final score would indicate. But looking forward, Evans could be back soon, Godwin is still ramping up, the defense may get healthier. This team is a bit lucky to be 4-1, but that record is closer to their true talent than the point differential may seem. Oh, and Ekbuga looks like a rookie OBJ-type of special.
3.) Buffalo Bills = 4-1 (153-113)
Well, that was those "it all went wrong" games, aside from getting the fumble on Stevenson. The rest was pretty disastrous - awful penalties, three turnovers. The Bills can't do that - at least until the defense gets better down to down, as their margin against decent teams is not that big. Hopefully this gets them to wake up. At their best - the drives to make it 13-10 or 17-20 were dominant, but in between the penalties have to stop. Also might be worth getting Allen into rhythm earlier. The talent is still there that we may look back and see this like some of their more puzzling losses in even their great seasons, but that needs to be a wake up call of a game.
2.) Indianapolis Colts = 4-1 (163-89)
After the Bills loss there was a lot of "Oh, this is one of those seasons without a great team" tweets going on. But to be honest, I think these top two qualify, at least in terms of performance through five games. The Colts have played five games - going 1-1 in their coin flip games (probably should've lost the one they won, and won the one they lost). But more importantly, they've gone 3-0 against the bad teams and blew each one of those out. Combine both together, and the high floor talent level on this team, and you have the makings of something special. Yes, there is a potential glass slipper that could crack under Daniel Jones's feet, but for now, this is a dominant team.
1.) Detroit Lions = 4-1 (174-112)
As are the Lions. The loss here is more questionable - a game they were completely outplayed by the Packers, but weird stuff happens in Week 1, and a poor loss in Green Bay if it were in Week 7 probably gets ignored more. Right now, this is a machine. The DL is fully back. Sheppard has stepped in perfectly as the DC. The offense played with its food a bit, but at its core is a dominant unit with teh new OL guys getting better each week. They're close to feeling like a machine again. Next week against the Chiefs in Arrowhead will be a treat.
Looking Ahead to Next Week's Games
Byes: Minnesota Vikings (3-2), Houston Texans (2-3)
15.) Tennessee Titans (1-4) @ Las Vegas Raiders (1-4) (4:05 - FOX)
14.) Los Angeles Chargers (3-2) @ Miami Dolphins (1-4) (1:00 - CBS)
13.) Denver Broncos (3-2) @ New York Jets (0-5) (9:30 - NFLN)
12.) Cleveland Browns (1-4) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) (1:00 - CBS)
13.) Denver Broncos (3-2) @ New York Jets (0-5) (9:30 - NFLN)
12.) Cleveland Browns (1-4) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) (1:00 - CBS)
11.) Philadelphia Eagles (4-1) @ New York Giants (1-4) (TNF - Prime)
10.) Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) @ Green Bay Packers (2-1-1) (4:25 - CBS)
9.) New England Patriots (3-2) @ New Orleans Saints (2-3) (1:00 - CBS)
10.) Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) @ Green Bay Packers (2-1-1) (4:25 - CBS)
9.) New England Patriots (3-2) @ New Orleans Saints (2-3) (1:00 - CBS)
8.) Los Angeles Rams (3-2) @ Baltimore Ravens (1-4) (1:00 - FOX)
7.) Dallas Cowboys (2-2-1) @ Carolina Panthers (2-3) (1:00 - FOX)
7.) Dallas Cowboys (2-2-1) @ Carolina Panthers (2-3) (1:00 - FOX)
6.) Buffalo Bills (4-1) @ Atlanta Falcons (2-2) (MNF - ESPN)
5.) Arizona Cardinals (2-3) @ Indianapolis Colts (4-1) (1:00 - FOX)
4.) Chicago Bears (2-2) @ Washington Commanders (3-2) (MNF - ABC)
5.) Arizona Cardinals (2-3) @ Indianapolis Colts (4-1) (1:00 - FOX)
4.) Chicago Bears (2-2) @ Washington Commanders (3-2) (MNF - ABC)
3.) Seattle Seahawks (3-2) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1) (1:00 - FOX)
2.) San Francisco 49ers (4-1) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1) (4:25 - FOX)
1.) Detroit Lions (4-1) @ Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) (SNF - NBC)
2.) San Francisco 49ers (4-1) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1) (4:25 - FOX)
1.) Detroit Lions (4-1) @ Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) (SNF - NBC)
