We’re nearing the halfway point of the NFL season and a lot has changed in the eight weeks since I made my initial predictions. Let’s take a look at the state of the league and try to pin down which teams are gunning for the Super Bowl versus which ones are praying for a good draft pick going into the 2025 season. Also, it’s important to note that I’m writing this on Monday morning of week eight, so I know the results of all the games so far except for the Giants-Steelers game on Monday Night Football.
Starting with the most competitive division in football, the NFC North looks as good as it ever has in my lifetime. I still think the Detroit Lions will win the division, but doubling down on my prediction, I think the Lions are going to the Super Bowl this year. However, the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers will be sure to give them a run for their money, as both have exceeded my expectations and will likely fill up two of the three NFC Wild Card spots. Finally, I’d like to give a shoutout to Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears, who look better than I expected. Here’s to hoping they don’t make me regret it.
In the NFC East, Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders look like the team to beat. As long as Daniels can stay healthy, I think the Commanders will secure the division. After a rocky start, the Philadelphia Eagles look like they’ve found their footing. They’re still one of the more sporadic teams, as week to week it’s hard to know what to expect out of them. However, I definitely could see them snagging a Wild Card spot as well. The Cowboys have underperformed this season and the vibes in Dallas couldn’t be worse. Fans and players alike seem to be in a state of unrest, which leads me to think it may be time to consider making some serious changes. Coming as a surprise to no one, the New York Giants look terrible, with the only upside to the season being the clear star potential in rookie wide receiver, Malik Nabers.
The most surprising division this year is the NFC West, where the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are all tied at 4-4. I predicted the Cardinals to be one of the worst teams this season, but I didn’t expect their offense to click like they have, with Kyler Murray looking like one of the better quarterbacks in the league, James Conner performing as consistently as ever, and Marvin Harrison Jr. looking like one of the most promising up-and-coming talents from this crop of rookies. The Seahawks have been about as good as I anticipated, showing spurts of greatness, but predominantly playing very average most weeks. The 49ers are as beat-up as a team can be, but with Christian McCaffrey returning soon and Brock Purdy still looking great, they could easily turn things around and secure their division in the back half of the season. Lastly, the L.A. Rams look like a shell of their former selves. While it may not be time to panic just yet, it may be time for them to start looking to the future of the franchise in the next few seasons, as Matthew Stafford can’t carry them forever.
Finally, the NFC South is a mixed bag, with the Atlanta Falcons currently sitting on top after a close game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Falcons have definitely exceeded my expectations, as Kirk Cousins fits right in with their offensive scheme. On the other hand, I don’t really know what to make of the Bucs. They show flashes of greatness and Baker Mayfield looks as good as he ever has, but I don’t know if it’s enough to put them in the upper echelon of teams, especially considering their injuries. The New Orleans Saints have proved themselves to be the biggest frauds in the league, losing their last six games in a row after dominating in their first two. Lastly, the Carolina Panthers are an absolute trainwreck, but on the bright side, they’ll probably have the top pick in the next draft.
Moving into the AFC, the North is pretty interesting to observe. Despite an embarrassing loss to the Cleveland Browns this week, I personally think the Baltimore Ravens might be the best team in the AFC. The combination of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry is electric, with Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, and Isaiah Likely all pulling their weight. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers have looked better than they have since losing Ben Roethlisberger and may be gearing up to make a run of their own. TJ Watt is probably the best defensive player in football, and their defense as a whole is a force to be reckoned with. The biggest key for them will be settling their quarterback situation, with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields not making it an easy choice so far. The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t been doing too hot this year, with Joe Burrow, Ja’maar Chase, and Tee Higgins having to carry the weight of the team on their shoulders every week. And then there’s the Cleveland Browns. All I have to say is one good game against the Ravens isn’t enough to convince me they’re turning things around.
The AFC East is the worst division this season, with the Buffalo Bills being the only team with more than two wins. They’re a shoo-in for the playoffs, although they don’t seem quite as scary as they have in previous seasons. The Miami Dolphins are struggling, but I don’t think they’re awful. As long as Tua Tagovailoa can stay healthy and they start getting Tyreek Hill more involved, I see them looking pretty average for the rest of the season. The New York Jets are a mess. Adding Davante Adams isn’t going to change that. It’s time for Aaron Rodgers to move on and for the Jets to draft a young superstar quarterback if they want any semblance of relevancy in the coming seasons. Lastly, the New England Patriots are arguably even worse, as I don’t have any suggestions for them on how to move forward from here.
Kansas City will probably go to the Super Bowl again. Are they the best team in the AFC? I certainly don’t think so. Will the Ravens, Bills, and all the rest of their opponents turn into pumpkins the moment they face Mahomes? It seems inevitable at this point. I’m tired of talking about them, and I can’t believe they’re undefeated, considering they look worse than they have in years. They’re like the reincarnation of Belichick and Brady’s Patriots. Let’s move on. The Denver Broncos have been better than I expected, although that doesn’t mean I have much to say about them. Maybe if they make a run for a Wild Card spot I’ll care a bit more. It’s clear to me that Justin Herbert deserves much better than the L.A. Chargers. Put him on half of the other teams in the league, and they could easily make a playoff run. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders are so bad that people are speculating whether or not they’re intentionally throwing games. Who could’ve guessed that would be a narrative surrounding a team that moved to Vegas? What a shocker.
Finally, the AFC South is as average as always. The Houston Texans are an undeniably good team, with Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs looking like brilliant additions to their offense. They should have their division locked. The Indianapolis Colts are only a game behind them, but they don’t feel like they should be. Anthony Richardson is one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the league, but I’m still not convinced he’s their franchise guy. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the most disappointing team this year, with a lot of talented players wasting away under the incompetent management of Doug Pederson. He’ll be fired by the end of this season, mark my words. And in last place are the 1-6 Tennessee Titans. I never thought Will Levis had NFL starting quarterback-level talent, but at least he’s entertaining to watch lose, providing some of the funniest clips out of any player this year. Titans fans have to be crying themselves to sleep after losing Derrick Henry.
My predictions for the playoffs have changed a bit. In the AFC, I expect to see the Ravens, Bills, Chiefs, Texans, Steelers, Colts and Broncos. In the NFC, I’d say it will probably come down to the Lions, Commanders, 49ers, Falcons, Vikings, Packers and Eagles, although the Cardinals, Bears and Seahawks could easily take that last spot.
