Buffalo Bills: They banked three wins in September, but disjointed performances on both sides of the ball leave them feeling far less convincing than their record suggests.
Miami Dolphins: A rough start was entirely expected, but a gritty home battle against Kansas City showed there’s a competitive pulse worth building on.
New England Patriots: Strip away last season’s element of surprise, unmatched injury luck and comically easy schedule, and New England looks every bit like a team utterly unprepared for life against real-world competition.
New York Jets: They may not be a finished product, but being genuinely competitive every week is an undeniable step forward.