With Week 9 in the books and the trade deadline behind us, the NFL season has officially reached the midway point. Look around the league, and the separation between the NFL\u2019s top contenders and the ones challenging for post-season position is pretty slim, which should make for a fascinating stretch run.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the AFC, surprise contenders like the Colts and Patriots have grabbed headlines throughout the first half, while we\u2019re trending towards a new divisional champ in the AFC West and a wild playoff race to come. The NFC has fewer surprises at the top, with the defending champs once again the front-runners, but what should we make of the gridlocked standings in the North and West this year?<\/p>\n
With all that in mind, we\u2019re taking a look around the league and highlighting a question for every club:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
New England Patriots (7-2): How far can this win streak go?<\/p>\n
A statement win over the Bills to open October got our attention, and they\u2019ve held football fans captivated ever since thanks to excellent defensive play and a sensational second season from Drake Maye that\u2019s got New England riding a six-game win streak atop the AFC East.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Buffalo Bills (6-2): Can Buffalo shore up its run defence?<\/p>\n
Their greatest strength on offence \u2014 the Bills lead the league in rushing yards per game (161.5) and average two rushing touchdowns per outing \u2014 is their greatest weakness on the other side of the ball. The Bills\u2019 141.4 yards allowed on the ground is fifth-worst league-wide and only Tennessee has allowed more rushing TDs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Miami Dolphins (2-7): Does Mike McDaniel still have the room?<\/p>\n
Despite the firing of GM Chris Grier, head coach Mike McDaniel\u2019s job seems safe for the rest of the season. His every word will be scrutinized as we look for clues about how this team begins to move forward after what is already a lost season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
New York Jets (1-7): Who are the Aaron Glenn Jets?<\/p>\n
A question we asked ahead of the season now feels even harder to answer after the trade deadline turned into a fire sale in New York, with Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner \u2014 two young defenders thought to be part of the core \u2014 both being dealt. Where Glenn goes from here \u2014 and whether he\u2019s given the time and space to put his stamp on things \u2014 could tell us plenty about the off-season to come.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3): Is the defence starting to click?<\/p>\n
A Week 9 victory over the powerhouse Colts showed us the defence we\u2019ve all been waiting for. The Steelers sacked Daniel Jones five times, intercepted him three times and forced three fumbles. A similar outing against the Chargers on the prime-time stage would be a convincing way to show the league this defence is back on track at the best time, considering who\u2019s starting to heat up\u2026<\/p>\n
Baltimore Ravens (3-5): So you\u2019re telling me there\u2019s a chance\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dismal as their early losing skid was without Lamar Jackson at the helm and a long list of defensive injuries, the Ravens find themselves suddenly back in the race thanks to a clean bill of health for their QB, back-to-back wins following a well-timed bye and five divisional matchups still to come \u2014 including two against Pittsburgh that suddenly look even more fascinating than usual.<\/p>\n
Cincinnati Bengals (3-6): What more does this offence need to do?<\/p>\n
With Joe Flacco at the helm, the offence showed it could overcome the loss of Joe Burrow and still produce big numbers\u2026 but there\u2019s simply no overcoming this deeply flawed defence, which has now lost the team back-to-back shootouts that came down to the final plays.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cleveland Browns (2-6): What might this offence look like next year?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a familiar story in Cleveland: Another year of elite defence, only to be hindered by an offence that can\u2019t do much thanks to major questions at QB. Dillon Gabriel has been serviceable, but he’s likely a backup at best. Whether the team will see what they have in Shedeur Sanders will be a hot topic down the stretch in another season in search of silver linings.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Indianapolis Colts (7-2): How quickly can Gardner hit his stride with Colts?<\/p>\n
In addition to declaring themselves all-in on contending this season with Tuesday\u2019s blockbuster acquisition of Sauce Gardner, the Colts also made it clear they\u2019re all in on Daniel Jones, too \u2014 you don\u2019t deal away top picks if you\u2019re planning to shop for a QB at the draft, after all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3): Is Jakobi Meyers the key to opening up this offence?<\/p>\n
Jacksonville has struggled to hang on to the ball, with a league-leading 19 drops. And with a banged-up group of weapons threatening to loosen Jacksonville\u2019s grip on contention, too, Jaguars brass brought in a much-needed veteran presence in sure-handed former Raider Jakobi Meyers. He\u2019s immediately the No. 1 option for Trevor Lawrence.<\/p>\n
Houston Texans (3-5): Can the offence catch up to the defence?<\/p>\n
A 44-point outburst against Baltimore in Week 5 looked like it\u2019d be the turning point for Houston\u2019s lost offence, but it\u2019s been back to regularly scheduled programming ever since. The Texans defence is the class of the league, giving C.J. Stroud & Co. every opportunity to win, but a weak offensive line has proven to be a predictable downfall and Stroud\u2019s health could be paying the price.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tennessee Titans (1-8): Can Cam Ward get a little help?<\/p>\n
No one expected Tennessee to suddenly start winning, considering the lack of supporting cast around the No. 1 pick, but things have been bleak: nine games into his NFL career, the rookie has been sacked more than any of his NFL peers, has just one receiver with 300-plus yards, and is already on his second head coach. It\u2019s silver linings season for the Titans, but there aren\u2019t many.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Denver Broncos (7-2): Will the comebacks catch up with the Broncos?<\/p>\n
Four of Denver\u2019s last five wins have been won in the final minutes \u2014 including a few walk-off victories \u2014 and while that\u2019s been fun to watch, it\u2019s also a dangerous game to play. A pair of remaining matchups versus the Chiefs, plus a date against Green Bay, could test their late-game grit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Los Angeles Chargers (6-3): Can L.A. overcome its banged-up offensive line and stay in the race?<\/p>\n
Just when we thought they\u2019d rise back up the ranks following the return of Joe Alt, the star OT went down with his second high-ankle sprain of the season and has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Justin Herbert\u2019s fate has been directly tied to whether or not Alt is on the field \u2014 the Chargers are 5-1 when Alt is on the field and 1-2 when he isn\u2019t, with Herbert\u2019s sack numbers skyrocketing without his best bodyguard. This could be a steep plummet down the standings without him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kansas City Chiefs (5-4): The Chiefs are a playoff team\u2026 right?\u00a0<\/p>\n
A slow start has Kansas City sitting in unfamiliar territory \u2014 outside the playoff picture nine wins into the season \u2014 and despite an offence that looks more explosive than we\u2019ve seen in years and Patrick Mahomes playing himself back into the MVP conversation, the Chiefs are up against it as they enter a well-timed bye following Sunday\u2019s loss in Buffalo. If the price of a post-season berth is a 10-win season, that means the Chiefs must win five of their eight remaining contests \u2014 and with a schedule that includes two dates with Denver and matchups against the Colts, Cowboys, Texans and Chargers still to come\u2026 well, there\u2019s not much room for error.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Las Vegas Raiders (2-6): Can Jeanty hit his stride?<\/p>\n
The rookie running back entered the season with great expectations after being selected sixth overall, but has yet to really thrive in Vegas\u2019 offence. A string of four straight games with 50-plus yards, including a 138-yard game against the Bears in Week 4 that saw him run in a score and catch two more, showed us how the Raiders can use him. With Geno Smith struggling and the receiving corps down a man after trading away Meyers, it\u2019d make sense to see the Raiders give the rookie more reps.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Philadelphia Eagles (6-2): Howie Roseman, take a step back?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Never. The always-shopping GM never sleeps on a smart deal, and he was one of the busiest buyers ahead of the trade deadline with the acquisitions of cornerback Michael Carter (Jets) and pass-rusher Jaelan Phillips (Dolphins). Look for this defence to pick up its pace.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1): Can Wilson and Williams make up for lost defence?<\/p>\n
While Dallas\u2019 porous defence can\u2019t be fixed overnight, the curious case of the Cowboys \u2014 a team whose prolific offence is constantly overshadowed by its disastrous defence and the pre-season trade that sent it spiralling \u2014 continues with Jerry Jones (finally) following through with promises to try to improve things. Logan Wilson and Quinnen Williams should help, but is it too little, too late?<\/p>\n
Washington Commanders (3-6): Is it 2026 yet?<\/p>\n
Jayden Daniels\u2019 third injury of the season will likely keep him out the rest of the year, rendering the campaign futile. All efforts must now go toward shoring up a better offensive line so this doesn\u2019t happen again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
New York Giants (2-7): Are we seeing the last of the Daboll-Schoen regime?<\/p>\n
They brought in Jaxson Dart, but are they the right people to develop the club\u2019s new franchise face? Calls for Daboll\u2019s firing have come in waves over the course of his uninspiring tenure. With Dart\u2019s future in the balance, the club cannot afford to mishandle his first year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Green Bay Packers (5-2-1): Can the offence recover from losing Tucker Kraft?<\/p>\n
Consistency has not been Green Bay\u2019s strength this season, and Jordan Love losing his favourite weapon in Sunday\u2019s upset loss to Carolina won\u2019t help.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Detroit Lions (5-3): Is everything OK on offence?<\/p>\n
It was never going to be easy to match last year\u2019s elite production, especially considering the departure of Ben Johnson, but these Lions are still posting nearly 30 points per game, second in the league behind the Colts. Still, a closer look shows us an offence that\u2019s inconsistent (and uninspiring at times) and a win total below expectations this far into the season is worth watching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chicago Bears (5-3): Do the Bears belong in the playoffs?<\/p>\n
A string of tight, mistake-filled games shows plenty of flaws still to be patched up, but the fact\u00a0these\u00a0Bears are winning\u00a0those\u00a0games after years of frittering them away is reason alone to believe this year is different. A gridlocked division and a matching record with the Lions and Packers has Chicago still very much in the mix.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Minnesota Vikings (4-4): What does Minnesota have in McCarthy?<\/p>\n
His numbers haven\u2019t jumped off the page, but the sample size remains small. McCarthy\u2019s poise in Minnesota\u2019s divisional win over the Lions showed plenty of promise, and with head coach Kevin O\u2019Connell calling the shots, there\u2019s reason to be optimistic about his development.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2): Can the run game pick up the pace?<\/p>\n
The defence is solid, and Baker Mayfield\u2019s got the Buccaneers averaging just shy of 225 passing yards per game despite a string of injuries to his weapons, but he could use a little more help from the run game if Tampa Bay is to be a true contender. All eyes are on the injury report and Bucky Irving\u2019s status as the team heads into a tough stretch against the Patriots, Bills and Rams.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Carolina Panthers (5-4): What else can Dowdle do?<\/p>\n
Running back Rico Dowdle went from backup to one of the league\u2019s best backs \u2014 not to mention, a top fantasy option \u2014 and stole the starting RB job from Canada’s Chuba Hubbard in the process. When Dowdle hits triple-digit yardage, the Panthers win. Can he propel Carolina up the standings and keep it above .500 for the first time since 2017?<\/p>\n
Atlanta Falcons (3-5): Can this team get out of its own way?<\/p>\n
A date with the Colts in Germany won\u2019t be an easy outing, but despite tons of talent on offence and a defence that finally packs a punch, Atlanta\u2019s toughest opponent remains itself. That was evident Sunday against the powerhouse Patriots, a game which came down to a missed extra point.\u00a0<\/p>\n
New Orleans Saints (1-8): Can Shough show signs of progress?<\/p>\n
The Saints sit in the basement of pretty much every offensive metric, clearly still in the throes of a rebuilt. Whether rookie QB Tyler Shough can be part of the solution will depend on how he can navigate the second half of the season since taking over for Spencer Rattler. Considering the Saints\u2019 likely draft position, is this an audition for the backup role?<\/p>\n
Seattle Seahawks (6-2): How good can this offence get?<\/p>\n
Seattle\u2019s explosive passing game just brought in another deep threat in former Saint Rashid Shaheed, who\u2019s one yard shy of 500 on the season despite catching passes from Rattler and Shough. Now imagine what he can do with Darnold dishing him the ball. This could be really fun.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Los Angeles Rams (6-2): Can Matthew Stafford stay healthy?<\/p>\n
Stafford started the season with questions about his health after navigating a back injury throughout training camp, but all he\u2019s done since is post league-topping numbers at the helm of one of the NFL\u2019s top teams \u2014 even despite playing some of those games without top receiver Puka Nacua. Stafford leads his peers in passing touchdowns (21) while throwing just two interceptions through eight games, and looks ready to face a tough two weeks ahead with dates against the 49ers and Seahawks, respectively, and the division\u2019s top spot on the line.\u00a0<\/p>\n
San Francisco 49ers (6-3): Is Mac Jones the next Sam Darnold?<\/p>\n
The revival of Darnold in Minnesota, and his success in Seattle, as well as Daniel Jones\u2019 rapid rise with the Colts, has second-chance QBs in the spotlight \u2014 and Brock Purdy\u2019s backup could be next in line. Purdy\u2019s turf toe isn\u2019t going away, and considering Jones\u2019 strong play, there\u2019s no urgency to try to rush him back. If the wins keep piling up down the stretch, so will the offers from teams in need of a bridge.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Arizona Cardinals (3-5): Is this Jacoby Brissett\u2019s team now?<\/p>\n
Monday night\u2019s decisive win over the Cowboys showcased Brissett\u2019s command over the Cardinals offence on the prime-time stage, but he\u2019s been quietly building a case to keep the starting gig since Kyler Murray\u2019s Week 5 foot injury. Head coach Jonathan Gannon has already named Brissett his Week 10 starter while Murray\u2019s timeline for return remains unclear, and considering his chemistry with Arizona\u2019s top weapons and the stabilizing presence he\u2019s had on the field, we could see that continue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With Week 9 in the books and the trade deadline behind us, the NFL season has officially reached…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":263679,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[436],"tags":[49,48,514,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-263678","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-nfl","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=263678"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263678\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/263679"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=263678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=263678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=263678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}