Written by: Jacob Nevis
. With the NFL season at its midpoint, some teams have already emerged as contenders for the Super Bowl. This season has been nothing short of exciting for fans, with some teams performing better than expected, while other teams have proved slightly disappointing.
In the AFC — to the surprise of no one — the Kansas City Chiefs sit at the top as the last remaining undefeated team, with a record of 9-0. The Chiefs traded for former all-pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins at the trade deadline after losing wide receiver Rashee Rice to injury.
The Buffalo Bills, who entered the season as one of the Super Bowl favorites, have shown evidence of being one of the best teams in the NFL once again, with quarterback Josh Allen playing at an MVP level.
Another team that sits at the top of AFC is the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens, who lost in the AFC Championship last season, have looked just as good this season, with the reigning MVP Lamar Jackson once again in MVP contention.
Other teams in the AFC have shown signs that they can contend as well, but their seasons have been up and down. The Houston Texans, a team that has been hit with injuries this season, led the AFC South. Other teams that look to capture the wild-card spots and division titles include the Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals.
Some teams in the AFC, however, have been nothing short of disappointing. The Miami Dolphins entered the season as a team looking to make noise but have since fallen to 2-7 after quarterback Tua Tagaovlia suffered another concussion in week two.
The Detroit Lions sit at the top of the NFC at 8-1 and have continued to look like one of the league’s best teams. The Lions, though, have some competition in the NFC North, with the 7-2 Minnesota Vikings and 6-3 Green Bay Packers right on their tail.
In the NFC West, the San Francisco 49ers have faced some injuries, but they have shown that they can be contenders again this season. After a few bumps, the 49ers have won their last two games to improve their record to 5-4, with star running back Christian McCaffrey finally making his return. The 49ers will now look to win the NFC West division for the third consecutive season.
The Washington Commanders have been one of the NFL’s biggest surprises. The Commanders have played lights-out football and sit at a record of 7-3. Their success has largely been connected to the emergence of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has been playing at an elite level.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears have been two of the most disappointing stories coming out of the NFC, with both teams sitting under .500.
The NFL still has some season to go, so chaos might be coming in the weeks ahead as playoffs start to loom.
