Changes at the Top
Coming into the season, perennial powerhouses like the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, and San Diego Chargers were expected to be the class of the AFC. After losing their all-world quarterback Tom Brady, the Pats have looked average and were blown out by the Miami Dolphins. The Colts have looked rusty on their way to a 1-2 start, and the Chargers lost two heart breaking games before defeating the Jets this past Monday night. Of course these teams have a change to and will probably recover, but each team has struggled out of the gate.
Windows Opening
Jay Cutler has led his team to a 3-0 start thanks to a high-powered offense. The Broncos have outscored their opponents 114-84, although the 84 points allowed leaves room for improvement. Nonetheless, the Broncos are the unexpected leader of the AFC West. In a similar mold, the Buffalo Bills find themselves leading the AFC East for the first time in years. A predominantly young team, the Bills have used a balanced attack to remain undefeated. While the wins are not always pretty there are no blemishes in the win-loss column. The Tennessee Titans, who have always played the Colts tough, use their overpowering defense and strong running game to destroy their opponent's will. As of right now, these three teams are showing that the Colts and Pats cannot rely on past success this year.
Similar trends in NFCThe NFC East, which could very well be the toughest division in the league, features four teams that have the talent to make the playoffs. The four teams will beat each other up until the playoffs, and forecasting this division is no simple task. Out West, the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers both sit atop at 2-1. The team from the desert is finally realizing some of their potential, with the ageless Kurt Warner propelling the offense. J. T. O' Sullivan has stepped up for San Fran and has shown some promise. The Seattle Seahawks, who have won the division for the past four years, have been devastated by injuries and inconsistent play.
Still Early
The season is seventeen weeks for a reason, but some teams have shown that this year will be quite different. A few unusual teams are at the top of the standings and young squads like the Broncos, Bills, and Cardinals are showing that they are for real. This is what makes NFL football so much fun to follow.
