The 2023-2024 NFL regular season is almost at its midpoint as November games kick off. As expected, this season has been full of the unexpected. Teams have come out of nowhere to shock the league, while others haven’t come near preseason expectations. Every week, players have shaken the world with highlights aplenty. As coaches formulate identities and work around crippling injuries, this halfway mark is the perfect place to give an update. Teams at the top may be looking forward to January, while the ones at the bottom are likely calling it a year with dwindling hopes of the postseason. With tons of football left to play, teams can rise and fall out of nowhere, so continue to expect the unexpected.
New England Patriots Record: 2-6
The Patriots’ fall from grace has been quick and painful as they drop to the worst record in the AFC. The Patriots have had a season full of blowouts, with their average loss coming by a 16.5-point margin. The offense has been one of the worst in the league, being in the bottom two in points and points per game. Quarterback Mac Jones is still unhappy with his situation, and injuries have dug the roster into a deeper hole. Despite an impressive week seven victory over the rival Bills, New England’s 2023 season is over.
New York Giants Record: 2-6
Last season looks more like a fluke after every passing week. The Giants are bottom of the league in points and points per game with an offense unable to drive down the field and a special teams unit that can’t capitalize on the production that is generated. The Giants were shut out by 40 points in week one to the Cowboys and, in week eight, lost in heartbreaking fashion to the cross-town Jets in a game the Giants were poised to win with less than a minute in regulation. With injuries throughout the roster and pieces being traded away, Giants faithful hope for a better season next year.
Philadelphia Eagles Record:7-1
The Super Bowl hangover has seemingly skipped over the Eagles as they climb to be the only seven-win team at this point in the season. The noise around this team has surrounded their number one receiver, A.J. Brown. Brown was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for the month of October as he racked in 125+ yards in an NFL record six straight games. With a defense going from 8th to 21st in total defense, according to Pro Football Reference, a lot is on the offense and the nearly unstoppable ‘Tush Push’ or ‘Brotherly Shove’ to return the Eagles to the Super Bowl.
Kansas City Chiefs Record:6-2
Who would have guessed that the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs atop the AFC once again? Last year’s NFL champions have also seemed to dodge the Super Bowl hangover, although questions have arisen after their week eight loss to the Denver Broncos. The loss snaps a 16-game streak of dominance over the Broncos, hailing back to 2015, and Mahomes’ 16-game win streak in divisional away games. While the loss is concerning, the Chiefs are still in an advantageous position to make a deep playoff run.
Baltimore Raven Record:6-2
Their team’s success is not a surprise to the Baltimore faithful. Steadily commanded by quarterback Lamar Jackson, the Ravens have made massive improvements on the offensive side of the ball, jumping from their 19th overall rank at the end of last season to just outside of the top five, according to Pro Football Reference. Jackson is in MVP talks while the defense demands respect, holding the number two spot in the league. The Ravens have been held back by injuries these past few years, and the injury to star running back J.K. Dobbins doesn’t spell well for the rest of the season.
Miami Dolphins Record:6-2
The Dolphins have unlocked their offensive potential, led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, receiver Tyreek Hill, and Head Coach Mike McDaniel. With a 70-point performance against the Denver Broncos in week three, the Dolphins were cemented as a threat, leaving opposing defensive coordinators up at night. At this point in the season, Tagovailoa leads the league in passing yards, Hill in receiving yards, and a dangerous running game that can activate if need be. With the defense getting healthier, this may be just the beginning for Miami.
Detroit Lions Record:6-2
The Detroit Lions have been a spectacle this season, making massive gains offensively and defensively. Quarterback Jared Goff has been facilitating the offense at a top-tier level, proving why he was a number one overall selection in his draft class. With rookie pass-catcher Sam LaPorta looking like a draft steal at this point in time, the young team is only poised to improve as the season goes on.
Jacksonville Jaguars Record:6-2
The Jaguars are right where they were expected at the top of their division. With a relatively slow start, the Jags have riddled off five straight wins. The offense and defense are in the middle range in ranking but are doing enough to get by. The team doesn’t have a definitive identity outside of overall good team play, so the sustainability of their success will be tested in the coming weeks as their schedule toughens up.
Dallas Cowboys Record: 5-2
With the highest-ranked defense in the league, the Cowboys at points look unstoppable. The season started with a bang as they shut the Giants out 40-0, then the Jets 30-10, followed by a crushing loss to the Arizona Cardinals, awarding them their only win on the season. The Cowboys then rattled off another impressive victory against the New England Patriots, to be shut down the following week by the San Francisco 49ers. The Cowboys are on a two-game winning streak coming off the bye week; with a massive test in Philadelphia, the Cowboys are searching for some consistency to make their long-awaited Super Bowl push.
Seattle Seahawks Record: 5-2
The Seahawks are in business, coming off an impressive season where they astonishingly made the playoffs. Success has persisted as quarterback Geno Smith continues to prove the doubters wrong and put up solid performances week in and week out. Seattle has seemingly hit big again in the draft with their selection of cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who has the second-highest odds of winning Defensive Rookie of the Year. A recent trade for former NY Giant and Jet defensive lineman Leonard Williams indicates the coaching staff believes the team can make a deep playoff run this winter.
San Francisco 49ers Record: 5-3
The 49ers have been a polarizing team this season, starting with five convincing wins in a row, all by no fewer than seven points each. However, these last three weeks have been a disaster where they have lost all three games in embarrassing fashion with signal caller Brock Purdy not commanding the offense with the same gravitas he did in his earlier starts. It isn’t all disappointment in The Bay, as running back Christian McCaffrey has tied the NFL record for most consecutive games with a touchdown at 17. The 49ers have been passed in their division by the rival Seahawks, and with a trade for Washington pass-rusher Chase Young, they look to put themselves back at the helm of the division.
Buffalo Bills Record: 5-3
The Bills started the year off in wild fashion, losing to the Jets on a punt return in overtime, then winning the next three games assuredly. They have had some embarrassing games, notably losing to the New England Patriots, a team struggling massively, and a win drowning in controversy over the New York Giants. The offense and defense are both formidable units but must be on the same page if the Bills want to return to the Super Bowl for the first time in almost 30 years.
Pittsburgh Steelers Record: 5-3
The Pittsburgh Steelers are an outlier in this top bracket of teams. They haven’t won decisively, with all five wins coming in one-score games and their losses being thrashings by two or more scores. The Black and Gold Brigade has just done enough to get by, and that is not a recipe for success in the AFC with high-flying offenses and stout defenses galore, or is it? The Steelers currently have the 7th easiest remaining schedule, according to Pro Football Focus(PFF), giving Head Coach Mike Tomlin a good chance at maintaining his streak of zero losing records if not bringing them to the playoffs.
Cincinnati Bengals Record: 4-3
The conversation nearly the entire offseason centered around quarterback Joe Burrow’s ankle. After sustaining a non-contact injury in practice, Burrow was visibly unwell at the beginning of the season. The Bengals started 1-3 and have since won their last three games by an average of over 11 points. As Burrow continues to get healthy and their fringe top-10 defense continues to shut down opposing offenses, the Bengals become a greater threat in a hotly contested AFC North.
Cleveland Browns Record: 4-3
The final AFC North team has had a difficult season, losing their franchise running back, Nick Chubb, for the rest of the season to a knee injury and, the following week, losing quarterback Deshaun Watson for much of the young season. With one of the best defenses in the league, fans can only wonder what this season could have been without their early losses. Watson has returned to practice, and with weeks of football left to play, the Browns are still in an advantageous position to make a run at the playoffs.
New York Jets Record: 4-3
The acquisition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers was supposed to be a franchise-altering move, which fell flat as Rodgers took four snaps in a Jets jersey before tearing his Achilles. While the Jets’ seasons seemed over by week four, with a measly 1-3 record, the team has rallied three straight wins, including a game over Philadelphia to be their only loss. Due in large part to their tenacious defense that ranks 5th by PFF and 6th by Pro Football Reference, the Jets’ season is nowhere near over. With videos of Rodgers throwing the football only weeks after sustaining an injury that used to end careers, his seemingly speedy recovery has brought hope of his return come playoff time.
Atlanta Falcons Record: 4-4
The Falcons, equal parts confusing and frustrating, are currently atop the mediocre NFC South at an even .500 record. Quarterback Desmond Ridder has been benched after contributing nine total touchdowns to eight turnovers. The coaching staff has been criticized for suboptimal use of first-round pick Bijan Robinson and other offensive weapons. Even with the defense keeping them in the playoff hunt and PFF’s easiest graded schedule for the rest of the year, the likelihood of Atlanta making a serious run seems bleak.
New Orleans Saints Record: 4-4
The Saints have been a relatively quiet team this season. Expectations were in the middle of the pack going into the season, and that is where they currently stand. The team is average to above average in all phases of the game, and their last game has given Saints fans hope as quarterback Derek Carr was able to unlock the deep passing game and light a spark in the offense. Consistency is key for their future success if they want to pass the Falcons for the playoff spot.
Minnesota Vikings Record: 4-4
The Vikings are in a precarious position with the injury to pro-bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins as he was having one of the best performances of his career. While in the absence of receiver Justin Jefferson, their first-round rookie Jordan Addison has nicely filled the perennial prow-bowler’s shoes, looking to be an elite duo when Jefferson returns healthy. The Vikings are at the crossroads of a wasted season due to injury and making a playoff push, with the coming weeks being the signs most telling of the franchise’s future.
Houston Texans Record: 3-4
The Houston Texans’ season has been an exciting one full of promise for the future. Rookie quarterback CJ Stroud looks elite, setting the record for most snaps without an interception to start a career and unlocking the potential of this young offense. At the same time, the defense continues to improve from last season, allowing the Texans to surpass expectations with the lowest Super Bowl odds this preseason. After half the season, the Texans have tied their win total from all of last year and look to improve with time.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Record: 3-4
The Buccaneers’ season started well, upsetting the Vikings in Minnesota and winning three out of their first four games. Since then, Tampa Bay has been on a three-game losing streak, even with their defense playing at a relatively high level. In a weak NFC South, Tampa Bay isn’t out of playoff contention, but questions arise if the team is still in a retooling stage and a high draft pick is more valuable than a likely short-lived playoff berth.
Los Angeles Chargers Record: 3-4
The Chargers have been a disappointing team in 2023, unable to close out close games and riddled with injuries. Veteran receiver Keenan Allen is having a fantastic season, but the team doesn’t look to be on the same page outside of him. In a challenging conference, the Chargers must fix their woes quickly if they want a chance at the playoffs.
Indianapolis Colts Record: 3-5
The Colts are a rebuilding team that has shown flashes of brilliance. While rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson is done for the season due to injury, he looked promising in the small sample size. Their young pieces on offense and defense have meshed well, and the re-signing of running back Jonathan Taylor will give the team a bright future in the running game for years to come. While their playoff betting odds are low, this team has given their fans something to look forward to in the coming season.
Los Angeles Rams Record: 3-5
There hasn’t been a bigger surprise on the season than rookie Puka Nacua, who has come out of nowhere to be a top-tier receiver. Nacua has become vital to the Rams’ offense in the absence of other pass-catchers, breaking rookie receiving records left and right. With low expectations coming into the season, the Rams have been fascinating with their high-powered offense and a defense consistently ranked in the middle of the pack.
Denver Broncos Record: 3-5
The Broncos had a rough start to the season, starting 1-5 through the first six weeks, including a 70-point thrashing by the Miami Dolphins. Since then, the Broncos have been on a two-game win streak due in part to some offensive improvements. While the defense is a consensus bottom-five unit, the potential to be sneaky is in the cards as Denver goes into their week-nine bye.
Tennessee Titans Record: 3-5
The Titans may have found their guy at the quarterback position. Rookie Will Levis was electric in his first NFL start, and the sky’s the limit. The offense and the defense are average to below average, and they have begun trading away franchise pieces, so the 2023 NFL season is likely already over for the Titans. If the rest of the year can be used to get Levis some experience, next season can be a breakout year for the young signal-caller.
Washington Commanders Record: 3-5
The Commanders’ season has been one of struggle and disappointment aplenty. While they played the rival Eagles tough in both matchups, the team has decided to call this season quits and trade both of their starting pass rushers for draft capital. First-round rookie Emmanuel Forbes has looked terrible in the NFL, allowing deep bombs and touchdowns enough to be benched. While things look bleak, quarterback Sam Howell has been superb and, with experience, can turn into a franchise quarterback for years to come.
Las Vegas Raiders Record: 3-5
The Raiders have been a mess this season on and off the field. Owner Al Davis fired the General Manager, Head Coach, and Offensive Coordinator in a move fans around the NFL have seen coming for a while due to poor performance the last two seasons. Their perennial all-pro receiver, Davante Adams, has been visibly frustrated on the sideline because of struggles to get him the ball. Their quarterback position has been a carousel, with three different starters in the first seven weeks. The lack of production from their first-round pass rusher has combined to make the Raiders’ season a complete disaster, with ownership returning to the drawing board again.
Green Bay Packers Record: 2-5
The post-Aaron Rodgers era for the Packers has not fared particularly well, with their worst start to a season since 2005. The Packers started 2-1 and have been on a four-game skid since. Rodgers’ replacement, Jordan Love, hasn’t looked particularly good, and the entire offense isn’t in sync. The future looks relatively bright for a team with only two wins. PFF ranks their strength of schedule as one of the eight easiest remaining, and they are a young team of the future that needs time to build chemistry.
Chicago Bears Record: 2-6
The Bears season has gone slower than expected for a team poised for massive improvements. The quarterback position looks unstable with Justin Fields’ lack of progress and now injury. The defense has not come together and has arguably gotten worse. To remedy the issue, the Bears traded for Washington pass rusher Montez Sweat to sack opposing quarterbacks for at least the next four seasons. The Bears have left Chicago fans with a sour taste in their mouths and hope for a better second half of the season.
Carolina Panthers Record: 1-6
The Panthers had the worst start to the season out of the entire NFL, logging their first win in week eight. Their first-round rookie quarterback Bryce Young has struggled in the early slate of games due to one of the worst supporting casts in the entire league. After getting their first win, there is hope for Young’s development and a defensive resurgence. However, according to the New York Times, the Panthers have a less than 1% chance of making the playoffs, effectively ending their season before it began.
Arizona Cardinals Record: 1-7
With the worst record in the league, this update ends with Arizona. It is hard to say the Cardinals have disappointed, figuring they had the lowest Super Bowl odds in the preseason, tied with the Texans. This season was known to be a failure before it even started; however, the Cardinals have shown some flashes. A week three upset of the Dallas Cowboys is their only win on the season, although even in losses, they have put up a fight. The Cardinals undoubtedly have one of the worst offensive and defensive units in the league, and with injuries exacerbating the issue, Arizona can’t wait for the offseason to get underway.
