The NFL is reaching its midseason mark in 2015 with four teams at 7-0 for the first time in league history and two divisions led by teams at .500 or worse.
At one end of the spectrum, we have the unbeaten New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers all cruising into Week 9. On the other, we have the dumpster fire AFC South—where no team has a better record than 3-5—and the fantastically mediocre NFC East, led by the 4-4 New York Giants.
Here are the rest of the winners and losers at the NFL’s midway point:
Winners
1. QB Tom Brady, Patriots
Since beating the league’s suspension for Deflategate, Brady has thrown 20 touchdowns and just one interception, while leading the league’s top scoring offense and assuming his place as the obvious front runner for NFL MVP.
The 38-year-old quarterback is on pace for 5,509 passing yards, 46 touchdowns and two interceptions, and he currently leads the NFL in passer rating at 115.8. The Patriots are getting people riled up about another 16-0 season, and Brady—a man unmatched as his craft right now—is the primary reason why.
2. S Charles Woodson, Raiders
Father Time is getting beat up by both Brady and Woodson. The Raiders’ 39-year-old defensive back leads the NFL with five interceptions, which is already tied for the third most ever by a player age 36 or older. In fact, only four players have ever intercepted a pass at age 39, and no player at his age has ever intercepted more than three passes in a single season.
Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. Woodson is one of the greatest defensive players to ever play the game. His 65 career interceptions are bested by only four players all-time, and all four are Hall of Famers. If Woodson somehow intercepts six more passes to end 2015, he’d pass Night Train Lane for fourth and tie Rod Woodson for third in NFL history. He’d also probably be a lock for Defensive Player of the Year. He’s an ageless wonder.
3. Rookie studs
The rookie class of 2015 might not go down as one of the best ever, but it’s undoubtedly stacked at the top. Fifth overall pick Amari Cooper is on pace for almost 90 receptions and 1,300 yards for the surging Oakland Raiders, while 10th pick Todd Gurley ranks fifth in the NFL in rushing after four straight starts with at least 100 rushing yards to start his career. Both look like transcendent players with serious staying power as stars at their respective positions.
Also, don’t forget about Stefon Diggs. The fifth-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings has 25 catches for 419 yards and two touchdowns over his first four NFL games. He might be this year’s version of Odell Beckham Jr. This rookie class will be defined by much more than just the two quarterbacks at the top.
4. QBs Andy Dalton, Cam Newton
The two polarizing quarterbacks have put themselves right in the discussion for MVP after eight weeks. Dalton has thrown 15 touchdowns and just four interceptions for the unbeaten Bengals, and his 107.6 passer rating currently ranks fourth in the NFL. Meanwhile, Newton is on pace for over 4,000 total yards and 30 touchdowns despite Carolina’s depleted supporting cast, and his Panthers are also a perfect 7-0.
The two have big tests coming up—Dalton will play in primetime three straight weeks, and Newton welcomes the 6-1 Green Bay Packers to Carolina on Sunday—but both have cleared their share of hurdles already this season. The narrative on both is starting to turn.
5. Arizona Cardinals, Oakland Raiders
Say hello to two emerging powers out west. The Cardinals are 6-2 and in first place in the NFC West, while the Raiders have won two straight games—pushing the team into a playoff spot in the AFC with a 4-3 record.
Arizona is led by quarterback Carson Palmer, who is one of only two quarterbacks with 20 touchdown passes this season (Brady being the other). He’s been aided by resurgent seasons from receiver Larry Fitzgerald (seven touchdowns, first in NFL) and running back Chris Johnson (676 rushing yards, second), plus a defense with 17 takeaways.
The Raiders are flying high with second-year quarterback Derek Carr, who has thrown seven touchdown passes over the last two games. He’s now fifth in the NFL in passer rating (105.7). Oakland is still a young team learning how to win, but having an ascending quarterback helps. If the season ended today, the Raiders would be playing in the postseason as one of the AFC’s wild card teams.
Losers
1. AFC South QBs
What a year to play quarterback in the NFL’s worst division. Andrew Luck has more interceptions (12) than any one in football despite missing two games, rookie Marcus Mariota took a low shot to his knee and then lost his head coach, and Ryan Mallett played musical chairs with Brian Hoyer before missing a flight to Miami and losing his roster spot altogether.
Amazingly, the quarterback that has dealt with the least adversity is sophomore Blake Bortles, who is ranked 26th in passer rating for the 2-5 Jaguars. Brian Hoyer ranking in the top 10 for touchdowns and passer rating is also baffling. Nothing ever makes sense in the AFC South.
2. Baltimore Ravens
Many pegged the Ravens as a sexy pick to represent the AFC in Super Bowl 50. That dream is all but over. Baltimore is 2-6, with six losses by a combined 30 points and two wins via game-winning kicks by Justin Tucker.
The Ravens could as easily be 8-0 as 2-6, but you’re only as good as your record in the NFL. And as it stands now, Baltimore is closer to the No.1 overall pick in the 2015 draft than the postseason. Maybe John Harbaugh’s club can make a run in the second half, but through the first eight weeks, no team has been more disappointing than the Ravens.
3. Detroit Lions
A year after winning 11 games, the Lions find themselves back on the NFL’s scrap heap. At 1-7, Detroit is one of just two teams with only one win this season (Titans are 1-6).
On offense, quarterback Matthew Stafford has been sacked 22 times, and the Detroit running game is averaging less than 70 yards per game. The Lions have scored less than 20 points six times in eight games. On defense, Detroit ranks dead last in points allowed per game (30.6).
Head coach Jim Caldwell made changes to the offensive staff before an intercontinental road trip, which ended in his club getting thrashed by 35 points in London. After the bye, the Lions will go on the road to Lambeau Field, where Detroit hasn’t won in ages. It’s getting ugly in the Motor City. Again.
4. QB Colin Kaepernick, 49ers
When you get benched for Blaine Gabbert, you know things have gone horribly wrong. Once the NFL’s next big thing as a dual threat passer, Kaepernick has devolved into one of the game’s worst players at the position. He’s thrown just six touchdown passes and taken 28 sacks for the 2-6 49ers, while finishing five games with fewer than 200 yards passing. San Francisco has already failed to score 10 points in a game four times this season.
Now, the 49ers are sending their $110 million investment to the bench. The fall has been a precipitous one for a quarterback that recently started a Super Bowl and conference title game in back-to-back years (2012-13).
5. Top RBs from 2014
The first half of 2015 has been tough sledding for a few of the top backs from last season.
DeMarco Murray sliced and diced his way to 1,845 yards and the rushing title last season, but he’s now on pace for 702 yards for the Eagles in 2015. Eddie Lacy, Jeremy Hill and LeSean McCoy—three backs with over 1,100 rushing yards last season—all currently find themselves on track to gain less than 700. C.J. Anderson, a fantasy darling to start 2015, is sitting on just 281 yards after seven games.
And don’t forget about the injuries. Jamaal Charles, Arian Foster and Le’Veon Bell are already on season-ending injured reserve, while others—such as Murray, McCoy, Lacy, Marshawn Lynch and Matt Forte—have suffered through various ailments. The year-to-year turnover at running back never ceases to amaze.