The NFL season is already nearing the halfway mark. How is the season shaping up after eight weeks? Who is playing well and who is struggling?
In a nutshell, it is the usual suspects of the Packers, Steelers, Giants and Patriots who are doing well. The Green Bay Packers are the defending Super Bowl Champions and the only unbeaten team in the NFL this year. So it would be no surprise that in NFL betting they are favorites to win the Super Bowl. If they were to do so, they would become the first team since the New England Patriots in 2005 to defend their title.
The form of the San Francisco 49ers is somewhat of a surprise. The powerhouse of the 1980s hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2002. For a side that only missed the playoffs twice between 1981 and 1998, this is quite a drought.
There are two other sides that are experiencing somewhat of a renaissance. The Detroit Lions haven’t played in the postseason since 1999 and haven’t won a playoff game since 1991 but at 6-2 are looking good. Likewise the Buffalo Bills haven’t been to the postseason since 1999 or won a playoff game since 1995.
If they can continue their good form, it would give much happiness to their success starved fans.
There used to be talk if Indianapolis could make it through the whole season without losing a game. Now at 0-8 and Peyton Manning on the sidelines there is talk if they could go the whole season without winning a single game. The 0-7 Miami Dolphins are in a similar situation and there is much betting on the Dolphins going through the season without a single win.
Elsewhere around the league there aren’t that many surprises. In the NFC South, the New Orleans Saints lead the division with a 5-3 record. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons are both on 4-3. While Cam Newtown has impressed many with his adjustment to the NFL, it hasn’t resulted in team success as the Carolina Panthers are stuck on 2-6.
Much was expected of the Philadelphia Eagles but they are on 3-4 along with the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins. The New York Giants are in first place on 5-2.
But for the 49ers, the NFC West is a cesspool. The Seattle Seahawks are 2-5 while the Arizona Cardinals and St Louis Rams are both 1-6.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-2 with the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens both at 5-2.
Houston are first in the AFC South at 5-3. If they keep it up, they will go to the playoffs for the first time in their history.
In the AFC West, the San Diego Chargers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night meaning that both of them as well as the Oakland Raiders all sit on 4-3.
