Who’s on course for the Super Bowl and who should start preparing for next season?
By Ryan Conway
The NFL has already reached the end of it’s first quarter. It is no secret that most, if not all, Head Coaches break the season down into four quarters. Get out of your first four games unbeaten or 3-1 then you’re in good shape entering the next portion of the campaign. Anything below that, well, it can get a bit tricky. So, which teams are on course for the postseason? Who’s the early frontrunner for MVP? And who is facing an uphill battle the rest of the way?
MVP Race:
Patrick Mahomes has lit the league up so far (photo credit: Kansas City Chiefs).
Right now, Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes are the best quarterbacks in the National Football League. Without question. Many will point to their stellar play-callers and supporting cast around them, but that would be doing the young signal callers a disservice.
Mahomes has taken the league by storm with his arm strength, command of the offense and knowledge of defenses at the next level. Hot take artists lie in wait for the Kansas City Chiefs’ eventual stutter on offense but so far, the second year QB is proving a revelation, lending more credence to sitting a rookie quarterback for a year before giving them the keys to the offense.
Goff on the other hand is building on a superb campaign with second-year Head Coach Sean McVay. Goff looked lost under Jeff Fisher but has been at the heart of an offensive juggernaut since the former Washington Redskins offensive coordinator took the lead role in Los Angeles. Some of Goff’s success will be pinned on the system McVay employs – which is partially true, as it is with most QBs – but through the first four weeks of the season the Rams are averaging more points and yards per game than the 1999-2001 Rams. An offense so potent it was given the moniker ‘The Greatest Show on Turf’.
If one was to take an outside bet on who could break the trend of QBs taking home the award, then eyes must turn to the Midwest. Khalil Mack has started life as a Bear (not an actual one) like a house on fire. The former Raider has logged five sacks and forced a fumble in every game he has played in this season – as well as a pick-six against Green Bay, that’ll stand him in good stead with the locals.
Conversely his former employers only have five QB takedowns as a team, prompting Head Coach Jon Gruden to quip that pass rushers are hard to find. Yikes.
Honourable mentions: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints), Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers), Adam Thielen (Minnesota Vikings).
Nice surprises:
Khalil Mack has jolted the Chicago Bears into contention in the NFC (photo credit: Chicago Bears).
Before the opening weekend of the season the presumptive heavyweights in the NFC North were the reigning division kings Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. Enter Khalil Mack and a revitalised Chicago Bears team.
The Bears had a successful offseason before the arrival of the former Oakland Raider, but his introduction and subsequent production – minus a training camp it should be noted – has propelled Matt Nagy’s men into contention not only for the North, but the entire NFC. Had that statement been made in March or April you would have been laughed out of the building.
Still in the North but changing conference, the AFC North has started in peculiar fashion. The Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals both sit at 3-1. Baltimore’s 2018 season was under a microscope before a pass was even thrown with quarterback Joe Flacco under increased scrutiny following the drafting of Lamar Jackson as well as John Harbaugh’s position as Head Coach. So far, the pair are thoroughly debunking all narratives.
Honourable mentions: Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns.
Unwelcome shocks:
Josh Rosen could get the win, but played well in his first start in the NFL (photo credit: Arizona Cardinals).
Unfortunately, when the NFL giveth it also taketh away. Bill O’Brien’s Houston Texans find themselves at 1-3, bottom of the AFC South and ruing more injuries. After Deshaun Watson’s electric seven-game stretch in 2017 hopes were high. Perhaps in the minds of many unfairly high.
The second-year QB has struggled in patches through four games this term. Still working his way back from a torn ACL and only ten starts into his NFL career any criticism received should be taken with some perspective and a remembrance of what the former Clemson star can do.
The defense, while welcoming back stars such as J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus and adding to their secondary with Tyrann Mathieu and Aaron Colvin, has had at least 20 points put on them in every game so far this season. The problems persist in that department.
Meanwhile, the only winless team left in the NFL resides in the NFC West and is under new stewardship. Steve Wilks and rookie QB Josh Rosen are in a hole, although Rosen did not start the first three games, instead watching on from the bench as Sam Bradford was under center.
Arizona have already been shut out this term and not even the returning David Johnson has been able to propel them to a win thus far. With games against the Denver Broncos, Vikings, and Chiefs on the horizon the future looks bleak for the new regime in the desert.
(dis) honourable mentions: Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers.
How are the rookies doing?
Baker Mayfield is QB1 for the Browns after leading them to their first win in 18 regular season games (photo credit: Cleveland Browns).
In the grand scheme of things, it is still far too early to tell. Players peak at different times, and players who do burst onto the scene can fade away just as quickly. It’s the nature of the beast.
Still, 2018’s top pick Baker Mayfield was thrust into action in week three following a Tyrod Taylor concussion. The former Oklahoma QB led the Cleveland Browns back from a 14-point deficit to give the Browns their first win in 18 regular season games. Mayfield was then named the starter going forward and that doesn’t look like changing any time soon.
Saquon Barkley’s NFL career has got off to a steady start. The running back has three touchdowns for the New York Giants so far and is averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
In Green Bay, cornerback Jarie Alexander is making an impression. A position of need for three years, the Packers have a budding shutdown corner in their ranks.
The Falcons added more firepower to their passing attack in the draft, selecting wide receiver Calvin Ridley with their first-round pick. The Florida native has gone on to catch 15 balls for 264 yards so far this season, and six touchdowns. Astounding efficiency.
Honourable mentions: Derwin James (Los Angeles Chargers), Minkah Fitzpatrick (Miami Dolphins), Denzel Ward (Cleveland Browns).
