How Are These Teams in 1st Place?

 

It's the end of week 3 and the NFL is in total chaos. We have teams like the chiefs that were talking all off- season about being the first group to go 17-0 in the Regular season after adding an additional game. Now they are 1-2 three games into the year... karma can be a real a bitch. The Steelers, who started off last year 11-0 find themselves under .500 and seeing that Big Ben can barely walk around in the pocket without falling, I'm not even surprised to see them struggle to start the year. But the real shocker this year is the teams that ARE playing well and currently lead their divisions. 

AFC West: 

Like I said, the Chiefs are having a Super Bowl hangover from hell, but nobody thought that this division was up for grabs. The Broncos and the Raiders are both 3-0 and look like actual football teams (in comparison to their years past at least). This is even crazier when you think about how the Broncos didn't know who their starting QB was until 2 weeks before the season and now Teddy Bridgewater looks like Jesus on the football field! The Raiders meanwhile have a sweet new stadium that I think puts all other teams in awe. When you think about this division though, just remember that Patrick Mahomes AND Justin Herbert were both in the top 5 for MVP odds. Neither of them have been as successful as Teddy Bridgewater (who is now on his 5th team in 7 years) or Derek Carr (who looks like he’s about to commit a murder).

AFC North: 

TECHNICALLY the NFL has the Bengals listed as 1st place in their division but for them to even be tied with the likes of the Ravens and the Browns, who are two of the favorites in the AFC this year, is pretty Amazing. While I expect the Browns to win the division and make a deep run in the playoffs, the Bengals are... somehow... sticking around? Even if previous articles say they suck (which they still do in my opinion) this team has to be given SOME credit. So here it is: congrats on being the best Ohio team for the time being.

NFC South: 

Raise your hand if you thought the Panthers would be in 1st place over the Reigning Champion Buccaneers, always reliable Saints, and even the Falcons. If you're raising your hand then shut the fuck up and put it back down. Outside of Christian McCaffrey this team was nothing coming into the year. coming off signing Sam fucking Darnold who was one of the least productive 1st round QB's in recent memory everybody was thinking that they were going to simply tank or drown in a still overly competitive division. Well, now Sammy boy is balling out averaging almost 300 yards and a combined 2 TD's per game while limiting his turnovers. Meanwhile Tom Brady just got outplayed by soon to be named MVP Matthew Stafford (love you Matthew)

Overall this season has been a crapshoot for a lot of the better teams in the league. I'm personally hoping that these teams can turn it around because I may or may not have placed a ton of bets for division winners at the start of the year that aren't looking so hot right about now.