The NFL common season is a 3rd of the best way by means of.
Whereas nothing has really been confirmed but, six weeks is sufficient time for contenders and pretenders to begin to separate themselves and for developments across the league to shift the ability stability.
There have already been consequential accidents, an intra-division quarterback commerce and, on Monday, the season’s first head-coach firing with Tennessee’s Brian Callahan.
A lot extra will transpire between now and Week 18, however listed below are the largest storylines of the NFL season to this point.
RAVENS GROUNDED
No person might have predicted the Baltimore Ravens would match final season’s loss complete by Week 6, however right here we’re.
The Ravens (1-5) are extremely beat up, with quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring) sitting out of the final two video games and defensive deal with Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) out for the yr.
Security Kyle Hamilton (groin), cornerback Marlon Humphrey, linebacker Roquan Smith and left deal with Ronnie Stanley are among the many others to overlook time.
Their protection has struggled since Week 1, whereas the offense has utterly cratered in two losses with out Jackson.
Jackson is anticipated to return after the Week 7 bye, and the Ravens have one of many NFL’s best remaining schedules, so not all hope is misplaced.
However the Ravens are far sufficient behind the first-place Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) within the AFC North to marvel if the opening is simply too deep to climb out of.
CHIEFS CONUNDRUM
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ downfall is way much less dramatic, however at 3-3, they’ve already misplaced extra video games than they did final common season earlier than going to their third straight Tremendous Bowl.
Patrick Mahomes and firm have rebounded from an 0-2 begin by profitable three of their final 4 video games, together with an announcement 30-17 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday evening.
Whereas their protection has not matched final yr’s lofty commonplace, the Chiefs’ offense has been extra high-powered. Sunday’s sport marked their third time scoring not less than 28 factors — a mark they reached solely 4 occasions final yr.
Mahomes ranks throughout the prime 10 in passing yards (1,514) and touchdowns (11), and he’s nicely on his strategy to a profession excessive in dashing yards.
The offense ought to be even higher with extensive receiver Rashee Rice set to return this week from a six-game suspension.
INDIANA JONES
No staff has a greater file than the Daniel Jones-led Indianapolis Colts (5-1).
Let that sink in.
Lower than a yr in the past, Jones was launched by the Giants in the course of the second season of a four-year, $160 million contract.
Now, he’s the engine behind a Colts offense that entered Monday averaging an NFL-best 32.3 factors per sport.
Indy nonetheless has lots to show, as 4 of their 5 wins have come in opposition to groups with dropping information.
However there’s no denying this is among the NFL’s greatest surprises.
QB SWAP
In a vacuum, the Cincinnati Bengals buying Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns final week made loads of sense.
The rebuilding Browns had already benched the 40-year-old quarterback in favor of rookie Dillion Gabriel, whereas the Bengals had fallen to 0-3 since Joe Burrow suffered a toe harm that’s anticipated to maintain him out till mid-December.
What made the commerce so stunning is that division rivals hardly ever commerce with one another, particularly when a quarterback is concerned.
Amongst these shocked by the commerce was Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who is about to face Flacco and the Bengals on Thursday.
“It doesn’t make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough of to make your opening-day starter to a division opponent that’s hurting in that area,” Tomlin stated Monday. “But that’s just my personal feelings.”
INJURY ONSLAUGHT
Burrow is way from the one large title to maintain a major harm this yr.
The Giants’ Malik Nabers and the Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill suffered season-ending knee accidents.
The San Francisco 49ers misplaced defensive standouts Nick Bosa (knee) and Fred Warner (ankle) for the yr, too.
In Week 3, 5 of the 32 groups began a backup quarterback with Burrow, Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy, Brock Purdy and Justin Fields all out.
Jackson suffered his hamstring pressure the next week.
The Los Angeles Chargers are all the way down to their third-string working again with Omarion Hampton (ankle) on injured reserve and Najee Harris (Achilles) out for the season.
And after Emeka Egbuka left Sunday’s sport with a hamstring pressure, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been with out their prime 4 offensive weapons, as Mike Evans (hamstring), Chris Godwin (fibula) and Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) have been already out.
EAGLES ANIMOSITY
The Philadelphia Eagles have performed solely six video games since February’s Tremendous Bowl victory, but the vibes in Philly are significantly off.
A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are believed to be sad with their utilization — neither ranks throughout the prime 25 in receiving yards — whereas Saquon Barkley is on tempo for less than 920.8 dashing yards after eclipsing 2,000 final yr.
The noise round quarterback Jalen Hurts and his Eagles offense has turn out to be amplified after back-to-back losses, together with a 34-17 beatdown by the Jaxson Dart-led Giants final week.
The Eagles (4-2) nonetheless entered Monday atop the NFC East, however their -1 level differential ranked 18th within the NFL.
With the NFL’s sixth-hardest remaining energy of schedule, in response to Tankathon, the Eagles have a lot to repair for a run at one other championship to stay practical.
