NFL teams are roughly two-thirds through their schedules, and some patterns are emerging. Some teams we thought would be among the best, like the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, have not disappointed in their performance or won-loss records. And some teams, like the Carolina Panthers and Tenessee Titans, continue their futility.
Other teams have been surprised this year, both good and bad. Their records don’t match preseason prognostications, and they continue to confuse the experts. Let’s take a look at four of those teams.
Overachieving Teams
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings ended the 2023 NFL season with a 7-10 record and plenty of questions about their future. Quarterback Kirk Cousins colluded with the Atlanta Falcons to write his ticket out of Minnesota and into the land of even bigger bucks. They let All-Pro defensive end Daniele Hunter walk due to age, injury fears, and salary. Both lines needed overhauls, and the defensive secondary had more questions than answers.
So, how did coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings respond to the challenge? Quite well, actually. To replace Cousins, they brought in well-traveled veteran Sam Darnold. There have been mixed results at times, but the overall grade is high. He has thrown for 2,717 yards and 21 touchdowns so far. And he has been a cool and calm presence on and off the field.
They augmented their offense further by picking up the most underrated back in the NFL, Aaron Jones. His dual-threat capability has taken some of the heat off Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson. On defense, edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel have brought an athleticism missing from previous Vikings squads. Add an excellent roving linebacker like Blake Cashman, and you can see why the Vikings have the sixth-ranked defense in the league.
Washington Commanders
This team has rallied around rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to remain in playoff contention, but there has been some regression as of late centered around Daniels’s health. They have not been great in any category but have been good enough to stay competitive. Coach Dan Quinn has been a steadying influence all year, but the true test now comes in trying to end the three-game skid.
Running back Brian Robinson Jr. has been good every other game, so he has to find the consistency that is the symbol of a premier NFL running back. In the meantime, he is questionable for the next game with the Tenessee Titans, as he suffered a leg injury against Dallas. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin has been a beast as always, with 823 receiving yards, but Daniel’s struggles have adversely affected McLaurin the past two contests. The pressure is on offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to re-steer this offense in a positive direction.
Kicker Austin Seibert has been a disaster since returning from a hip injury. The defense has kept this team competitive in games, but the lack of a pass rush has hurt them, especially in the Cowboys game. Dante Fowler Jr. (81/2 sacks), Frank Luvu (7 sacks), and the gang have to kick it in gear to finish the season on a winning note. Week 13 is a great time to right the ship as they play the struggling Titans at home on Sunday.
Underachieving Teams
New York Jets
The team that everyone loves to hate. The promise of the savior, Aaron Rodgers, has not come to pass, and owner Woody Johnson is now looking for a way to dump his contract. Between Rodgers’ declining skills and a leaky offensive line, their big play ability has been curtailed, thereby wasting the talents of receivers Garrett Wilson and Devante Adams. Perhaps Rodgers’ performance should not have been a surprise, given his mediocre performance during the 2022 season and his absence most of last year due to an Achilles injury.
Johnson cannot exact too much additional carnage because he already canned coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas this season. He is now trying to find a way to dump the rest of Rodgers’s bonus pay, which is still owed by the team.
And the defense that was so competitive with Saleh at the helm has turned into another team dumpster fire. Highly ranked cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Michael Carter II’s play has fallen off dramatically since Salah’s departure. The ship is quickly sinking, and there is no chance of reviving it this season. The team needs to cut bait with Rodgers and start a new era. Easier said than done.
Dallas Cowboys
There were several good choices for this final pick. The New York Giants are everyone’s favorite target this year, but expectations for a successful 2024 season were muted. The San Francisco 49ers came to mind, but injuries rather than subpar play have been their downfall.
But I settled on the Dallas Cowboys, who have had a lost season. Their win against the Commanders on Sunday was their first since an October 6th win in Pittsburgh against the Steelers. The Cowboys have been racked with injuries this season, including quarterback Dak Prescott, who will not return this season after surgery to repair an injured hamstring.
Other key players who have missed games due to injury include receiver Brandin Cooks, edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, tight end Jake Ferguson, right guard Zack Martin, and cornerback Trevon Diggs. Coach Mike McCarthy has been on the hot seat the whole season despite owner Jerry Jones saying he would consider extending the veteran coach’s contract.
And despite all of this, star edge rusher Micah Parsons told The Athletic that there is no quit in his team. “I’m not done yet. I don’t plan on tanking. “If the higher-ups are looking for a draft pick, I hope that’s ruined, because we got a lot of football left to play. As long as I’m a part of this team, we’re always going to fight.”
Moving Forward
As the season progresses, there are plenty of interesting stories regarding all of these teams. Will the Minnesota Vikings win a double-digit amount of games and still finish third in the division? Can the Washinton Commanders halt their losing streak and secure a playoff spot? And what will the fate be of New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy? It should be a wild ride the rest of the way.
