The NFL season has kicked off with high flying teams from last year. The Patriots and Chiefs are continuing to dominate the league, and newcomers like the 49ers, Ravens, and the Bills all starting to heat up. There have also been many teams who have looked to tanking (trying to lose all of their games) to try and get a better draft pick this year. Many are hoping to take Quarterbacks like Jake Fromm, Justin Herbert, or Tua Tavagolia, like the Dolphins, Redskins (who don’t need a QB with rookie Dwayne Haskins spending this year learning the playbook) and the Bengals. With the good and the bad is also the teams who have found themselves looking at the playoff picture so far with the hopes of making it in. With all of those teams their have also been those riddled with injury, like the Steelers and Saints not having star players suit up on Sundays.
The Patriots and Chiefs have been very dominant over the past few years, with Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs taking home the MVP award, and Tom Brady of the Patriots taking it home the year before. Both quarterbacks also have the privilege of being coached by some of the greats, with Andy Reid coaching the Chiefs to a 4-2 record, putting them atop the AFC West. Meanwhile, Bill Belichek is doing what he does best by coaching the Pats to a so far undefeated season. Even with what may look like a declining Tom Brady (which many have been hoping for for years) the Patriots defense has been unstoppable -- on pace to be one of the best of all time, with a team total of 25 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, and 14 interceptions. The way things are looking with these two teams, it seems destined that they will be the one and two seeds again, and play each other in the AFC Championship game for a second time.
The NFL season has been somewhat surprising so far, but none have been more surprising then the play of some Second year Quarterbacks. Baker Mayfield, the starting QB of the Cleveland Browns, looked phenomenal last season, leading a previously winless team to a late season playoff run. The former number one NFL draft selection was completely regressed in his sophomore season, and he led the Browns to a 2-4 record after being considered Super Bowl contenders before the season, especially after trading for star Wide Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Through the first six games of the season, he has eleven interceptions, and only 1496 yards and five touchdowns. Meanwhile, quarterbacks Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have led their teams into playoff contention. Allen’s Bills have a 4-1 record in a division with the outstanding Patriots being their only loss. Jackson’s Ravens have a 4-2 record and are on pace to win their division. Both QBs have had success passing deep, while Jackson has also had a tremendous running game with 460 yards on the ground. The other starting second year quarterback of the Jets, Sam Darnold, has been our with Mono for the past 4 weeks. However, Darnold was able to return in week six, just in time to play and upset a formerly 3-0 team in the Cowboys, while getting the New York Jets their first win of the season. While Darnold and Mayfield’s situations look very bleak, no one is in a worse position than Josh Rosen, the former tenth overall pick by the Cardinals who was traded this past offseason to the Miami Dolphins so that the Cardinals could select quarterback Kyler Murray with the first overall pick. Rosen has been in and out of games, splitting time with veteran QB Ryan Fitzpatrick in the hopes of leading the Dolphins to their first win of the season. Rosen was declared the starter for the rest of the season on Monday after their loss to the Redskins. If Rosen fails to lead Miami to a victory this season, they will most likely take star Alabama QB Tua Tavgolia, which would leave Rosen’s time as the starter, a thing of the past. The rivalry between these four first round selections should last for years to come.
As good as teams like the Patriots and Chiefs are, there are a few teams in the league that look like Polar opposites. Many believe that these winless teams are just looking to tank for a higher draft pick: teams like the Dolphins, Redskins and the Bengals. The Redskins, who already have what seems like their franchise QB in last years fifteenth overall selection, who has yet to play much this season, there are still great needs outside of the QB position. Offensive Lineman Trent Williams has held out all of the season so far, after having a falling out with the team over a contract dispute. Williams hopes to be traded before the October 29th deadline. That could lead them to select Georgia Offensive Tackle Andrew Williams. Other possible selections are receiver Jerry Jeudy out of Alabama, or star Ohio State Defensive End Chase Young. While the Redskins may not have QB needs, the Dolphins and Bengals need a new starter now more than ever. Both teams have yet to win a game this season, and have Andy Dalton of the Bengals and Rosen/Fitzpatrick on the Dolphins looking like this will be their last season with the team. Even if one of them were to secure the number one pick over the other, there are still great QB options outside of Tua Tavagolia. Justin Herbert of the Oregon Ducks, Jake Fromm out of Georgia (and star on the show QB1), Utah State QB Jordan Love, and Jalen Hurts of Oklahoma all look like prime QB options in next year’s draft. Along with those QBs, Joe Burrow of LSU and Jacob Eason of Washington have shot up draft boards after having outstanding performances so far this season, with LSU being 6-0 and Washington 5-2 this season. It would be an understatement to say that this 2020 Quarterback class is very deep.
So far this season, injuries have greatly affected many teams throughout the NFL. But for the past few Sundays we have had to watch the NFL without some of our favorite stars. 40 year old QB Drew Brees has been injured since week two after injuring a ligament in his thumb against the Rams. Even with the Saints having to deal with this horrific injury, they have yet to miss a beat. Backup QB and former starter on the Vikings, Teddy Bridgewater has stepped in to lead the team to a 5-1 record atop the NFC-South. His play has been able to keep the Saints in playoff contention for Brees’ return. No team may have been hit harder with the injury bug than the Steelers. Veteran QB Ben Roethlisberger was injured and placed on IR after deciding to undergo season ending surgery on his right elbow. Backup Mason Rudolph then stepped in to take over the QB position. He was off to a hot start, but was hit so hard in the head during a game against the Baltimore Ravens that he was left unconscious. Rudolph was able to regain consciousness while being tended to and left the game with a concussion. Third string QB Delvin Hodges stepped in and was able to lead the Steelers to a 24-17 win against the Chargers on Sunday Night Football in week 6. Sadly, that was only the Steelers second win of the year, and a 2-4 team doesn’t seem likely to reach the playoffs. While you may think that that would be a good thing, and that they could use a high draft pick on one of the top Qbs or players in the draft you are wrong. The Steelers decided to trade a first round pick to the Dolphins for Cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick. Hopefully both QBs recover quickly.
While we are only six weeks into the NFL season, it looks like we are going six weeks into the NFL season, it looks like we are going to be watching a tremendous year of Football the features high powered teams and many teams with the hopes of reaching the playoffs and eventually winning the Super Bowl.