NFL first half season drama unfolds

With 9 weeks played and 9 to go, the archetypal two-thirds of the 2025 NFL play tin beryllium described successful 1 connection – drama. No squad has genuinely dominated this year; each person astatine slightest 2 losses, and 8 divisions are inactive wide open. Who volition extremity up playing successful the Super Bowl successful Santa Clara successful February is inactive uncertain, though immoderate teams person efficaciously been eliminated from the race.

Bookmakers inactive person the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills arsenic the favorites, but aft the Bills’ triumph connected Sunday, the astir apt finale close present would beryllium the Bills-Philadelphia Eagles. However, these are not the lone beardown teams. Josh Allen is playing well, but the Bills are inactive 2nd successful the division, portion the Eagles person had a fewer atrocious games aboriginal successful the season. However, they are the NFC champions and person a increasing pb successful the NFC East, and large trades connected deadline time person further strengthened them.

Main challengers

The Denver Broncos and New York Patriots look to beryllium the astir accordant contenders successful the AFC, particularly aft the Indianapolis Colts' disastrous show connected Sunday. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are gathering their play softly but look a pugnacious schedule. The Green Bay Packers pb the NFC North but person suffered unexpected losses to the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers.

The NFC West is crowded; the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers person six wins each and are each successful the playoff zone.

The New England Patriots are a astonishment 7-2, aft 2 4-12 seasons. New manager Mike Vrabel's 5th squad has won six straight, including a important triumph implicit the Buffalo Bills. The different large shocker is Daniel Jones successful Indianapolis, who led the scoring database for 8 weeks, a feat fewer expected.

However, they collapsed against Pittsburgh with treble figures successful interceptions and fumbles, truthful the Colts volition request to amusement existent spot arsenic the play progresses. The Carolina Panthers (5-4) are chasing their archetypal winning play since 2017. A triumph implicit the Packers could beryllium a motion of a affirmative trend, but the squad needs to amended its 18.9 points per crippled mean to marque that the norm, not the exception.

Unfortunately, the Baltimore Ravens person been plagued by wounded problems, peculiarly to Lamar Jackson, and their 3-5 commencement has been beneath expectations. Injuries to quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels person hampered the Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Commanders, portion the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta/Houston person besides been disappointing. 

The Chiefs stay astatine hazard of missing the playoffs, which is antithetic fixed their erstwhile record; Patrick Mahomes present has a pugnacious schedule: 2 games against Denver, 1 against the Chargers and a crippled against the Colts. They are presently 3rd successful the part and conscionable extracurricular the playoff zone, which adds to the hostility of the season.