The first week of October isn’t over yet, but every NFL team has already faced a loss. For the New York Jets, however, they still haven’t found a win in the league.
Week 5 was quite the spectacle from start to finish—perhaps even a contender for Game of the Year. But given how rocky this season has been, who knows how quickly we’ll move on to the next? The main takeaway is that football is unpredictable, and that’s the good news.
As we watch things get worse for some teams, how do we navigate these feelings? Here, we dig into the chaos.
Which is more true, the Colts or the Broncos?
The Indianapolis Colts are currently sitting at 4-1, seemingly shedding the reputation of underwhelming performances. Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos have just beaten the Philadelphia Eagles, sparking discussions about their potential as favorites.
Both teams seem to struggle against the top contenders in the AFC. If I had to choose between the two, I’d lean toward Denver. The Colts are fun to watch—they really are impressive—but the Broncos might have the edge in footballing depth.
It’s remarkable, though, that we’re even discussing this in mid-October!
I appreciate both defenses, but I’d have to pick the Colts. Their offense, led by Daniel Jones and supported by key players like Michael Pittman Jr., Tyler Warren, and Jonathan Taylor, has been one of the most dynamic in the league. In fact, the Colts average a whopping 32.6 points per game—almost ten points more than the Broncos.
If Indy keeps this up, I might just start taking them seriously not just as a team, but as genuine Super Bowl contenders.
Which would be the bigger disaster, the Cardinals or the Jets?
I’d say the Jets. The stats around teams failing to score takeaways in their first five games date back to 1933, and they’re pretty shocking. The Jets have a new defensive coach in Aaron Glenn, who previously worked with the Lions, but starting the season 0-5 is grim.
They poured resources into making their defense formidable, yet here they are—almost a third of the way through the season without a single takeaway. If they don’t fix that soon, it’s hard to see how they’ll win many games. I think they’ll end up worse than the Cardinals, who at least have some star power to rely on.
Earlier, I picked the Cardinals to win the NFC West, and honestly, I wasn’t too excited about that choice. I expected the Rams to falter, the Seahawks to struggle, and had my doubts about the 49ers. But I’ve always found it hard to give up on Kyler Murray; the guy just has a special spark.
Right now, though, things with the Cardinals seem tense. It’s unclear what the direction of the team is. They occasionally show flashes of greatness, but overall, it feels like they’re just… existing.
As an additional blow, they were the first team to lose to Cam Ward’s Tennessee Titans after leading in the fourth quarter. It’s somewhat concerning to watch, especially in comparison to the Jets.
Is this just bad luck for the Ravens this year?
Looking at the Ravens’ potential win count for the upcoming season, I will likely swoop in on players who seem to be undervalued based on this year’s performances.
However, I wouldn’t say the Ravens are simply unlucky. They’ve been a strong team for a while, but it seems they’ve finally hit a wall. That’s not something to be ashamed of, really.
If anything, this seems to be the year for the Buffalo Bills. Kansas City is still working through some transitions, and Cincinnati isn’t in great form while the Ravens are having their own struggles.
The Bills should capitalize on that.
As a Chargers fan watching my team suffer from injuries to key players, I can empathize with what the Ravens are dealing with. They’re missing several defensive starters, not to mention quarterback Lamar Jackson in a recent game against Houston.
So, what’s ahead for the Ravens? Cooper Rush is certainly an unconventional quarterback. It’s clear that the offensive strategy they worked on in the offseason isn’t translating as they’d hoped.
It’s interesting to see which teams are able to stay healthy, as that’s often down to a bit of luck. Each franchise invests a lot to make their facilities and training programs as resilient as possible. So why do some teams keep losing players to injury, while others remain relatively unscathed? It generally comes down to starters having to play through the grueling 17-game schedule.
The Ravens have had their share of misfortune this year, but things will turn around eventually. When that shift occurs, don’t be shocked if they start pushing toward a wildcard spot.
Will the Buccaneers be able to maintain this throughout the season?
Honestly, I don’t think the Buccaneers can keep up this winning streak. Sure, they’re a solid team, but it seems like there’s an element of luck keeping them in the mix for victories.
They often find themselves barely ahead, yet somehow manage to pull off wins. Eventually, they’ll return to more typical averages, and it could hit harder than their fans anticipate.
If they can get receiver Mike Evans and running back Bucky Irving back on the field, playing efficiently, then perhaps the outlook will shift significantly, making them feel like serious contenders, like those top-tier teams.
Interestingly, despite their impressive 4-1 start, FTN Fantasy continues to put the Buccaneers’ DVOA in a negative light. Statistically speaking, that’s notable.
Four of their wins have come down to the wire—literally, with each victory decided as time expired. This isn’t saying Tampa isn’t a legitimate team, just that context matters when evaluating their performance.
The Buccaneers certainly look like strong candidates for the NFC South and will likely win that handily, but I’m curious to see how they perform against stronger opponents. Their next big test against the Lions will be telling.
