by Perhaps one of the biggest reasons that the NFL remains the most popular league in America is the constant parity the league shows in such a short season. This season has been no exception to that rule through the first five weeks as we have reached the quarter pole.
11 of the 16 AFC teams have a record of either 3-2 and 2-3. One team, the Browns, didn’t play this past weekend so you can include them in as well as they would have had either one of those records. So, that’s 12 of 16 in the AFC. Miami and Kansas City are both 4-1, while Denver and New England are stuck in the mud at 1-4.
Meanwhile in the NFC, it is a bit more spread out, with 6 teams at either 3-2 or 2-3 while both San Francisco and Philadelphia are outstanding at 5-0. Meanwhile, struggling to look like an NFL team are the Carolina Panthers at 0-5, Chicago at 1-4 and Arizona at 1-4. The Vikings are also 1-4, but have played the hardest schedule in the NFL to this point.
A total of 18 of the 32 teams in the NFL have either 2 or 3 wins through 5 weeks. That is 56% of the NFL. If that isn’t the picture of parity, I don’t know what is.
The most pleasant surprise in the AFC has been Miami at 4-1, while perhaps the biggest disappointment has been Cincinnati at 2-3. Teams like the Bills are off to a bit of a slow start when you consider the 3-2 record, however, you must factor in one loss came overseas against a well-rested NFL Europe powerhouse such as Jacksonville. I would also say the Chargers at 2-3 are a disappointment once again as well, as they cannot stop giving away games.
Perhaps the biggest surprises in the AFC are Pittsburgh at 3-2 and Indianapolis at 3-2 as well. Both of which had little to no fanfare coming in, but both with extremely strong drafts and to this point, quality coaching and depth.
The NFC thus far, as expected by many, has been a two-horse race with Philadelphia and San Francisco. The Eagles have had a few close calls already, while the 49ers appear to be unstoppable. Do the 49ers have a trap game coming up in Cleveland, after their big win over Dallas on Sunday Night? Only time will tell.
Are Seattle and Tampa Bay as good as their 3-1 records? Is Dallas a contender or once again a pretender at 3-2? Detroit continues to live up to their pre-season billing at 3-2. A lot of questions still remain in the NFC, but no one appears to be close to unseating San Francisco or Philly in the NFC.
Expect movement this coming weekend in both conferences however as a total of 10 teams with either a 3-2 or 2-3 record play either other this week.
