By Zach Waltz
Sports Editor
With two weeks already over in the National Football League season, one thing is clear: no one is safe.
Starting with the AFC East, it appears as though the perennially disappointing Buffalo Bills are on the right track to have a good year. Starting 2-0, the Bills are currently at the head of the division. However, their lead could be short-lived depending on how well the New England Patriots come back from their 1-1 start, with their loss coming to the 1-1 Miami Dolphins. However, with a lack of weapons superstar quarterback Tom Brady may not be enough on his own to push the Pats into the playoffs.
The AFC North looks to be one of the most interesting divisions, even more so than in previous seasons. The 2-0 Cincinnati Bengals currently lead the division, but the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns have all shown flashes of greatness. All three teams are 1-1. The Ravens have beaten the Steelers, and the Steelers have beaten the Browns. Meanwhile, the Browns pulled an upset over the New Orleans Saints. While it isn’t clear which team has the upper hand, the AFC North will provide for some late-season dramatics as these four teams battle it out for playoff contention.
While the AFC South is usually dominated by the Colts, it appears as though the men in blue and white from Indianapolis will have a long season ahead of them. Starting 0-2, the Colts are in the basement of the division, behind both the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans. On the other hand, the Houston Texans have shown they have what it takes to win, despite their quarterback woes. The Texans defense is a force to be reckoned however, with players like J.J. Watt and Brian Cushing. Only time will tell if Andrew Luck can pull the Colts together to win enough games, but watch for the Texans to make a legitimate playoff run.
The last AFC divison, the West, has no shortage of talent or drama. With the Super Bowl runner-up Denver Broncos in first it will be a tough division to win. Peyton Manning has new weapons to throw to, and they have a re-vamped defense. Despite the Broncos poised to be the dominant team in the division, the San Diego Chargers could sneak into the playoffs as a wild card team, or if the Broncos collapse, they could possibly win the division with their high-powered offense led by quarterback Phillip Rivers.
The NFC East is looking flat-out abysmal so far this year. The New York Giants can’t seem to avoid turnovers with quarterback Eli Manning throwing more balls to the other team’s defense than his own receivers. The Washington Redskins lost their star quarterback Robert Griffin III, leaving them with backup Kirk Cousins to make due until Griffin can return. America’s team, the Dallas Cowboys, have not been able to get their offense going, and their defense is practically a sieve after losing multiple starts to free agency or injury. The only team that has shown any promise is the Philadelphia Eagles, starting the season 2-0. The Eagles will most likely run away with the NFC East, but if Robert Griffin returns, the Redskins could make a late-season push for the postseason.
As of right now, all four teams in the NFC North are 1-1. While the Green Bay Packers look like the early favorites, both the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions could be leading this division by season’s end. Led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Packers have an explosive offense, and their defense is solid, as always. The Bears are looking to rebuild their defense from last year after finishing among the worst in the league, contrary to the usual for them. The Lions have one of the best offenses in the league, but their defense may end up being their Achilles heel in the end, as they are not defensively sound.
The NFC South is currently headed by the 2-0 Carolina Panthers. Despite this early season lead, the 0-2 New Orleans Saints are bound to get their act together and win enough games to make the playoffs. However, the Panthers could make a strong push for the postseason with their young offense and dangerous defense. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers do not appear as they are a threat to win the division, but the Atlanta Falcons could also threaten Carolina if they can put together enough offense to make up for their lack of defense.
Lastly, the NFC West features one of the most entertaining divisional rivalries between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers. Both teams have young and talented quarterbacks in charge of their dangerously fast offenses. Additionally, both teams feature defensive squads that are among the league’s best. While the Arizona Cardinals may be leading the division right now, don’t expect that to stay true for long as the Seahawks and 49ers will most likely be the two teams battling it out at the end of the season.
While it is still early in the season, the NFL has already been full of upsets and great games. It will be an exciting season, regardless of who is winning and who is losing. With the NFL cracking down on off-field conduct, players will most likely be going in and out of suspension the whole season, forcing teams to cope with their absences. The NFL is certain to be full of surprises this year, much to the viewers’ delight.
waltzzd12@bonaventure.edu
