This NFL season has seen a few teams crash the contenders’ party. Teams that were expected to compete such as the Bills and Chiefs are as dominant as expected, but others like the Cowboys (which lost starting quarterback Dak Prescott in Week One) and the Giants (they’re the Giants) are among the league's best on paper, each sporting a 4-1 record. The only undefeated team left in the league are the Eagles, a perfect 5-0 so far. The Vikings, meanwhile, are 4-1 with their only loss coming to the Eagles. In this article I’ll break down the successes of a few NFL teams, and will predict which ones will see continued success down the stretch.
Eagles
The Eagles sit alone at the top of the NFL with a perfect 5-0 record on the season thus far. After they eked out a 38-35 win in Week One against the Detroit Lions, one of the worst teams in the league, their defensive performance left more questions than answers. In the four weeks following their dismal defensive performance, they have certainly responded, allowing a mere thirteen points per game. Their defense is experienced, with veteran players at many positions. For example, cornerbacks Darius Slay (four-time Pro Bowler) and James Bradberry (one-time Pro Bowler) lead the secondary, while defensive tackle Fletcher Cox plugs the middle alongside rookie phenom Jordan Davis. Linebacker Haason Reddick is averaging a sack per game. On the other side of the ball, QB Jalen Hurts has emerged as one of the best dual threats at his position: he already has ten TD’s on the young season (four passing and six rushing). With weapons in the passing game such as new addition AJ Brown, second year standout Devonta Smith, and tight end Dallas Goedert, this offense is a defensive coordinator's nightmare. The offense has also been able to rely on running back Miles Sanders when needed. In Week Four against the Jaguars, the Eagles gave him the ball 29 times, and he rewarded the team with 156 total yards and two touchdowns. Now that we’ve covered the skill position side of things, let’s show the offensive line some love. Despite losing starting center Jason Kelce to retirement this past offseason, they’re still hands down the best group in the league. The best tackle duo in the league, LT Jordan Mailata (third highest grade from Pro Football Focus in all of the NFL last season) and RT Lane Johnson (three-time Pro Bowler), are the anchors. Rookie offensive guard Landon Dickerson has more than held his own as well.
Verdict: Buy. The Eagles have one of the deepest rosters in football this year. Expect them to make a deep run in this year's playoffs.
Cowboys
The Cowboys have a narrative following them that they can never win in the playoffs. Despite being worth almost two billion more than the second most valuable sports franchise in the world, the results haven’t come with them in recent years. They haven’t made it past the divisional round since their 1995 Super Bowl win. This year, though, they have been playing noticeably better. With two-time Pro Bowl QB Dak Prescott injured in a Week One loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, backup and formerly undrafted QB Cooper Rush has stepped up, leading the team to four straight victories. He has played his role perfectly, without a single turnover in four games. While his stats aren’t eye-popping, he is a smart veteran QB who understands the ins and outs of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s offense. As soon as Dak Prescott is ready to go, Rush will go back to the bench, but the Cowboys really couldn’t have asked for more after Prescott went down. Despite losing one of the best offensive linemen in the world in LG Zack Martin, with a strong RB duo of Zeke Elliot and Tony Pollard, the run game has been solid, if not spectacular. Star wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup stretch the field, but the Cowboys would love to see a little more out of tight end Dalton Schultz who had over 800 receiving yards and eight TD’s last season. This year, after a solid effort in a Week One loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (seven receptions, 62 yards), his production has fallen off a cliff. The next week he had only two catches for eighteen yards, and he hasn’t had a catch since. In his defense, he has been dealing with a knee injury, but the Cowboys would love to see him pick up his production a little. The defense has really been the story of this young season so far. Second year linebacker Micah Parsons and defensive end Demarcus Lawrence have combined for almost two sacks a game. Trevon Diggs, even with his flaws, is a big play threat at any moment. He has picked off two passes in the past three weeks.
Verdict: Sell. While the Cowboys have played well in Prescott’s absence, the offense isn’t championship caliber and it will show against elite playoff defense.
Vikings
The Vikings are loaded with talent at crucial offensive positions. Three-time Pro Bowl QB Kirk Cousins leads the offense. He has been inconsistent at times, but he is a veteran QB that knows how to win. He knows how to get the ball to his playmakers such as wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Theilen, and running back Dalvin Cook. Justin Jefferson has been one of the best players in the NFL since the first time he stepped on the field two seasons ago. He set the rookie record for receiving yards in the Super Bowl era. He followed it up with a monster season, amassing 108 catches and 1616 yards, with ten TDs. This season, he is leading the league in receiving yards. Already a two-time All-Pro, Jefferson is one of the best and will only get better. He is complemented in the receiving game by Adam Theilen. While Theilen is likely past his prime, he is still a solid contributor and leader for the Vikings. Running back Dalvin Cook, while less of a weapon catching the ball, is a tough runner who is elusive as well. He’s been a Pro Bowler for three straight years, and with 373 rushing yards and three TD’s, four in a row isn’t out of the question. The run game is heavily reliant on Cook, though, as backup RB Alexander Mattison is averaging just 3.2 yards per carry. The Vikings would also love more production out of 2019 second round pick Irv Smith Jr. He does have a touchdown catch but establishing him as a red zone option would go a long way for a team still searching for their first ever Super Bowl victory. The defense, meanwhile, has been pretty good thus far. The Smiths (Harrison and Za’Darius) have been as good as ever. Harrison, the six-time Pro Bowler, has led the secondary with 2 interceptions, and Za’Darius leads the defensive line with 4.5 sacks. Linebacker Eric Kendricks has looked great as well so far this season.
Verdict: Sell. The defense hasn’t been great and Kirk Cousins’ struggles in primetime will stop them from going deep in the playoffs.
Giants
The Giants are the most unlikely team to be on this list, but here they are. After having had four head coaches in the past six seasons, they seem to have found their guy in Brian Daboll who came down from Buffalo where he spent four seasons as the offensive coordinator in one of the best offenses in the league. Mike Kafka was brought in from the Kansas City Chiefs, where he was the QB coach for the best quarterback in the league, Patrick Mahomes. Joe Schoen, the Bills’ former assistant general manager, also came down to become the new GM. So far, despite having a depleted roster thanks to a slew of horrible decisions made by former GM Dave Gettleman, they are in the mix of playoff competition. Daniel Jones has shown massive improvement from past years. He is using his legs more, adding a new dimension to this Giants offense which was outrageously bad last year. Saquon Barkley looks as good as ever. After a down year with injuries and bad performance, he is second in the NFL in rushing yards. The real question on offense surrounds the receiver room. Kadarius Toney, while certainly an electric talent, can’t stay on the field. Kenny Golladay, signed to a four year, $72 million deal, has been horrible. In his first season plus five games with the Giants, he is yet to catch his first touchdown after leading the NFL in touchdowns in 2019. He doesn't fit with the Giants offensive philosophy and it is hard to envision Golladay staying in New York for the rest of his contract. Wandale Robinson, a 2022 second round pick, has durability concerns as well. He’s been out since week one with a knee injury. Sterling Shepard, the longest tenured Giants player, tore his ACL and is out for the season. Instead, the Giants are relying on guys like Darius Slayton, Richie James Jr., and Marcus Johnson. Slayton was a trade/cut candidate this offseason after he fell out of favor with the previous regime because of his tendency to drop passes. James Jr. was signed to return punts and Johnson started the season on the practice squad. In spite of this, defensive improvement has led the Giants to success this season. Linebacker Jihad Ward, signed as a free agent, has been amazing. Rookie defensive lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux hasn’t gotten a sack yet, but has consistently gotten pressure and been a disrupting force defending the run. Adoree Jackson and Julian Love have led an injured secondary. Defensive tackle Dexter “Sexy Dexy” Lawrence has shown a massive improvement in rushing the passer this year, on top of his excellent rushing defense. Leonard Williams was excellent before hurting his knee, but he should be back soon.
Verdict: Buy. The Giants’ way of winning gritty close games will continue under rookie HC Brian Daboll. Daniel Jones will continue his strong play and lead this team to a winning season and a postseason berth for the first time in six years.
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