3rd annual NFL surprises thread

[msgkings322]

You guys know the drill, every year a team or two surprises us and makes the playoffs, and every year a team or two unexpectedly underperforms or even sucks.

4 games gives us some idea, yes there's a lot of season left but it's no fun waiting for week 8. And as always injuries will be a big factor. At season end some of our picks will look dumb but it's just sports, take your shot.

I think most of us would put the Colts in the upside category, they look like a playoff team to me, out of nowhere. Another might be their division rival the Jaguars.

Meanwhile there aren't any obvious teams that are badly underperforming. The Ravens are closest, they were supposed to be top contenders but that defense looks terrible and not contender worthy so I will pick them for the downside mix.

The NFC is going pretty much as expected so far.

I'm putting the thread up before week 4 is officially over because it doesn't change anything in the Jets Dolphins game and the Broncos are obviously going to win tonight.

 

[Xeliou66]

Positive surprises - Colts obviously are the first to come to mind, Daniel Jones has played well and they’ve been better than I expected. I’ll also say Seahawks and Jags - Seahawks are 3-1, I didn’t trust Darnold and still have my reservations about him but he’s doing a decent job so far and their D is really good, and the Jags are also playing better than expected.

Negative surprises - Ravens immediately jump out - their 3 losses have come to teams that have been very good but their D has gotten shredded and shouldn’t be this bad, and they are way too talented to start off 1-3. Also the Texans, I expected them to be better than 1-3 as well, I know their O-Line has issues and their receivers are kind of inexperienced but still I expected more. I could still see them winning the division as it’s early but it’s a weak start for them.

 

[Mebert]

Titans are a disappointment, which is impressive when you consider how low the bar was coming in.

 

[Clayton]

Titans are a disappointment, which is impressive when you consider how low the bar was coming in.

I had them as the worst team coming into the season but that wasn't common. I think they were seen as a bottom 5 but frisky kind of team.

Cam Ward is currently 4.9 YPA, 51.2% completion, and has 2 TDs in 4 games. Thats unwatchable

 

[Mebert]

I had them as the worst team coming into the season but that wasn't common. I think they were seen as a bottom 5 but frisky kind of team.

Cam Ward is currently 4.9 YPA, 51.2% completion, and has 2 TDs in 4 games. Thats unwatchable

Lions fans have seen that kind of team before. I doubt they can recreate the full 2008 magic, but the team for sure feels the same.

 

[Clayton]

Lions fans have seen that kind of team before. I doubt they can recreate the full 2008 magic, but the team for sure feels the same.

Just looking at stats and Cam Ward is getting sacked about twice as much as Stafford was. Almost in David Carr territory

 

[DJ Fieri]

Just looking at stats and Cam Ward is getting sacked about twice as much as Stafford was. Almost in David Carr territory

Their OL is bad....and their receivers have dropped a lot of passes....

They need an infusion of talent and need another offseason to get some more players.

 

[Mebert]

Just looking at stats and Cam Ward is getting sacked about twice as much as Stafford was. Almost in David Carr territory

Stafford was the reward for 0-16. 08 lions was Kitna, Orvlosky, and Culpepper.

 

[Dude]

We’ve only finished 1/4 of season, some interesting surprises. Think we need to pump the brakes a bit, wait until the results of Q2, 3 and even Q4 to have more accurate measurements. You never know, man.

 

[shopson67]

Their OL is bad....and their receivers have dropped a lot of passes....

They need an infusion of talent and need another offseason to get some more players.

Getting Spears back could help a bit, give them a good check down target out of the backfield.

Don't know what to say about Ridley. Maybe he's a trade opportunity before the deadline? Can Dike and Jefferson really be any worse?

They seemed to have a solid OL put together, but the Latham injury hurts. Moore is looking like the drastic overpay that most assumed when that deal was announced.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Getting Spears back could help a bit, give them a good check down target out of the backfield.

Don't know what to say about Ridley. Maybe he's a trade opportunity before the deadline? Can Dike and Jefferson really be any worse?

They seemed to have a solid OL put together, but the Latham injury hurts. Moore is looking like the drastic overpay that most assumed when that deal was announced.

They are right there with the Saints as the worst team in the League.

 

[shopson67]

They are right there with the Saints as the worst team in the League.

The Saints are better than their record IMO.

 

[DJ Fieri]

The Saints are better than their record IMO.

Meh.

 

[shopson67]

Meh.

Have you watched them at all? Other than that stinker vs Seattle, they've been within one score late in their games. They have more yards than 10 teams and are 18th in yards allowed. Pts scored and allowed are both worse of course, but I wouldn't put them at the bottom of the league.

 

[Cincyfan78]

They are right there with the Saints as the worst team in the League.

The Burrow-less Bengals would like a word, good Sir...

 

[DJ Fieri]

The Burrow-less Bengals would like a word, good Sir...

I told you the Bengals should add a QB....

But, noooooooo.....

 

[DJ Fieri]

Just looked at Cincy's schedule....if Burrow is out the rest of the season they could lose every game....

Yikes.

 

[rmilia1]

Honestly the only real surprises for me are the Ravens and the Jags

I had Indy winning that division before the season

NFC closest for me is Seattle but that's not super shocking given their schedule so far has not been super tough

 

[DJ Fieri]

Honestly the only real surprises for me are the Ravens and the Jags

I had Indy winning that division before the season

NFC closest for me is Seattle but that's not super shocking given their schedule so far has not been super tough

Seattle has a really good defense and Darnold has been efficient.

 

[Cincyfan78]

I told you the Bengals should add a QB....

But, noooooooo.....

Again - I'll point out that it doesn't matter. Another QB is not the answer to what ails this team. Burrow is such an elite level talent, and what he does enables him to work such a poor OL. I don't know if there is another QB in the league that could do what he's done behind the OL that he has routinely been given.

As I said before...I'm OK with just tanking out. The Bengals need a lot of talent/youth infused. OL and anywhere on defense. Burrow could have carried this team to an AFCN title...maybe further...but outside of maybe 2 or 3 other QB's in the league...no one is winning behind this OL and this scheme. Not Cousins. Not Winston.

So, again - I'll reiterate - going to "get" another QB was never an option, nor would it have ever mattered.