Surprised Or Not Surprised
Hear it here!
Surprised?
Or not surprised.
Like you, I’ve been following the story of the 2025 NFL campaign. Knowing full well what lies ahead could very well tell a totally different tale at the finish.
Let’s see where we are at this point.
What has surprised me the most is the successful performance of three teams.
The Indianapolis Colts, the Seattle Seahawks, and the New England Patriots have already exceeded expectations. No one ever anticipated any of those three to play as consistently as they have and lead their respective divisions.
We all know that it takes the coordination of offense, defense, and other aspects that make up a winning team, but I always like to focus on the quarterback because without a good one you have no chance.
The QB’s who lead their Colts and Seahawks are veterans who have gotten second and third chances and have made the most of them. They were first-round draft choices who showed flashes but fell off and were essentially discards. Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold were dismissed by more than their original teams and no longer considered to be franchise quarterbacks. They were forgotten. Maybe the fans and the media but they never gave up and have proven they can compete with the best in the league and win.
Who knows if it can sustain, but at least they’ve been sharp enough to help produce records worthy of a first-place position at this point, anyway.
Darnold, in particular is a terrific story that should have been played up more.
He’s been around for 7 years. Once a promising third overall pick in the draft, Darnold failed with the Jets, toiled with the Panthers, and 49ers before landing with the Vikings last season. He was expected to compete with rookie J.J. McCarthy. But McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury in preseason, so Darnold took over. And did he ever.
Darnold had a career year leading the Vikings to 14 victories and the playoffs. But he stumbled late and in the post season and was sent adrift to the Seahawks as McCarthy, healthy again, took over the reins in Minnesota. Darnold’s rescue missions have continued in Seattle, and the Seahawks are in a battle with the impressive Rams and to a lesser extent the 49ers in the NFC West.
In New England, the coaching switch to Mike Vrabel and the rapid development of quarterback Drake Maye have made the Patriots a strong playoff threat that was seemingly not in the cards when the season began. Vrabel has Coach of The Year possibilities. He won before at Tennessee and is similar in style to the Lions’ Dan Campbell who connects with his players, gets the most out of them, and so far, as pressed the right buttons.
I would also include the Denver Broncos. Maybe not as big a surprise as the other three, but with a strong defense and a head coach in Sean Payton who’s been there, Denver is more than holding its own in the strong AFC West.
I am not surprised that the Baltimore Ravens have rallied from a 1-5 start and are back in the fight again. Early injuries, including their QB Lamar Jackson put them behind the 8-ball, but I have a high regard for head coach John Harbaugh who can keep a team together amid adversity. The Steelers got off to a good start and observers were celebrating the play of 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers. But when you’re that age, and handling the ball on every offensive play, the physical limitations begin to emerge as the season rolls on and that’s what we may be seeing in Pittsburgh.
It is unreasonable to put the Rams in the ‘surprise category’. They have put out contending teams nearly every year and so far, quarterback Matthew Stafford has found the fountain of youth with his performance. But keep in mind there’s still plenty of games remaining and the injury story is still to be written. I think of Stafford as one who must stay healthy for his team to continue its challenge.
The season-ending injury to QB Jayden Daniels ruined Washington’s hopes.
The Giants have a bright future with rookie Jaxson Dart coming through big-time. But they now need to find a head coach to bring it all together.
I’m also not surprised that the Bears have become relevant once again. Quietly, they have shored up their roster and Caleb Williams looks to be a leading man over center.
The Eagles, Bills, Lions, and Chiefs are all lurking, and it pays to remember that the clubs who have been knocking at the door or have knocked it down in previous seasons have the savvy to turn it on when it’s time. They will be heard from, and that includes the Chiefs who have struggled a bit with about a half season left. KC knows how to win. I’d be surprised if they weren’t there at the end.
I am surprised the Atlanta Falcons have been such a disappointment, leaving Tampa Bay as the best in the NFC’s weakest division. The 49ers are still afloat with a backup QB in Mac Jones and if some of the teams we’ve listed as surprises come back down to earth, the Niners may be the best beneficiary, since San Francisco will be playing them the rest of the way.
Why haven’t I discussed the Dallas Cowboys? Don’t they kind of rate at or near the top when we assess the NFL? Well, it’s the same old story for Jerry Jones’ crew. They’ve been a huge disappointment once again.
Ownership is where it all starts in pro football. The good ones flourish, the bad ones falter. It’s never changed. The good ones learn how to hire the best people, usually a General Manager who is astute at selecting the head coach. It’s a chain reaction.
Jerry Jones is the owner of the Cowboys and is their General Manager. Now, Jones played football so he’s not ignorant of how the game works. But it may be his judgment is off. Just look at the record. Would JJ have fired the GM over the years? I think so.
Owners who interfere with the running of their teams never win. Owners who like to be quoted never win. Recently, Woody Johnson, who owns the NY Jets had critical comments of his quarterback Justin Fields. Now, the Jets have won their first two games of the season since those comments. But don’t credit Johnson for anything.
He happened to be just a lucky guy. Check his record over the years.
The best owners are rarely seen and never heard. Look at Jeff Laurie, who runs the Eagles. He’s chosen a great GM in Howie Roseman who has formed a solid coaching staff. He lets his General Manager manage, and his Head Coach coach. That’s how the good organizations run.
It’s been worth a sneak look at the league with eight weeks to play.
There will be shifts, some seismic. Today’s order of things will undergo change.
Let’s see how many of our surprises hold on through the big games of December.
And don’t forget, the ultimate test will be which teams stay healthy.
Enjoy the rest of the campaign.
