Time to Take Temperature of NFL Season

Five weeks down…12 left to go…

It’s time to take the temperature of the NFL season.

One man’s opinion on who I like and will likely like all year. Who I don’t think will hold up even though they look good now.
Who doesn’t look great right now who I will like at the end. So let’s begin.

Remembering that injuries to key players alters everything, so far I think the Patriots are phenomenal. 4-1 with Tom Brady playing one game
and two backups leading the charge until Brady’s finally returned Sunday.

I think the Vikings are in the same class. Maybe even more having lost their promising QB Teddy Bridgewater on the eve of the season, making
a gutsy trade for Sam Bradford who jelled immediately, and then losing Adrian Peterson, the best running back I the league.
By the way, I’m not hearing the Vikes gave up too much to get Bradford anymore, are you?

I think the Steelers and the Patriots are head and shoulders above the rest in the AFC. Yes, and that includes Denver and their suffocating defense.
You can’t rely on as rookie quarterback and hope t beat New England and Pittsburgh.

The same goes for the Cowboys. Sorry, but good teams will make life a little miserable for Dak Prescott sooner or later.
We’ve already seen the Carson Wentz bubble start to burst in Philly.

Not that these young quarterbacks are not headed for solid careers. It’s just that rookies are rookies.

Somehow I think the Panthers will start to figure it out. It may not be enough to overcome the Falcons, but Carolina is going back to the playoffs.
So are the Cardinals.

How about Atlanta? That defense has always been a liability. Too soft, not imposing. Those days are over. And for a team that had the ability to score, this attack is the best they ever had. But remember, they started out 5-0 last season. This group is far better.

Best game next week? Not Dallas at Green Bay. The highlight is Atlanta at Seattle.

It’s a set-up for the Seahawks. They’re coming off a bye. They’re playing before those raucous fans. Losing that game won’t tarnish the Falcons one bit.
No matter the margin.