It’s the middle of the NFL season. Do you know who your Super Bowl contenders are?
Good luck determining that.
For the first time since 2010, every team has at least two losses through Week 9, according to research by NBC Sports. Further, of the league’s eight divisions, six have a team in first place either outright, or tied for first, that didn’t win it last year. One site that calculates playoff probabilities has pegged 10 teams with at least a 10% chance of making the Feb. 8 Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California.
Everything feels wide open — with the exception of one division. And given the history of the NFC East, that’s a surprise.
The NFC East hasn’t had a repeat division winner since 2003-04, making it an outlier in a league where division titles infrequently change hands. Last season’s champions of the AFC East, West, South and North and the NFC South and North all were repeat winners. And the only exception, the NFC West, last saw a repeat winner in 2022-23.
Eight games still remain in the regular season, and though the Eagles are 6-2, they haven’t been the picture of dominance; one more loss will tie their season total from all of last year. Last year, their combination of an elite offensive line and running back led to a Super Bowl title while producing 179 rushing yards per game. This season, that average has dropped by 37 percent. The Eagles also are averaging nearly a full yard less per carry.
Still, it’s not too early to suggest that Philadelphia is primed to finally produce a repeat champ in the NFC East. That’s because what was one of last season’s strongest divisions — it produced both conference finalists, in the Eagles and Washington Commanders — has fallen apart.
Dallas (3-5-1), Washington (3-6) and New York (2-7) all have losing records, are currently on losing streaks and have been outscored on the season. The chances any of the three threatens a comeback could be slim; the Eagles have just three divisional games remaining.
What else we’re watching in Week 10
Falcons (3-5) at Colts (7-2): The NFL’s first game played in Berlin features two elite running backs: Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson (1.058 yards from scrimmage) and Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor (1,113). But Taylor was held to a season-low 45 rushing yards last week in a loss.
Saints (1-8) at Panthers (5-4): Carolina quarterback Bryce Young has won his last four starts, and running back Rico Dowdle’s 735 yards are third-most in the league.
Giants (2-7) at Bears (5-3): The Giants have lost 10 straight road games. The Bears have won five of their last six.
Jaguars (5-3) at Texans (3-5): With quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) sidelined, Houston’s Davis Mills will start for the first time since 2022. He’ll be supported by the league’s best defense in yards (267) and points (15.1) allowed per game.
Bills (6-2) at Dolphins (2-7): Buffalo has won 14 of its last 15 games against Miami, which has scored 10 points or less three times this season.
Ravens (3-5) at Vikings (4-4): It’s hard to believe but Justin Jefferson’s touchdown catch last week was his first since Week 1. With 76 yards, Jefferson will pass Torry Holt for the most receiving yards through a player’s first six seasons.
Browns (2-6) at Jets (1-7): New York’s rebuilding defense plays for the first time since trading Pro-Bowlers Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner. Cleveland has lost 12 consecutive road games.
Patriots (7-2) at Buccaneers (6-2): Both teams are off to their best start since each was quarterbacked by Tom Brady: 2021 for Tampa Bay, and 2019 for New England.
Cardinals (3-5) at Seahawks (6-2): Seattle has won eight straight games in this matchup.
Rams (6-2) at 49ers (6-3): A key game in the race for the NFC West crown, where these teams and the Seahawks all have six wins. The Rams have allowed a minuscule 6.7 points per game during their three-game winning streak.
Lions (5-3) at Commanders (3-6): Detroit has won 12 straight games coming off of a loss, dating to 2022. To win again, they’ll need Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to produce more than the 65 rushing yards they combined for last week.
Steelers (5-3) at Chargers (6-3): A Steelers defense that just forced six turnovers now faces Justin Herbert, whose 2,390 passing yards and 18 passing touchdowns are second-most in the league.
Eagles (6-2) at Packers (5-2-1): On Monday night, the key is turnovers. Green Bay has given the ball away just five times all season. The only team with fewer? Green Bay, with three.
