1. Cleveland Browns (5-0): Cleveland has been winning each game by a large margin of victory, in fact, the closest game was against the Steelers and the Browns won by 17 points. Cleveland faces a 5-0 Kansas City team next week, and it is expected to be a great matchup, so this will tell where the Browns really sit amongst the top competition in the AFC.
2. Detroit Lions (5-0): 5-0 is 5-0, but Detroit has played five opponents with a record of 9-15 and has only beat one team with a .500 or better record. The Lions are a better rated team than season 1, but Fallen has to mix up his offensive play style against the better coaches in the league.
3. Los Angeles Rams (5-0): The Super Bowl champions are off to a hot start with Jaylen Henderson at the helm. Cookie is on a 9 game winning streak counting the playoff victories from last season, but if they can find the same success against their division mates, then Los Angeles is going to make another deep run in the playoffs.
4. Houston Texans (4-1): Despite a valiant effort, Houston lost the two hour grudge match vs Kansas City. JK Dobbins and company rushed for 258 yards but the Houston defense gave up 541 total yards, which is out of character for them because heading into this game, they ranked in the top 5 for the least amount of yards given up on defense.
5. New Orleans Saints (4-1):Derek Carr visited Pick City against the Green Bay Packers, but they only lost the game by 3. You could argue that the Saints should have won this game despite the turnovers, but you can’t get it done with a 42% offensive red zone competition rate. Taking your points is crucial in games against tough opponents.
6. Arizona Cardinals (4-1): Arizona heads into their bye week looking like a completely different team than in season 1. Que doesn’t seem worried about the potential blowback about making the playoffs after having a top pick in the first season, he is just living his best life and competing at the highest level.
7. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0): Patrick Mahomes has been one of the most efficient passers in the league through five games this season and Kansas City has their toughest matchup to date next week against the Browns. Patty Mahomes is going to need to use some magic to help elevate the team to a stellar performance.
8. New England Patriots (4-1): New England had a three game spew of divisional opponents and came out with a 2-1 record, but more importantly, they sit atop their division. Riley Leonard and Mac Jones are passing the ball with ease combining for 13 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions.
9. Green Bay Packers (4-1): We have seen the Packers come back from the jaws of defeat the past couple weeks, but they are extremely resilient. HypeMike was hit with a fifty berger for content points and he convincingly made it known that he might not get out of the negative, so he has to make the most out of this season, and so far he is finding the success that led him to a division title last season.
10. Los Angeles Chargers (4-1): Sporting an 81 overall, the Chargers are amongst one of the lowest rated teams in the league, but they are fighting through adversity and finding success this season. The Chargers also have one of the youngest teams in the league, so it’s not unthinkable if they didn’t make the playoffs, but as long as Justin Herbert is on the field, expect there to be hope in Los Angeles.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: (3-2): We have a career high in points scored for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This was Cammy’s first time scoring over 60 points, so it must feel good for him to have the league’s top passing offense. Losing dynamic rookie Roc Taylor was a blow for Tampa Bay, but over the next two games, they have a shot to take control in the division.
12. New York Jets (2-3): The Jets are an enigma this season, defeating teams they wouldn’t be expected to beat and losing to teams that they were favoured to defeat. Caleb Williams played his heart out and has his best game of his career, mainly because he completed 77% of his passes and didn’t throw an interception. Can Caleb find similar success moving forward and will Aaron Rodgers pass the torch over to the young signal caller?
13. Seattle Seahawks (3-2): Seattle has dropped their last two games and Bo Nix has thrown 8 interceptions this season, including 4 in the last two games. Coach Z is known for his methodical rushing offense and while Seattle has the 6th best rushing offense, their passing offense is very sub-par, giving opponents the ability to stack the box.
14. Minnesota Vikings (2-3): Minnesota’s victory over the CPU controlled Chicago Bears has a significant impact on the standings in the NFC. Dallas Turner has developed into a superstar, so the dynamic rookie will seek to set the edge in Minnesota.
15. Pittsburgh Seelers (2-3): Curt dropped three in a row and has won the last two games, albeit versus two opponents that only have 1 win between them. Curt has the caliber to defeat the lower ranked tier coaches, but the playoffs are a piper dram for the moment in Pittsburgh.
16. Buffalo Bills (3-2): Josh Allen is on pace for 34 interceptions this season and he will be in jeopardy of losing his development trait and abilities, but when Beast has a turnover free game, he has proven that he has what it takes to defeat anyone in the league.
17. Atlanta Falcons (3-2): The training staff in Atlanta has to get its ducks in a row because losing your best offensive weapons this early in the season, it’s very disappointing. However, Nef has improved greatly between cycles and he has built the Falcons into a force to be reckoned with, so I expect the Falcons to climb the leaderboards as they start to get whole again.
18. Denver Broncos (2-3): Denver has been playing his opponents closely in all their games aside from the game against Cleveland. Teddy Bridgewater led the team to a victory this week against the Raiders, but DK will have to play some of the best Madden he has ever played to compete in the AFC.
19. Dallas Cowboys (1-4): In a direction that no one expected the Cowboys to go, they are sitting with just one win on the season, but a victory over the Eagles this week was a must and now their schedule softens up. Sitting just one game back from the leader, Drama’s misfortune start can be remedied quickly over the next couple weeks.
20. Indianapolis Colts (2-3): Can you imagine the confidence CB would have been rolling with if he defeated Detroit this week? The Colts rushed for over 400 yards against Detroit.. 4 0 0. That’s insane, but Anthony Richardson ultimately lost the game for Indy after throwing 4 interceptions.
21. Tennessee Titans (1-4): Here is the early streak and confidence boost that the Titans needed to make their mid-season run. A Houston loss and a Titan win has fans in Tennessee ready to believe again.
22. Las Vegas Raiders (2-3): Unlike the Cardinals, the Raiders were on pace to shatter their wins from last season, but they’ve lost 3 straight after going 2-0 the first two weeks of the season. Worst of all, two of those losses were against divisional opponents.
23. San Francisco 49ers (1-4): Cardiac CEO hasn’t enabled the clutch gene for this season yet. After making the playoffs in season 1, sitting with 4 losses this early in the season is tough to swallow. A few more losses and the 49ers won’t have much hope to extend their season.
24. Chicago Bears (1-4): Jefe is out living his best life right now but his computer controlled Chicago Bears team hasn’t played lights out for him. Once Jefe is able to play his games, I expect to see this team turnaround the season.
25. Philadelphia Eagles (2-3): Despite having a losing record, HD is sitting atop the leaderboard for the NFC East. Can the Eagles hold onto the division lead? He has the team to do it, but he needs to have the tenacity to fight each week in order to stay alive in the playoff race.
26. Washington Commanders (2-3): Miles had a commanding upset over Nef and the Falcons in week 2, and it really got the league’s attention but aside from that victory, we aren’t seeing very much potential to win the division out of this Commanders team.
27. New York Giants (1-4): New season, new cycle, same Burn? Quinn Ewers was supposed to be the guy in New York, but he has been struggling this season throwing just two touchdowns to 6 interceptions. The passing offense is atrocious in New York, can Burn turn around his team and his season?
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4): Still a winless Tbandit this season, but the Jaguars doubled their average rushing yards per game against the Titans this week. Jacksonville didn;t run the ball 10 times last week, but they made sure to meet that number this week.
29. Miami Dolphins (1-4): Tua was benched this week in favour of 83 throwpower Jordan Travis. He’s a worse quarterback than Tua in every category, but it’s possible the left handed Tua is not suitable for the Dolphins. Tua is once again on the block, but I don’t see Travis as the answer to the burning question of which quarterback will get the permanent start this season in Miami?
30. Carolina Panthers (1-4): Aside from the lone victory over the Ravens, the Panthers have been blown out of every game this season. They struggle to put points up on the board and have thrown 13 interceptions between both of their quarterbacks this season. Carolina has to find some consistency on offense, because their defense has potential, but right now it’s just mass confusion for the Panthers.
31. Baltimore Ravens (0-5): Do the Ravens go defeated this season? They are one of the only two teams in the league without a win this season. If they stay at the current rate, their next possible win could come in week 13 against the winless Bengals. Nonetheless, with only five games into the season, all hope is lost in Baltimore. Sell..Sell..Sell right now and build for the future.
32. Cincinnati Bengals (0-5): The second winless team in PML, the Bengals scored over 25 points for the first time this season this week and their offense is progressing but 12 interceptions for Joe Burrow is appalling. Burrow is on pace for 40 interceptions this season. I fully expect Goose to bench Joe Burrow before that ever happens.
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Z’s Corner: Divisional Dissections
NFC West: Cardinals Soar into the Bye Week, Seahawks Drop, Rams Remain Solid
Rams: 5-0-0
Cardinals: 4-1-0
Seahawks: 3-2-0
49ers: 1-4-0
All it took was one season for the Cardinals to reach their potential as they sit one loss behind the Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams. Led by strong performances from Emari Demarcado, they enter their bye week at 4-1. The Rams, winners of a close game in Santa Clara, will host the Jets. The 49ers fall to 1-4, and currently have a divisional record of 0-4. The Seahawks, starting off 3-0, have dropped their last two games, including a very tough loss to the New York Jets in which the offense never got going. Rumor has it that there will be a change at quarterback moving forward. It’s looking like the Seahawks time is up in the division.
NFC South: Saints Drop First Game of the Year. Bucs, Falcons, inch closer to 1st in the division
Saints: 4-1-0
Buccaneers: 3-2-0
Falcons: 3-2-0
Panthers: 1-4-0
The Saints, coming in winners of their first four games, drop a closs one in Green Bay to HypeMike and the Green Bay Packers. A game in Mile High with DK and the Denver Broncos looms in week 6. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons (winners of their last three games) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (fresh off a dismantling of their friend Miles) both sit at 3-2.
NFC East: Eagles Back on the Ground, Cowboys Have Life
Eagles: 2-3-0
Commanders: 2-3-0
Giants: 1-3-0
Cowboys: 1-4-0
The entire division is currently reeling, with the Cowboys finally getting their first win of the season over the Eagles in week 5. Will they keep their promise of potentially winning the division by week 11? Only time will tell
NFC North: Lions Still Undefeated, Sets Up Monumental Matchup with Packers in Week 6
Lions: 5-0-0
Packers: 4-1-0
Vikings: 2-3-0
Bears: 1-4-0
The Lions sit at 5-0, and while the schedule hasn’t been daunting, wins over the Bills and Vikings (piloted by two users known to perform well) has to have them feeling confident. They will face the Packers in week 6 in what will be a true test of where the Lions are this season. The Vikings will host the Texans while the Bears have sent their G-League Affiliate: The Chicago Koalas, to play games for them while they part in Brazil.
AFC West: Chiefs Survive In Houston, Chargers win 3 in a row. Raiders, Broncos, searching for answers
Chiefs: 5-0-0
Chargers: 4-1-0
Raiders: 2-3-0
Broncos: 2-3-0
The Kansas City Chiefs enter week 6 at 5-0, showing that they mean business this year. KMFO awaits in week 6. After a tough week 2 loss to the Raiders, the Chargers seem to have found some consistency, with a tight divisional win against the Broncos, and further tune up games against the Panthers and Ravens allowing them to cruise to 4-1 (they also handled the Jets week 1 handily). The Broncos survived a week 4 tilt with the Las Vegas Raiders after dropping their previous 3 games, one of which was to the CPU. Lastly, after a strong 2-0 start to the season, the Raiders have dropped three games in a row, and are searching for answers.
AFC South: Texans In Control, Colts Resurgence?
Texans: 4-1-0
Colts: 2-3-0
Jaguars: 1-4-0
Titans: 1-4-0
Despite a tough loss, the Houston Texans have won 4 out of their first 5, and look to carry their momentum into what should be a tough road matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. The Colts, winners of two of their last three (34-21 over Las Vegas, and 38-21 against Tennessee) look to continue to improve as they travel to Jacksonville to take on Tbandit and the Jaguars, who just gave the Will Levis-led Titans their first victory of the year.
AFC East: Competitive As Usual
Patriots: 4-1-0
Bills: 3-2-0
Jets: 2-3-0
Dolphins: 1-4-0
Through the first 5 weeks, this division is shaking up as advertised. The Bills (key wins: 51-24 over NYJ and 30-17 over MIA) head into their bye week sitting at 3-2, fresh off of a close 30-35 loss to the Patriots. They look to prepare for the Arizona Cardinals in week 7. The Patriots (key wins over Green Bay (31-24) and Buffalo (35-30), look to take their momentum into a week 6 clash with Tennessee. The Jets, fresh off an upset over the Seattle Seahawks, travel to Rams House to play the defending super bowl champions.
AFC North: Browns Still Untested, Large Matchup Looms
Browns: 4-0-0
Steelers: 2-3-0
Bengals: 0-5-0
Ravens: 0-5-0
Through the first five weeks, the Cleveland Browns have handled business. While the schedule may be weak (Bengals, Steelers, Giants, Ravens), you can only play who is in front of you, and they have scored 44+ points on the Bengals, Steelers, Giants, Ravens and an injury-riddled Denver Broncos team. A HUGE matchup against the Chiefs in Arrowhead will show us how dominant these Browns really are.
