What Has Happened to The NFL?

Well, Week 8 is now officially in the record books. And I just have one thing to say: what’s going on? Seriously, this NFL season has been one surpise after another for me. Some of these surprises have been a welcome change; others have been annoying and ridiculous. In any case, it has all combined to make for interesting and lively conversation among sportsfans, regardless of your team preference.

Let’s start with some of the disappointments, shall we? Several teams in the league have tremendous letdowns for their fans and the sport in general. Let’s start with the AFC. Last year, the Miami Dolphins finished the season 11-5 and won the AFC East. This year, they have started the season a disaapointing 3-4 and are holding on to last place in their division. What happened? How does a team go from winning their division to dead last? Definitely not a happy surprise if you are from Miami.

And what happened to Tennessee? The Titans last year went 13-3. They not only won the AFC South, they clinched homefield advantage for the playoffs as well. (Both were great accomplishments, considering Payton Manning and the Colts are also in the AFC South.) In 2009, halfway through the season, the Tennessee Titans have only won a single game. They are 1-6! How does this happen? I might expect the Browns and the Chiefs to just win one game, but for the Titans to come off of a banner year and lose six before they win one is, quite frankly, embarrassing.

And don’t forget about the NFC. They have had their share of surprises as well. The NFC South has been especially radical this year. The Carolina Panthers are a good example. Last year they were 12-4, went undefeated at home, and won four out of their last five games. This year, they have managed to win three games in seven. That didn’t even happen right away; they went for several weeks with a goose egg in the W column. Tampa Bay is in the same division, the NFC South. They went 9-7 in 2008 and were 6-2 at home. This year, they too are still searching for their first win of the season, posting a demoralizing 0-7!

I look at these teams and wonder–what in the world has happend! How did this happen? Unfortunately, I can’t even answer my own question. On the up side, there has been some pleasant surprises this season to go along with the bad. They can be summed up in three words–New Orleans Saints.

New Orleans? We are talking about the football team, right? The NFL team that hasn’t done anything noteworthy since I began watching football back in the mid 90’s. Yes, the Saints have finally made their mark on pro football. Last night, they defeated the Falcons 24-35 to start the season 7-0, tying for the best start of franchise history. Though I am not yet ready to declare them the next dynasty, I must take my hat off to these undefeated, unlikely heroes.

And I think we all expected Minnesota to do well this year, since they won their division in 2008, but they have started off 7-1 and have the second best record in the NFC! Maybe their offseason acquisition of Brett Favre wasn’t such a crazy move after all. Interesting!

Hello, Cincinnati! Yes, the Bengals have finally squirmed their way out of the mire of pro football’s mediocrity and are atop the AFC North with a record of 5-2. That’s good enough to tie them win the defending Super Bowl champs Pittsburgh Steelers for the division lead. Where did that come from?

Last of all is Denver. I don’t think any other team in the league had a better excuse to have a horrific season than Denver. After all of the problems with Jay Cutler (and everything else that went along with it), everyone seemed to have written them off before the season began (including myself). Well, guess what, they are 6-1 and are undefeated at home and in the division. Talk about overcoming obstacles, Denver has done it!

In a league where mediocrity and parody are a regular occurrence, it is refreshing, for me at least, to see some surprises here and there. Even if the surprises are depressing, at least it gives us something to talk about with fellow enthusiasts. Or, if you’re like me, with those around who don’t even care but listen apathetically because they are trying to be nice!

Will the Saints stick around for a while, or will Tamba Bay ever win another game? Time will have to answer these questions for us. Anyone can have one good year, but the truly great teams (the Patriots, Steelers, and Colts) are consistently good, year after year. In any case, I am enjoying the lack of parody in the NFL. Just like the old days. Finally, somebody is getting it done old school!