First half of the NFL season analysis

The first half of the National Football League (NFL) season is in the books. There have been some surprises, Some great games, and much more.

Lets start with the records of each time and division standings beginning with the AFC.

AFC north

Pittsburgh Steelers 6-2

Baltimore Ravens 4-4

Cincinnati Bengals 3-4

Cleveland Browns 0-8

AFC south

Tennessee Titans 4-3

Jacksonville Jaguars 4-3

Houston Texans 3-4

Indianapolis Colts 2-6

AFC east

New England Patriots 6-2

Buffalo Bills 5-2

Miami Dolphins 4-3

New York Jets 3-5

AFC west

Kansas City Chiefs 5-2

Denver Broncos

Los Angeles Chargers 3-5

Oakland Raiders 3-5

Some surprises in the AFC. Lets start with a surprise player. Texans rookie Quarterback Deshaun Watson. The rookie out of Clemson University is having a season that could very well win him Offensive Rookie of the Year. Through his teams first seven games Watson has great stats. His has completed 126 of 204 passes (68.1 percent) 1699 yards 19 Touchdown passes and 8 interceptions. In addition to his great passing stats he has deccent rushing stats so far this season 36 rushing attempts for 269 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Next a few surprise teams from the AFC would be the Buffalo Bills who are consistently at the bottom or near the bottom the AFC standings. This year the Bills are 5-2 their best seven game start since 2011 when the team also started 5-2. Next up are the Jacksonville Jaguars who currently sit with a record of 4-3 which is the team's best start since 2007 when the record through seven games was 5-2 which was also the last time that the team made the playoffs (I do not see the Jaguars as a playoff team this season).

Shifting conferences to the NFC now the standings are as follows

NFC North

Minnesota Vikings 6-2

Green Bay Packers 4-3

Detroit Lions 3-4

Chicago Bears 3-5

NFC South

New Orleans Saints 5-2

Carolina Panthers 5-3

Atlanta Falcons 4-3

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-5

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles 7-1

Dallas Cowboys 4-3

Washington Redskins 3-4

New York Giants 1-6

NFC West

Seattle Seahawks 5-2

Los Angeles Rams 5-2

Arizona Cardinals 3-4

San Francisco 49ers 0-8

A surprise player in the NFC through the first half of the season has been Carson Wentz Quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. The second year starter has thus far avoided the sophomore slump that often hits players during their second year in the league. Through his first 8 games this season Wentz, the second year starter out of North Dakota State University, has completed 161 of 264 pass attempts for 2063 yards on the way to throwing 19 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.

Some surprise NFC teams thus far are the Los Angeles Rams who are currently at 5-2. This is the best start since the team started 5-2 all the way back in 2003 which was a year they made the playoffs before losing the eventual super bowl runner up Carolina Panthers. Personally I think the Rams have a shot to make it this year the defense is the strength of the team and it is a fantastic defense.