Every year we see a NFL teams catch fire and jump out to an early divisional lead. Just as surely, many teams experience a burnout at some point and lose the division to a team that get hot at the right time, making early NFL predictions look silly later in the year.
At this point in the NFL season some teams have handy leads within their divisions while others are holding on by a thread.
There are certain teams we can almost pencil in as divisional champs, due to their consistent dominance. On the other hand, some will eventually see their lead slip away.
The following three are on the verge of tanking their leads.
Denver Broncos (6-0)
Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos’ suddenly average (or worse) offense can’t continue piling up wins riding on the coattails of their outrageously timely defense.
Given how terribly Manning has been playing — he rates 22nd overall in quarterback ranking according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required) — it’s almost impossible for this team to not experience a huge let-down at some point soon.
What a far cry this is from last season before Manning’s strained quad ruined Denver’s fun at the end of the year.
The Broncos are simply not scoring enough points offensively. Manning has thrown only seven touchdowns but has tossed 10 interceptions. Making matters worse, Denver running backs have only managing two rushing touchdowns.
It’s quite shocking that the Broncos have claimed their undefeated status so long, especially with Manning throwing interceptions in critical overtime moments such as he did in Week 6 against Cleveland. Essentially what we’re seeing isn’t reality, but a glorious farce.
While the Broncos are enjoying a four-game lead over their divisional rival in San Diego, the Chargers’ schedule eases up down the road. Conversely, Denver’s upcoming schedule is tough, with games againt Green Bay, Indianapolis, New England and Cincinnati. Once the cold weather sets in things will get even sketchier, as Manning’s diminishing arm strength will only worsen.
For all these reasons, the Broncos are sure to lose multiple games in the near future while San Diego embarks on its annual late-season surge.
Arizona Cardinals (4-2)
The Cardinals overall have looked quite sharp this season, both offensively and defensively, and there have been some outstanding individual performances to tout.
That said, it’s their two questionable losses to the 2-3 St. Louis Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers — who were playing with a third-string quarterback down the stretch — that are quite puzzling. For that fact alone, the Cardinals have displayed their vulnerability to playing down to the competition.
In Arizona’s loss to St. Louis in Week 4, the Cardinals defense couldn’t force an interception out of turnover-prone Nick Foles, letting him score three times instead. Then in Week 6, Carson Palmer turned the tables and passed for only one touchdown with two interceptions while the Cardinals defense failed to contain Steelers third-string quarterback Landry Jones. Arizona lost quite badly as a result, 25-13.
It is these erratic performances, coupled with some stiff competition down the road, that is going to upset the Cardinals winning percentage. Coming up for the Cardinals are games against the Browns, Vikings, Rams (again), and two meetings against Seattle.
The Cardinals are going to have to fix some leaky holes if they want to remain ahead in the NFC west with the competitive Seahawks now right on their tail.
Indianapolis Colts (3-3)
By this point in the season, the Colts usually have a handy lead over their AFC south competition. But things are certainly shaping up in an unusual way in 2015.
Indy has won more games with backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck under center than with Andrew Luck, and they currently lead the Houston Texans by only one game. Luck is supposedly back to full health, but that is debatable, and there is some stiff competition that could stumble up the team lies ahead.
In Week 7 the Colts square off against the New Orleans Saints, who surprisingly upset the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6 and made life miserable for Matt Ryan. Also ahead on the schedule are some unfavorable matchups against the Panthers, Broncos, Falcons, Steelers and Dolphins.
The Colts aren’t playing their best football, and they could surely let a few more wins slip to some of these opponents. Meanwhile, the Texans possess the NFL’s leading wide receiver in DeAndre Hopkins, and the Jaguars are developing a high-scoring Blake Bortles/Allen Robinson combo.
As they have in years past, the Colts don’t look like the surefire bet at this time to claim the AFC south, which is certainly up for grabs.