We are 12 weeks through the 2023 NFL season and it is becoming a little easier to determine who is for real and who is not. With six weeks to go before the playoffs, wins are now more crucial than ever.
The AFC is wide open, with a lot of teams fighting for playoff spots, especially those lower seeds. As the postseason picture starts to take shape, the teams with a real chance and those who may have just been skating by beating easy teams will begin to separate from each other.
Sure, wins and losses are a good indication of who’s a contender and who’s not, but they don’t tell the whole story. Looking at all the teams with a winning record, we pulled out some that may not be playing as well as their record indicates. On the flip side, we looked at the teams .500 or under and identified which ones are actually on the rise and should be taken more seriously than their record reflects.
There are 14 teams with a losing record right now, 10 of which have four wins or fewer. The AFC North is the only division where each of the four teams have at least over wins.
Best teams .500 or under
Las Vegas Raiders (5-7)
The Raiders won two straight games after firing head coach Josh McDaniels. However, Las Vegas is currently on a two-game losing streak since, so it may be surprising to see them listed as one of the best teams .500 and under. Still, this list is all about looking deeper into the losses and the record of teams.
In Week 11, they lost 20-13 to the Dolphins, who have the second-best record in the AFC and the fifth-highest point differential in the league (+88). Rookie quarterback Aiden O’Connell certainly did not have the best showing, throwing three picks, but the team as a whole managed to keep up with an AFC powerhouse, and the defense picked off Tua Tagovailoa and didn’t let him explode.
This week, the Raiders stayed in the game against the Chiefs for three quarters, leading the…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/a-look-at-nfls-best-teams-without-winning-records-worst-teams-at-500-or-above-lions-8-3-mark-a-mirage/
Author : Shanna McCarriston
Publish date : 2023-11-28 17:08:51
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