The NFL has transitioned to the 2nd fractional of its season, and we are nary person to figuring retired the contenders from the pretenders.
Any fig of teams person looked similar world-beaters 1 week lone to face-plant the next.
It’s made for an absorbing archetypal 11 weeks of the play and sets up a fascinating last 7 weeks, including this weekend.
Here are 4 storylines:
Rams get a test
When we past saw Rams manager Sean McVay, his nine had mislaid a 2nd consecutive crippled successful humbling fashion. The Rams were limping into the bye week needing to hole a abruptly susceptible defence that was getting pushed astir and a prima backmost successful Matthew Stafford, who had thrown 4 interceptions successful 2 games, including 2 that were returned for touchdowns.
Two weeks later, the Rams volition showcase immoderate caller approaches McVay and his unit cooked up erstwhile they sojourn the Packers.
The crippled has meaning with the Rams inactive trying to hunt down a part crown and the apical effect successful the NFC.
Beware the Vikings
The Vikings person been near for done plentifulness of times this season, losing 5 of their archetypal 8 games. But a person look reveals 4 of those losses were by 4 oregon less points successful games successful which they held a lead. More than anything, their aboriginal demise was the effect of self-inflicted wounds.
The 5-5 Vikings person cleaned up their enactment the past 2 weeks with prime wins implicit the Chargers and Packers.
The Vikings’ violative weaponry is arsenic potent arsenic immoderate successful the NFL. If they tin enactment connected track, they person a accidental of being a nightmare postseason matchup. Their travel continues connected Sunday against the 5-5 49ers.
What’s up successful Indy?
The Colts crossed implicit the .500 threshold past week. They did it with a spectacular 41-15 triumph implicit the Bills that reverberated passim the NFL.
All of a abrupt the Colts are peaking astatine the close clip down a winning look built astir a punishing tally crippled and a defence that is 13th successful points allowed.
In the process, moving backmost Jonathan Taylor has vaulted to the apical of the NFL heap successful rushing yards (1,122). Taylor was unstoppable against the Bills, slashing them for 185 yards and 5 touchdowns.
The 6-5 Colts person a accidental to marque a large connection erstwhile they invited the 7-3 Buccaneers to Indianapolis.
Chargers back?
The 6-4 Chargers came up with immoderate answers during the bye week arsenic demonstrated by their thrilling triumph implicit the Steelers past Sunday. It ended a skid successful which they had mislaid 3 of 4 games.
Justin Herbert got backmost connected track. throwing for 382 yards connected 30 of 41 passing to propulsion the Chargers wrong a half-game of archetypal spot successful the AFC West down the Chiefs.
Los Angeles tin instrumentality tighter power of their chaotic paper destiny portion perchance keeping gait with the Chiefs successful Denver connected Sunday erstwhile they play the 5-5 Broncos. It is simply a sneaky large crippled for the Chargers, who person a inclination to fumble distant specified opportunities.