As the NFL season barrels toward its midpoint, some teams are beginning to separate themselves from the pack - but for others, it's not even clear which direction they're trending in.
Here are three teams we just haven't been able to get a read on in the first two months of the campaign.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons burst out to a 3-0 start and seemed hell-bent on avenging their Super Bowl collapse. Then they dropped three consecutive games to AFC East opponents, stumbling against the Bills, Dolphins, and Patriots before edging the Jets on Sunday. Who are this year's Falcons and what have they done with last year's juggernaut?
For starters, Matt Ryan isn't in anything close to last year's MVP form. He's thrown nine touchdowns against six interceptions this season while lacking the masterful command of the game he exhibited constantly in 2016. Julio Jones has been nonexistent in the red zone, despite offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian's promise to find him more often. Atlanta blew the opposition's doors off last year, averaging a league-best 33.8 points per game; this year, they're averaging 21.8.
When Kyle Shanahan bolted to take the 49ers' head coaching job, many predicted the Falcons' attack would take a hit as a result, and those people have been proven correct. Will the high-octane offense that was the talk of the NFL last year return?
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are proving to be the league's ultimate Jekyll and Hyde team; no one can figure out if they're a Super Bowl contender or should tank the rest of the year.
Judging this team on a week-to-week basis has proven impossible. The Panthers beat quality opponents such as the Patriots, Lions, and Bills, but couldn't register a touchdown against the Bears. At 5-3, the Panthers are in an excellent spot, but would anyone be surprised if they collapsed down the stretch?
Cam Newton is at the center of this conundrum, throwing 10 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. At his best, Newton is an MVP-caliber quarterback, but he's only played up to his potential once, a virtuoso performance against the Lions on Oct. 8. Newton and the Panthers have the potential to get back to the Super Bowl, but they're as unpredictable as it gets.
Oakland Raiders
Oakland entered the season as a trendy Super Bowl pick but has flopped miserably throughout the first half. With a 3-5 record, however, all hope isn't lost.
Derek Carr missed one game with a back injury - and the Raiders lost 30-17 to the Ravens. When he has played, he's been inconsistent: During wins, he's thrown eight touchdowns with no interceptions, and during losses, he's thrown four touchdowns and six interceptions. The Raiders need Carr to be at his best - or, at the very least, they need him to not crumble during tough games.
Though Khalil Mack has recorded just 0.5 sacks during his last four games, it's hard to blame him for his relative lack of production when the rest of the Raiders' defense is also at fault. This team is loaded with talent; the question entering November is whether the Raiders can be as good as the sum of their parts.
