Four teams better than their record suggests through six weeks of the 2023 season

Teams’ records often don’t tell the full story of their season, especially after just six weeks. Injury-plagued weeks and some strange match ups against division rivals can skew the way we look at certain teams, despite them clearly showing some promising qualities.

Let’s take a look at four teams sitting in the middle of the pack, that should emerge as wildcard or even division contenders over the course of the regular season.

New York Jets (3-3)

The Jets head into their bye week 3-3 and given their tough opening schedule, its arguably a record that they would have taken at the start of the season, even with a healthy Aaron Rodgers. The team could even be sitting at 4-2 after a great showing against the Chiefs wasn’t quite enough for the win. 

One of their losses came to the division rival Patriots – a team that know them well and Belichick will always punish teams that aren’t at their best, regardless of how poor his own team is.

The Jets now face a softer part of their schedule after the bye week, with matchups against the Giants, Chargers and Raiders ahead. The Jets defence will certainly fancy their chances of wreaking havoc in these games.

It is vital that running back Breece Hall stays healthy – he can carry this offense week to week and take the pressure off of Zach Wilson, though there has been a subtle improvement in the quarterback’s play over the last three weeks.

Cincinnati Bengals (3-3)

Like the Jets, the Bengals also hit their bye-week after a 3-3 start to the season. Their defence scrambled Geno Smith in their last outing, holding the Seahawks offense on two separate would-be game winning drives.

Joe Burrow looks to be healthy again; he was able to move around the pocket more freely against the Seahawks and was unfazed by the three sacks he took. 

The Bengals do have a very tough schedule ahead however, and may well find themselves 4-4 or even 3-5 after matchups vs the 49ers and Bills. They face stiff competition in a top-heavy AFC for a playoff berth, but you wouldn’t bet against a healthy Joe Burrow leading the Bengals to the postseason.

Seattle Seahawks (3-2)

Seattle’s loss to Cincinnati will be a tough one to take. Their defence shut down the Bengals after the first two drives, only giving up a field goal for the remainder of the game. The Seahawks made three separate trips to the Bengals redzone in the second half, with no points to show for it – a day to forget for Geno Smith and co. There are some huge positives to take from the Seahawks opening five games, however. 

A combination of a vastly improved pass rush (that tied a franchise record with ELEVEN sacks vs the Giants in Week 4) and a dominant secondary has made this Seahawks defence one to be feared. 2023 fifth-overall pick Devon Witherspoon is already a difference-maker just four games (having missed Week 1) into his career. Quandre Diggs, Riq Woolen and a revitalised Jamal Adams round out a unit reminiscent of Seattle’s Super Bowl winning Legion of Boom.

The Seahawks have also handed the Lions their only loss of the season so far. While it’s a tall order for the Seahawks to catch the 49ers in the NFC West, Seattle are a Top-5 NFC outfit that should find themselves competing in Wild-Card weekend in January.

Houston Texans (3-3)

DeMeco Ryans couldn’t have asked for a better start to life as a head coach in the NFL. His defence is Tied-3rd in the league with six turnovers through six weeks. They are making game-changing plays despite only totalling nine sacks this season.

CJ Stroud is now the clear offensive rookie of the year candidate, with the unfortunate news that Anthony Richardson is confirmed to be out for the remainder of the season.

Stroud’s first interception of the year came in Week 6, after breaking the record for pass attempts without a pick for a rookie entering the league. 

Favourable match ups lie ahead for Houston vs the Panthers, Buccaneers and Cardinals in three of the next four weeks. Barring any setbacks, this should see Houston keep pace with the Jaguars who sit atop the AFC South.

The Texans could do with 2022 standout running back Dameon Pierce (averaging just 2.9 yards per carry) becoming more involved in the offense, especially against the better defences they will face later in the season.