Buying or Selling Every Division Leader After NFL Week 6

As we close in on the halfway point of the 2013 NFL season, it is becoming more and more clear which teams are legitimate contenders and which ones got off to a lucky start. 

There are a few teams that already have a stranglehold on first place in their division; the New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots all have at least a two-game advantage on their divisional opponents. 

While these teams are firmly atop their respective mountains, there is quite a battle going on between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West crown. 

The Broncos are, as expected, steamrolling through opposing teams week after week, largely due to their seemingly unstoppable offensive onslaught. They are an impressive 6-0, but the argument could be made that they haven’t even been the most impressive team in their own division, especially given the fact that the Chiefs have a first-year head coach and are without a player like Peyton Manning. 

Other divisions, such as the NFC East, have been completely turned around from last year. None of the NFC East teams has been consistently productive this season, which makes for an uninspiring race to the finish for them in 2013. 

From surprise teams to perennial playoff contenders, this crop of division leaders is quite the mixing bowl.

*All stats courtesy of NFL.com.

Detroit Lions, NFC North: Selling

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Stafford and the Lions are on top of the North for now, but that will change.

This has been quite an interesting year for the NFC North. The formerly laughable Detroit Lions surprisingly lead the division at this point in time, with the Chicago Bears not far behind them.

The biggest surprise of the division isn’t so much that the Lions are on top, but rather that the Green Bay Packers are not. While the Lions and the Bears are great teams, they just aren’t on the level of Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay.

The Packers are largely regarded as one of the best teams in the NFL, and while their current record (3-2) doesn’t exactly reflect that, there is still a lot of football to be played. 

Green Bay is in the top five in every major offensive category; it’s the team's defense that has let it down, mainly because of injuries. Luckily for the Packers, five of their 10 remaining games are against teams in the bottom half of the league in scoring. 

What is even more lucky is that guys like Clay Matthews and Casey Hayward will be back on the field in time for the end of the season and the playoffs, aiding the team's chances of winning the division. 

While the Lions do have a grip on the division lead right now, it’s getting looser and looser.

Cincinnati Bengals, AFC North: Buying

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A.J. Green and Andy Dalton make for one of the best pairs in the NFL.

A few years ago, the Cincinnati Bengals were an afterthought in the AFC North. They were buried behind the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers for years until a certain crimson-haired quarterback took over and led them to back-to-back playoff seasons. 

Andy Dalton and his freakishly athletic counterpart, A.J. Green, have become one of the best quarterback-receiver combos in the NFL.

Offensive chemistry and a stingy defense have led to the Bengals’ seizure of power in the North, which has resulted in them having a one-game lead on Baltimore after six weeks. 

In looking at their remaining schedule, the Bengals really only play three games that should be remotely competitive. Two of those games are against the division-rival Ravens, while the third comes in Week 14 against the Indianapolis Colts. 

If the Bengals can keep doing what they’ve been doing, then they should come out on top in the North for the first time since 2009.

New Orleans Saints, NFC South: Buying

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Following an upsetting loss to the Patriots late in their game last Sunday, Drew Brees and the Saints look to rebound and hit their stride.

If not for late-game heroics and Tom Brady being, well, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and the Saints would be one of three remaining undefeated teams. 

Still, 5-1 is nothing to scoff at, and it looks like their offense is back on track from a year ago. More than that, though, Rob Ryan has done a tremendous job of remastering the Saints defense by highlighting the pass rush and using their corners and safeties in a more smash-mouth style of defense. 

There’s not many guys in the league who can throw a football like Breesus, and that is a big reason why the Saints have inserted themselves into the conversation for possible Super Bowl contenders.

This is a dangerously hungry team, and it will be a tough outing for whoever it plays.

Indianapolis Colts, AFC South: Buying

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SAN DIEGO, CA - OCTOBER 14: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts enters the game against the San Diego Chargers on October 14, 2013 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

Andrew Luck has been as advertised so far in his young NFL career and is looking better and better as the weeks pass. 

Luck’s raw poise and grit in the pocket have become refined and effortless; his comfort within the Indianapolis Colts offense has been a big reason why the team is 4-2 and on top of the AFC South. 

The Colts would’ve won their division last year had it not been for the Houston Texans becoming a powerhouse team. But now that the Texans have fallen off, it is time for Indy to reassert itself as the best team in the division. 

The Colts' remaining schedule is indicative of a pretty solid ending to the season, as the Broncos and Chiefs appear to be the only real challenges they will face. The Bengals could prove to be problematic, but the winner of that game is more of a toss-up at this point. 

Could we see Luck and the Colts begin to dominate like Manning and his Colts did for so many years? We’ll see, but for now, it sure is fun to watch No. 12 play.

New England Patriots, AFC East: Buying

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FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates with wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins #85 after they connected for the game winning touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the Patrioits 30-27 win at Gille

For years, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots got away with a lot of things. They got away with not having a dependable running game, they got away with a weak defensive unit and now they’re getting away with not having a legitimate No. 1 receiver. 

Brady will always be Brady—we know that—but this is the first season in a long time in which he just hasn't had a consistent security blanket to fall back on. Yet the Pats are still 5-1 and firmly atop the AFC East.

This has been, and still is, the Patriots’ division, although it is getting competitive. 

In a division littered with young, talented quarterbacks, Brady’s veteran savvy is what helps New England ascend its competition. Well, that and its defense has been stellar. If not for New England’s defense answering the call, the Patriots could very well have fallen way behind in the East. But, alas, they remain the top dog.

Dallas Cowboys, NFC East: Buying

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Oct 13, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) points as he directs his team in the fourth quarter against the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium. The Dallas Cowboys beat the Washington Redskins 31-16. Mandatory Credit: Matthe

Last year, the Dallas Cowboys lost a heartbreaking Week 17 matchup against their bitter rivals, the Washington Redskins. But they got revenge this past Sunday with a 31-16 victory. 

Tony Romo and the Cowboys offense have looked rather efficient this season, which is a big reason why Dallas has been able to reach the top of the NFC East. While the team's record (3-3) isn’t particularly impressive, it is clearly the best team in the division right now. 

The Washington Redskins are struggling defensively (27th in the NFL), the Philadelphia Eagles are experiencing growing pains with their new coach and the New York Giants are just a dilapidated mess. 

Dallas is not a great team by any stretch of the imagination, but it is certainly the best team in the NFC East right now, and it has a clear path to a division championship.

Denver Broncos/Kansas City Chiefs, AFC West: Buying

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

With the Broncos and Chiefs tied atop the AFC West, their upcoming matchups are all the more important.

The AFC West has quickly become the most top-heavy division in the NFL. It currently has two teams tied for first place in the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs—two franchises in very different places with very different schemes, yet they are both an eye-catching 6-0 on the season. 

The Broncos rely heavily on their high-powered offense, whereas the Chiefs have reached this peak through a pretty safe offensive system and a vaunted defense. 

When these two teams meet in Weeks 11 and 15, sparks are sure to fly as the league’s best offense takes on the league’s best defense, and the matchups will likely decide who will come out on top in the West. 

At this point in time, Denver gets the slight edge because it's largely been playing without two of its best defenders. However, Von Miller will be on the field Sunday against the Colts following his six-game suspension, and Champ Bailey finally returned last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Now that these two guys are back in the lineup, we could see the Broncos ascend to a whole other level of dominance.

Seattle Seahawks, NFC West: Buying

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Russell Wilson and the Seahawks have been money so far this season, and they don't show any signs of slowing down.

Last season, the Seattle Seahawks showed everyone that they were one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL and were a serious Super Bowl contender. But they were outshone by the eventual NFC West champions, the San Francisco 49ers.

However, 2013’s story is being written quite differently than that of 2012. 

The Seahawks demolished the Niners 29-3 when these two teams met in Week 2, showing that they, and specifically QB Russell Wilson, have gotten even better since last year. 

Aside from a rematch of last season’s divisional playoffs with the Atlanta Falcons, it should be smooth sailing for the ‘Hawks heading into the playoffs. They will have a great chance to snowball their momentum into a deep playoff run and quite possibly a Super Bowl berth.