8 NFL Storylines to Watch in the Second Half of the Season

We're 10 weeks into the NFL regular season, so it's safe to assume that the playoff picture is taking shape. And it is. Sort of. 

There are 11 teams in the AFC with a record above .500. In the NFC, seven teams are either above .500 or winning their division. That's 18 teams that are right in the middle of the playoff race.

It's not just the wide-open playoff race that has made this a fascinating season. You've got dozens, even hundreds, of storylines that could drastically change in the next half of the season. From dominant quarterbacks to stud rookie wide receivers to quests for individual records, the list goes on. Below, I'll highlight eight of the biggest questions for the second half of the season below, in no particular order. 

1. Can the Arizona Cardinals win the Super Bowl with Drew Stanton?

The Arizona Cardinals have been the best team in the NFL through the first half of the season, thanks to the incredible coaching job by Bruce Arians. The Cardinals have overcome countless injuries, even winning two games started by 30-year-old backup quarterback Drew Stanton. 

But their most recent injury, a season-ending ACL tear to veteran Carson Palmer, could derail the Cardinals' chances of becoming the first team to play in the Super Bowl the same year they're hosting. Palmer, who just signed a three-year, $50 million extension last week, will miss the remainder of the season. Forget about a Super Bowl title for the Cardinals. With seven teams in the NFC 6-3 or better, the Cardinals could struggle to even reach the postseason, especially with their difficult remaining schedule. 

2. Is Mark Sanchez the next franchise quarterback in Philadelphia?

A year-and-a-half into his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles, Chip Kelly still doesn't know who will be his franchise quarterback. It wasn't Michael Vick. It's not going to be Matt Barkley. It's unlikely that it will be Nick Foles. So could it be Mark Sanchez?

The 28-year-old former top-five pick by the New York Jets is looking to revive his career after signing a one-year deal with the Eagles last offseason. Sanchez had moderate success early in his tenure with the Jets, but he ultimately flamed out. The big question is whether Sanchez failed because of coaching and lack of offensive help or if he just isn't a good enough quarterback. He's played just a game-and-a-half since Foles' injury, but Sanchez has looked sharp. Really sharp. Time will tell if he is the future at the quarterback position in Philly. 

3. Which team (if any) will sign Ray Rice?

The NFL is likely going to reach a decision on Ray Rice within the next few weeks, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. I fully expect the former Baltimore Ravens' Pro Bowler to play again...maybe even this season if someone gives him a shot. That may seem unlikely at this stage given the cloud hanging over Rice, but on the off chance that someone is desperate enough to give Rice an opportunity, which team makes the most sense for Rice?

To me, that's a no-brainer. The Denver Broncos are arguably the best offensive team in the NFL, yet they have a brutal running game. They've given four different running backs at least 30 carries but none has stood out at all. As a team, the Broncos are averaging just 3.7 yards per carry this season. If Woody Paige of the Denver Post (h/t Itsalloverfatman) is correct that John Fox will be fired if the Broncos don't win the Super Bowl this season, it makes complete sense for Peyton Manning and company to sign the veteran Rice as their starting running back. Oh, and the fact that they worked out free-agent guard Richie Incognito, per Fox Sports NFL Insider Jay Glazer, shows they're not afraid to take a chance (or at least consider taking a chance) on talented players with questionable character. 

4. Will the Oakland Raiders lose all 16 games?

Don't look now but the Oakland Raiders are more than halfway to becoming the second 0-16 team in NFL history. At 0-9, Oakland needs seven more losses to join the 2008 Detroit Lions in history. A quick look at Oakland's schedule shows that six of their final seven opponents have a winning record. Their easiest matchup, on paper, is probably either a road game against the St. Louis Rams or a home contest against the Buffalo Bills. With rookie quarterback Derek Carr actually playing well despite limited offensive talent around him, expect the Raiders to find a way to win a game this season. But probably just one. 

5. Which NFC teams in contention will miss the playoffs?

There are eight teams in the NFC with a legitimate chance at reaching the postseason: the Arizona Cardinals (8-1), Detroit Lions (7-2), Philadelphia Eagles (7-2), Dallas Cowboys (6-3), Seattle Seahawks (6-3), Green Bay Packers (6-3), San Francisco 49ers (5-4) and the NFC South champion. So which two will miss the playoffs?

Check the standings and it's the 49ers who have the toughest road to the playoffs. The only 5-4 team in that bunch, the Niners also have two games against Seattle and one against Arizona remaining on their schedule. But you can never count out a team coached by Jim Harbaugh, who has led the 49ers to two NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance since he took over the team in 2011.

But it's really impossible to predict. The Cardinals have lost their quarterback. The Packers are probably the hottest team right now but they'd also miss the playoffs if the season ended today. The Eagles still have to play the Packers, Cowboys, Seahawks and Cowboys again. I could go on and on. It'll be a fascinating finish for sure. 

6. Which head coaches will be fired after the season?

The way I look at it, there are 11 different coaches in the NFL who should or could be fired, depending on how their team ends the season. They are as follows: Mike Smith (Atlanta Falcons), Ron Rivera (Carolina Panthers), Marc Trestman (Chicago Bears), Marvin Lewis (Cincinnati Bengals), Jason Garrett (Dallas Cowboys), John Fox (Denver Broncos), Joe Philbin (Miami Dolphins), Tom Coughlin (New York Giants), Rex Ryan (New York Jets), Jim Harbaugh (San Francisco 49ers) and Jeff Fisher (St. Louis Rams).

Smith and Ryan should be locks to be fired, as Smith's Falcons have fallen apart over the last two years and Ryan's Jets will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year. Rivera and Fisher are likely, as neither has succeeded in turning around their franchise.

Trestman probably deserves another chance after leading the Bears to the second-most points in the NFL last year. Lewis should be fired if the Bengals don't win at least one playoff game, as they're 0-5 in wild-card games over the last decade. Fox, if the aforementioned speculaton is true, will be fired if the Broncos don't win the Super Bowl. Philbin's tenure could end if the Dolphins collapse, as he's failed to lead Miami into the postseason in three years. And Coughlin and Harbaugh may choose to resign, rather than be fired, Coughlin as a combination of ineffectiveness in recent years and his old age, and Harbaugh for well-publicized drama with the team's front office. 

7. Which teams will be drafting a quarterback in 2015?

Here are the NFL teams that could be in the market for a first-round quarterback next season: Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, New York Jets, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans. The Philadelphia Eagles are my deep sleeper to invest in a first-round quarterback, although it wouldn't be a necessity like the other teams on this list. Five of those teams will desperately need a quarterback, while for the Cardinals, it will depend on Palmer's progress from his ACL tear. 

8. Will any of the major NFL records be broken?

Looking around at the different positions across the league and you have an outside chance of seeing up to four or five different single-season records broken. 

Andrew Luck is on pace for 5,484 passing yards. Peyton Manning holds the single-season record with 5,477 yards. DeMarco Murray would need to average just over 145 rushing yards over the final six games to break Eric Dickerson's record of 2,105 rushing yards. Julius Thomas would need to catch 11 touchdowns in seven games to tie Randy Moss' record of 23 receiving touchdowns. And Justin Houston's 12 sacks put him on pace for just under Michael Strahan's record of 22.5, so a small improvement in the final games could see the record broken.