The Most Improved Teams in the NFL Through 6 Weeks

Getting better as a team in any sport is every franchise’s goal—that and winning a championship, of course.

So here we are taking a look at more than a handful of clubs in the NFL that are not only better than they were a year ago, but are also making considerable strides from earlier in the season.

Don’t be fooled by these teams' records. Yes, there are a few clubs on this list that are below the .500 mark. But that doesn’t mean that they haven’t improved over the last year or even since September.

Are all of these clubs headed to the playoffs? No. That’s not the idea here. But here are nine teams that have upped their games and are certainly worth watching for the remainder of 2015.

Arizona Cardinals

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

2015 Record: 4-2

2014 Record: 11-5 (reached playoffs)

Analysis

On Sunday in the Steel City, the Arizona Cardinals scored a season-low total of points in a 25-13 loss to the Steelers. Bruce Arians’ talented squad came into the contest averaging a robust 38 points per game.

That setback won’t take away from what we've seen so far this season. Against Pittsburgh, the Cards turned over the football an uncharacteristic three times. During the team’s 4-1 start, Arizona committed a mere seven turnovers.

What’s really evident is the amount of firepower this team has in terms of playmakers in all three facets of the game. But we won’t bury the lead. Keeping veteran quarterback Carson Palmer out of harm’s way has been the key, as the talented passer has already played as many games in 2014 as he did all of last season.

In six games last year, Palmer threw for 11 scores and was picked off just three times. This season, he’s already thrown 14 touchdown passes compared to five interceptions.

The addition of running back Chris Johnson has been a boon to the ground game. A revived Larry Fitzgerald has benefited from the health of Palmer. The defense has already picked off 11 passes and returned three for scores.

More importantly, this is a team that seems to enjoy playing for its head coach. And while the remainder of the NFC West looks to find some consistency, the Cardinals look like a better team than the one that limped into the playoffs last year.

Atlanta Falcons

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

2015 Record: 5-1

2014 Record: 6-10

Analysis

When you’re one victory away from matching your win total from the previous season after only six weeks, that’s certainly cause for optimism.

Yes, the Atlanta Falcons are coming off their first loss of 2015, and their defense looked ordinary at the Superdome on Thursday night, especially in comparison to an aggressive New Orleans Saints defense that sacked quarterback Matt Ryan five times. Also, an Atlanta team that had coughed up the ball just seven times in its first five games gave it up on three occasions in the prime-time loss.

However, the strides this team has made over the course of a year are pretty evident, and a large part of the credit goes to new head coach Dan Quinn, the former defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks who has brought that team’s physicality to Atlanta.

Part of Quinn's philosophy is fielding a punishing rushing attack and preventing the other team from doing the same.

Last season, the Falcons ran for 93.6 yards per game and allowed 118.4 yards per outing on the ground. This year, due mainly to the emergence of second-year pro Devonta Freeman and the play-calling of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, Atlanta is averaging 130 yards per game rushing and limiting opponents to just 78.8 yards per contest.

Just watch these Falcons and you know they pass the eye test. And if the team ever discovers a consistent pass rush, this could be a very intriguing team down the road.

Carolina Panthers

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

2015 Record: 5-0

2014 Record: 7-8-1

Analysis

For those who were waiting for the Carolina Panthers to somehow vindicate their 4-0 start, how do you like them now?

For the first time since 2003, the franchise is unbeaten after five games. That season resulted in an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

We’re not saying that quarterback Cam Newton and his cohorts are making reservations for Santa Clara in early February. But keep in mind that dating back to last season and including a pair of playoff games, the Panthers are a combined 10-1 in their last 11 contests.

Sunday’s rousing 27-23 victory at Seattle saw this club rally from a 20-7 deficit to stun the defending NFC champions. This is a team that is just one year removed from a miserable start on both sides of the football, and it's averaging 27 points per game while committing only five turnovers in as many outings.

Newton has thrown twice as many touchdown passes (eight) as interceptions (four), and he's rushed for 225 yards and three scores.

Perhaps what has really stood out is the Panthers defense, which just got perennial Pro Bowl middle linebacker Luke Kuechly back after he missed the last three games. In his absence, veteran outside linebacker Thomas Davis and emerging cornerback Josh Norman have been the leaders.

And don’t discount the fact that the NFC South as a whole is playing better football. A division that combined to win a mere 22 games last season is currently a combined 14-8 in 2015.

In some ways, the Panthers have picked up where they left off late last season. But this team is showing a lot more confidence these days, and it can’t be discounted when it comes to the Super Bowl discussion.

Chicago Bears

Jose Juarez/Associated Press

2015 Record: 2-4

2014 Record: 5-11

Analysis

Yes, the Chicago Bears have dropped four of their first six games this season, and if you saw them in Detroit on Sunday, it’s hard to get excited about a team whose defense was shredded by Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford for 405 yards and four touchdowns.

Still, consider that this was a club blasted in its first three games by a combined score of 105-46 in losses to the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks. But over the last three weeks, quarterback Jay Cutler was the catalyst in comeback wins over the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs and had plenty of promising and clutch moments in the overtime loss at Ford Field.

Running back Matt Forte is having a big year, and outside linebacker Pernell McPhee leads the club with four sacks. For now, the Bears don’t look like a serious playoff contender, but new head coach John Fox is slowly making his mark in the Windy City. The next month or so could be very interesting.

Cincinnati Bengals

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

2015 Record: 6-0

2014 Record: 10-5-1 (reached playoffs)

Analysis

Last season, the Cincinnati Bengals got off to a 3-0 start and then seemed to come apart weekly, posting a 7-5-1 record the remainder of the year before quickly bowing out of the playoffs again.

And yes, everyone is seemingly ignoring what Marvin Lewis’ team has done to date as they wait for Andy Dalton and company to wilt under the postseason pressure.

But Dalton is putting up numbers that are dwarfing last season’s performance. And with defensive tackle Geno Atkins looking like one of the top players at his position and defensive end Carlos Dunlap with 6.5 sacks this season, this is a dangerous club that now appears to be getting better on a weekly basis.

Let’s go back to Dalton, who has completed 67.4 percent of his throws for 1,761 yards, 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions. A year ago, he managed to throw for only 19 scores compared to 17 interceptions while hitting on 64.2 percent of his passes.

Of course, a healthy receiving corps with the likes of wideouts A.J. Green and Marvin Jones as well as tight end Tyler Eifert—who have combined for 12 of Dalton’s 14 scores—is an enormous help.

How efficient have the Bengals been on offense? Lewis’ squad is averaging 410.3 yards per game, and in six wins, the team has allowed six sacks and committed only six turnovers.

Combine that kind of production with a solid and improved defense, and this is a club that can’t be overlooked.

Green Bay Packers

Jeffrey Phelps/Associated Press

2015 Record: 6-0

2014 Record: 12-4 (won NFC North)

Analysis

Whoa. You just gave up 503 yards passing to quarterback Philip Rivers, your own talented signal-caller has looked rather human the last few weeks and we’re going to make the case that this is an improved football team?

You bet. That’s because the Green Bay Packers defense is learning (slowly but surely) to stop the run and make plays when they need to most.

Dom Capers’ aggressive defenders have totaled 23 sacks, and the team has come away with 10 takeaways. Mike McCarthy’s club is averaging 127.3 yards per game on the ground, and even though he’s slowed down a bit the last few weeks, quarterback Aaron Rodgers has thrown 15 touchdown passes and only two interceptions in six games this season. All three of his turnovers this season came in the Week 5 win over the St. Louis Rams.

As we know, regardless of who’s in the offensive lineup, this is a club that has been tripped up in recent years by its defensive issues. But that aforementioned pass rush has been complemented by a defense that is still allowing 118.5 yards per game on the ground.

Still, this is a unit that has bent but not necessarily broken, as the Packers have allowed only 11 touchdowns in six contests. It’s also worth noting that McCarthy’s squad has outscored the opposition 164-101 count, and the team has not allowed a first-quarter touchdown.

An improved defense may still be a work in progress. But so far so good for a well-balanced team that has upped its overall game from a year ago.

New York Jets

Gary Hershorn/Associated Press

2015 Record: 4-1

2014 Record: 4-12

Analysis

A tough 24-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles is the only blemish on the record of the New York Jets, who were 4-12 a year ago and have now matched that win total just five games into the new season.

Speaking of new, the Jets have a new head coach and offensive coordinator in Todd Bowles and Chan Gailey, respectively, and they appear to have made an impact. The team has also benefited from the play of veterans such as quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and wide receiver Brandon Marshall, each of whom have had their good and bad moments.

Led by Chris Ivory (460 yards, four touchdowns), New York leads the NFL in rushing with 146 yards per game. An improved offensive line has also allowed just two sacks in five outings.

But it’s hard to ignore the impact the defense has had in such a brief time. A year ago, the Jets totaled an NFL-low 13 takeaways. This season, the Jets have already forced 15 turnovers, with the return of cornerback Darrelle Revis this offseason already paying huge dividends.

Of course, Bowles’ team will get the acid test this Sunday, when they travel to Foxborough to meet the Patriots.

Oakland Raiders

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

2015 Record: 2-3

2014 Record: 3-13

Analysis

We started to see signs of life from the Oakland Raiders late last season. A year ago, the team split its final six games after an 0-10 start.

But this is a new-look Raiders squad that has upgraded its passing game thanks to the additions of rookie Amari Cooper, free-agent addition Michael Crabtree and improved play from second-year quarterback Derek Carr.

Back in Week 3, Oakland snapped an 11-game road losing streak with a seven-point win at Cleveland. The Raiders are back in action this Sunday after a bye week, and they're still licking their wounds from tough losses to the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos.

A year ago, this was a team that ranked 22nd against the run, totaled only 22 sacks and forced only 14 turnovers. This season, after five games, opponents have managed only 83.2 yards per game on the ground while the Raiders have totaled 10 sacks and nine takeaways, including four interceptions from ageless safety Charles Woodson.

This is a team that has come an awfully long way from a 33-13 drubbing at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals back in Week 1.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

2015 Record: 4-2

2014 Record: 11-5 (won AFC North)

Analysis

This season, the combined efforts of three quarterbacks have resulted in four wins for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The defending AFC North champions also have a different look to them these days, and it’s not just the ever-changing faces behind center.

A team that seemingly forgot to rush the passer last year has already totaled 17 sacks in six games. The Steelers have also forced nine turnovers during their current 4-1 run.

While the team has now played Ben Roethlisberger, Michael Vick and Landry Jones at quarterback this season, the returns of running back Le’Veon Bell and wideout Martavis Bryant have been huge.

On Sunday, it was team’s third-string quarterback who came through when Vick went down. He completed eight of his 12 throws for 168 yards and a pair of scores, both to Bryant.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Jones to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I’ve never seen anything like it. The guys are resilient and it’s next man up. Whoever is next, they go in there. They play hard. They play the way they’re capable of. We showed the world what type of team we are.”

What this team is, at this moment, is better on defense than the one that was shredded by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in Week 1. The Steelers have allowed only six touchdown passes in the last five games after giving up four scores through the air to Brady.

What kind of club are we looking at when Roethlisberger is ready to go? The race for the AFC North title may be a battle after all.

Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com.