10 NFL Teams Finishing the 1st Half of the Season in the Perfect Spot

It is not just that the New England Patriots may end the 2015 National Football League regular season undefeated. 

It will likely be considered a massive upset if the Patriots lose a game before the postseason.

New England quarterback Tom Brady is a man on a mission whenever he takes the field. The ridiculous Deflategate scandal that is somehow still going on has seemingly pushed Brady and company into an even higher gear. The Patriots, barring a catastrophe, will win the AFC East and host at least one playoff game in January. New England is the team to beat halfway through the 2015 NFL campaign. 

The Patriots are not the only unbeaten squad heading into Week 10. Cam Newton will be a Most Valuable Player candidate if the Carolina Panthers emerge as the best team in the NFC. While the Cincinnati Bengals may run away with the AFC North title, it is understandable that critics will hesitate to believe in Cincinnati until that roster proves that it can win a postseason game.

Watch out for the two NFL teams that call the Big Apple home.  Both the New York Giants and New York Jets would be playoff teams if the postseason began today. Big Blue has been a nightmare for Brady and the Patriots in February games. 

Don't expect to see the Patriots and Giants face off in another Super Bowl this time around. 

10. Detroit Lions

Putting the Detroit Lions in this list is neither snark nor an attempt at humor. The Lions being at 1-7 could be the perfect spot for the franchise moving forward. Detroit needs a reboot as soon as the offseason begins. The team's general manager and president have already been shown the door. Owner Martha Ford has, per Detroit Free Press sports writers Dave Birkett and Carlos Monarrez, addressed the players about what is expected of the club:

"

"She (told us what she) expects from us and some of the decisions she had to make and all that stuff," guard Manny Ramirez said. "And as an owner we respect that as far as her willing to come in and talk to us. So we know where she comes from, what she means. It's been a long time that we haven't been able to turn it around here and she wants to see something change and she had to make a big move."

"

Lions MVP: Ford, for doing what needed to be done. 

The harsh reality is that the Lions have little to gain in winning another game this year. Detroit winning now offers no answers to the following questions: Should the Lions move on from quarterback Matthew Stafford? Who should replace what has become a lame-duck coaching staff? Is trading Calvin Johnson a smart move at this point of his career?

The future for the Lions begins with losing. That is why Detroit is in a perfect spot. 

9. New York Jets

The sports gods prove they have a sense of humor every now and again; take the 2015 New York Jets as an example. The Jets were in the headlines this past August when quarterback Geno Smith had his jaw broken when he was punched by then-teammate IK Enemkpali. That punch may have been the best thing to happen to the Jets. 

Ryan Fitzpatrick has been more than just a fill-in for Smith. Fitzpatrick has been better than advertised, and he has earned the starting job for as long as he is able to play this season. Fans of the Jets have to be relieved that Fitzpatrick is able to play through a painful thumb injury that will eventually require him to have surgery.

Jets MVP: Fitzpatrick is not going to be confused for Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady. "Fitzmagic" moments are few and far between. Fitzpatrick has, however, done more than enough to have the Jets in the playoff hunt halfway through the season. Gang Green will open the second portion of the campaign with a home Thursday Night Football contest against the Buffalo Bills. 

That may prove to be a must-win game for both teams. 

8. Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings have been one of the positive surprises of the NFL this season. Adrian Peterson is once again the best running back in the league. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater continues to improve with every start. Minnesota is tied with the Green Bay Packers atop the NFC North standings. Things were going swimmingly for the Vikings. 

Then, Bridgewater was knocked unconscious while playing against the St. Louis Rams on Nov. 8.

That Bridgewater may, per ESPN staff writer Ben Goessling, be allowed to start and play when the Vikings face the Oakland Raiders on November 15 raises questions about the NFL concussion protocol. The worry, as it pertains just to football, is that Bridgewater will be susceptible to additional brain injuries. It may be best for all involved if Bridgewater were to sit out a week or two.

Vikings MVP: Peterson will have to carry the offensive of the Vikings if Bridgewater is sidelined for a game. That shouldn't be a problem for the all-time great running back. Peterson, as explained by Andrew Krammer of ESPN 1500, is making history this year: 

"

Peterson already has more yards in a single season than (O.J.) Simpson did at ages 30, 31 or 32. At his current pace, Peterson would be just the fifth running back in NFL history to surpass 1,500 rushing yards in his 30s, joining Tiki Barber (twice), Walter Payton (twice), Corey Dillon and Martin. 

"

7. Denver Broncos

One could say that the Denver Broncos truly cannot be in a "perfect spot" this fall. The Broncos are far and away the class of the AFC West. Denver should coast to a division title and a playoff berth. There are plenty of NFL teams that would love to be in such a position following the first full weekend of November. 

Denver has a championship defense. That alone makes the Broncos legitimate Super Bowl contenders. The offense of the Broncos could be what holds Denver back once the playoffs begin. 

Broncos MVP: Peyton Manning is the most valuable player for the Broncos because Denver isn't winning anything of merit without him.

Running backs Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson have done little to lighten the load for Manning. Thus, the all-time great, who has been a shell of his former self throughout 2015, has been tasked with carrying the Denver offense. That has not been ideal, but the Broncos are nevertheless a handful of victories away from playing postseason football. 

Manning struggled to win playoff games when healthy and in his prime. The Broncos will need that version of "The Sheriff" to arise one more time against the likes of the Patriots and Bengals in January. 

6. Arizona Cardinals

The 6-2 Arizona Cardinals have given fans and critics reasons to doubt that the team will compete for a conference championship in January. Arizona put up a stinker at home against the St. Louis Rams. The Cardinals managed to score only 13 points against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cleveland Browns, always an NFL laughingstock, outplayed the Cardinals for a half of football.

Beat the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football, Arizona. Doing so would quiet doubters. 

Cardinals MVP: Carson Palmer.

One should not need to see any numbers to know that Palmer is the most valuable player on the roster of the Cardinals. Arizona's championship hopes were dashed last fall when Palmer suffered the second serious knee injury of his NFL career. The veteran quarterback has been magnificent for the Cardinals. Palmer is also one hit away from being forced into retirement.

The Cardinals would be wise to put Palmer in a protective bubble on off days.

5. Green Bay Packers

Both the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings are at 6-2. Green Bay has lost two straight games. Why, then, are the Packers ahead of the Vikings in this list? 

Green Bay has Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. Minnesota is hoping that second-year pro Teddy Bridgewater will not be sidelined after suffering a concussion. 

Splitting divisional games versus the Vikings may be enough for Green Bay to win the NFC North this season. Nether the Detroit Lions nor the Chicago Bears are, on paper, threats to the Packers. The Arizona Cardinals are the only opponent left on the Green Bay schedule that should worry fans of the Packers.

Packers MVP: Rodgers

It has been a rough couple of weeks for Rodgers. Losses to the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers ended a six-game winning streak. Rodgers admitted after the fact, per Zach Kruse of FOX Sports, that he got into his own head when trying to rally the Packers from behind against the Panthers: 

"I had the easy opportunity there for a pitch-and-catch touchdown but I got scared by something,” Rodgers said, via Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I can’t explain it. It was a mistake by myself."

Don't expect Rodgers to repeat that kind of error.  

4. New York Giants

Remember that we are not discussing NFL power rankings here. This piece rather offers a look at 10 NFL teams that are in a "perfect spot." 

The defense of the Giants has been downright awful. Tom Brady and the offense of the New England Patriots may put up 50 points on the Giants when those two teams face off on November 15. 

The Giants may nevertheless be destined to win the NFC East because one team has to earn that honor. 

Injuries have all but ended what was once a promising season for the Dallas Cowboys. The Washington Redskins are banking on Kirk Cousins evolving into a franchise quarterback. The same Philadelphia Eagles that crushed the Giants in prime time needed an additional quarter to defeat Matt Cassel and the Cowboys this past Sunday night. 

Give me Eli Manning and the Giants in the race for the NFC East crown.

Giants MVP:  The younger Manning brother will not get the respect that he deserves until he retires. That's the way it is, and that probably isn't going to change. Manning has not just been stellar for the Giants. He has done so without having wide receiver Victor Cruz as an option and without having a rushing attack that averages 100 yards on the ground per game (h/t NFL.com). 

Manning is the best quarterback in what is a terrible division. He has won in the playoffs and on Super Bowl Sunday multiple times. Doubt Manning and the Giants at your own risk. 

3. Carolina Panthers

Gone are the days of Cam Newton sulking on the sidelines after making a costly error that costs the Carolina Panthers a chance to win a game. Those times have been replaced by ESPN analysts such as Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless debating on if Newton can win the NFL MVP award over Tom Brady. 

How quickly things can change. 

The Panthers have not been a dominant 8-0 team as of late. Carolina's defense nearly blew leads in back-to-back contests against the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers. Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers both exposed holes in the Carolina pass defense, weaknesses that could be exploited in a one-and-done playoff game.

Panthers MVP: Newton.

Ignore the stats when making the case for Newton as NFL MVP. Instead, remember that Newton is passing the so-called "eye test" without having a true No. 1 wide receiver as a weapon. Newton taking the Panthers down the field for a game-winning drive at the Seattle Seahawks was arguably the top performance we've seen from any QB this season. Newton is silencing his critics with every win.  

2. Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are 8-0. Andy Dalton is second only to Tom Brady in quarterback rating (h/t ESPN). Cincinnati is the uncrowned king of the AFC North, so much so that the Bengals may not even have to go .500 in the second half of the season to win the division. Fans of the Bengals are enjoying the ride, right? 

Not exactly. Amy K. Nelson of The MMQB explained: 

"

Four straight first-round playoff losses have complicated the relationship between fans and Dalton, reaching a crescendo this past July when Dalton was booed during introductions at MLB’s All-Star celebrity softball game at the Reds’ ballpark, just a few blocks away from Paul Brown Stadium.

"

Bengals MVP: Dalton, but being a regular-season MVP will mean little to Cincinnati fans if the "Red Rifle" can't get the job done in the playoffs. 

The Bengals being the best team in the AFC North this season is similar to the New York Mets winning the National League East in 2015. Both are noteworthy accomplishments, sure, but neither mean all that much once the playoffs begin. The Mets went on a run all the way to the World Series this fall.

Anything short of the Bengals making it to the AFC Championship Game will feel like a failure for some within the Cincinnati faithful.  

1. New England Patriots

Don't make Tom Brady and Bill Belichick angry. You won't like them, NFL, when they are angry. 

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell poked the bear by pushing the "Deflategate" matter to the point that casual NFL fans sided with Brady and the Patriots. The result has been a revenge tour that could be historic by the time the smoke clears. 

Just how dominant were the Patriots in the opening half of the 2015 NFL season? Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post joked that the Washington Redskins should rest starters and accept a loss rather than try to pull off the impossible mission of beating the Patriots in Week 9. 

Patriots MVP: It's Brady. Of course it's Brady. 

It's great that Brady leads the NFL in QB rating halfway through the season (h/t ESPN). That Brady has only tossed a pair of interceptions in 328 pass attempts is impressive. One does not need stats to see that Brady would deserve to be NFL MVP if the season ended today. He has, as was suggested in the video linked with this slide, been as dominant as ever. 

The unbeaten Patriots will be favorites to win the Super Bowl so long as Brady remains healthy.