2019 First Quarter Highlights

[Aestis]

We're now 4 weeks into our M20 cycle, and already we're seeing some surprise teams.

There's a lot to unpack here. Having said all this, I will now say another thing. And here it comes...

And here it is:

THE GOOD

Miami Dolphins (2-2)
Cheez actually finished out M19 on a fairly competitive note, but there's no telling how well that translates into new cycles. Many guys take an immediate step backward. Instead the lowest-rated Dolphins came out firing, leaping out to a 2-0 start on the back of a surprising passing attack. They've come back down to Earth the past 2 weeks but are sitting at .500 when many would have had them pegged to be in contention for the #1 overall pick.

Los Angeles Chargers (3-1)
Ace's first season in the league last cycle was around .500, but he collapsed in the final 2 user seasons and was limping into M20 in terms of his station in the league's competitive hierarchy. But no more: behind a dangerous defense led by a lethal pass rush, the Chargers have held all 4 of their opponents to under 30 pts & 3 of the 4 to 20 or less during a stretch when league offense was at an all-time high. They kept it within striking distance vs the red-hot 4-0 Texans, but their biggest challenge is up next to see how they really will stack up in the playoff race: divisional powerhouse & SB contender Denver Broncos.

Tennessee Titans (3-1)
The Titans were largely expected to be a team that could be in the mix for a playoff spot, but definitely not a favorite. They exploded out of the gate to a 3-0 record behind a dominant offense, scoring 31+ in all three games. They cratered hard in week 4 as the Falcons' suffocating defense limited the Titans to just 6. How for real is this TEN offense as defenses adjust?

Dallas Cowboys (3-1)
Like the Titans, this was a team that would have been considered to be a dark horse playoff contender, so a 3-1 record itself is not necessarily a big surprise. But what's been surprising is their sheer dominance, putting up 47 points in a win over the 3-1 Giants and losing narrowly to a top SB contender in the Saints. This team looks like the real deal, with an opportunity to win the division outright and perhaps even to make a deeper run in the playoffs.

New York Giants (3-1)
Speaking of NFCE surprise teams, before the cycle began this division may have been called the weakest on-paper. Instead the favorite is sitting at 2-2 and the Giants (largely expected to finish 3rd or 4th) are sitting at 3-1 right in the thick of the playoff race. Solid defense, solid passing, and dominant rushing has been their recipe for success. Now there's a target on this underdog's back. Can they keep it up?

Minnesota Vikings (3-1)
Speaking of dominant rushing, that plus a dominant defense have the Vikes atop the competitive NFCN. They've held good offenses to less than 20 points multiple times, an especially impressive feat given the current state of offense in the league. If they can limit mistakes in the passing game, this team absolutely has the tools to stay atop the division and make a subsequent playoff run.


Next up: TEH BAD

[Aestis]

(placeholder for TEH BAD)