For a team like the New England Patriots, arriving at the halfway mark of the NFL season must feel like surveying a field of carnage from atop a mountain.

While the Patriots have jumped out to a 8-0 start fuelled by an historically good defense, so much of the AFC remains in ruin, with teams like the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jetscounting down the days until their wretched seasons can officially be declared over.

While #NFL100 has so far been highlighted by the familiar sight of Belichick / Brady Patriot dominance - with a fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance looming large on the horizon - it’s a league that has actually been incredibly competitive.

The Patriots have indeed chainsawed their way through a mostly lacklustre AFC, but the NFC has seen intense competition, with the likes of the New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packersleading the charge, with the Seattle Seahawks, the LA Rams, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles readying themselves for concerted second-half playoff runs.

THE PUNT RETURN PODCAST: 2019 NFL Mid-Season Wrap and Week 9 Best Bets

The halfway mark of the NFL season provides a convenient opportunity to take stock of what’s been an amazing season so far and to check in on some of its defining themes.

THE MVP RACE IS WIDE OPEN

After a few weeks in, it looked like it was simply Patrick Mahomes’ world and we were just lucky to be a part of it.

Through Week 3, the reigning NFL MVP had thrown ten touchdowns without a single interception, while throwing for a league-leading 1,195 yards. At that point in time, his Kansas City Chiefs looked like a bonafide Super Bowl contender, while his repeat MVP prospects were considered a better than even money proposition.

However, injuries have set in in Kansas, with Mahomes a victim of a couple of serious knocks that have not only affected his mobility and potency but has also now resulted in him needing some recuperation time.

Not only has Kanas City struggled mightily without his brilliance under centre, but it’s also ushered in an MVP race which is now wide open.

In short time, the likes of DeShaun Watson, Russell Wilson and Lamar Jackson have rocketed into MVP contention, while familiar names such as Aaron Rodgers and Tom Bradycontinue to put together the kind of team-leading campaigns voters love.

If, however, voters are prepared to look beyond the QB position when thinking about the season's most valuable, there are a couple of candidates putting together extremely strong campaigns. Carolina’s do-it-all Christian McCaffreylooks once again headed for a season where he smashes through 2,000 yards from scrimmage, while also being on track to register more than 20 all-purpose touchdowns. Meanwhile, New Orleans’ phenomenal wide receiver, Michael Thomas, has more catches (73) and more yards (875) than any receiver in the league while hauling in 82% of the catches thrown in his direction.

IT’S BEEN AN EXCEPTIONAL ROOKIE CLASS

On both sides of the ball, the 2019 NFL rookie class is having a profound impact in their debut season.

Arizona’s #1 overall draft pick Kyler Murray is the lead candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year, leading a surprisingly decent Cardinals team. At the half-way mark of the season, Murray has thrown for 1,988 yards while completing 63.7% of his passes and rushing for 279 yards.

Speaking of rushing, Oakland’s Josh Jacobs has been his team’s shining light in 2019, with the first-round pick out of Alabama on target to produce over 1,500 total yards from scrimmage while already rushing for 4 touchdowns. 

The wide receiver class of 2019 has also been incredibly effective with Seattle’s DK Metcalf, Baltimore’s Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown and Washington’s Terry McLaurin all emerging as key elements of their team’s offensive units.

On defense, the rookie impact has been exceptional. San Francisco’s decision to take Ohio State’s Nick Bosa at #2 overall appears to be an inspired one, as the former Buckeye has emerged as the most important element of a unit that’s ranked as the game’s second-best behind only the Patriots historic defensive unit. His 13 QB hits and 7 sacks lead a team who may well be on the cusp of a Super Bowl return.

Bosa, however, isn’t the only rookie defenseman having a massive impact in 2019, with Carolina’s Brian Burns leading his team with 11 QB hits, while Pittsburgh’s Devin Bush and Green Bay’s Darnell Savagehave already emerged as team leaders, locking down starting jobs at both middle linebacker and strong safety respectively.

<ad>

DEFENSE REMAINS KING

In a league where offense continues to evolve, where scores continue to climb and where quarterback play is increasingly athletic, one thing that has remained the same in 2019: defense matters more than ever.

While we should continue to enjoy the fireworks that contemporary NFL offense provides, the reality remains that if your team isn’t able to keep opponents off the field, then there’s precious chance they’ll be playing any meaningful role come playoff time.

The league’s four best teams through the halfway mark of the season in the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints all constitute the league’s most exceptional defenses. They’ve combined for 64 takeaways on the season while continuing to provide continual heartache for opposition QB’s.

Having such potent defenses has allowed all four teams to incorporate much more varied, multi-faceted offenses which haven't needed to ask too much of their QB’s so far.

Conversely, and unsurprisingly, horrible defense has held back teams all season. While it’s no surprise to see the likes of the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals among the league’s strugglers, poor defense has been behind pre-season Super Bowl contenders such as the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns very much falling away from contention in 2019.

RELATED: STATS INSIDER SUPER BOWL PROBABILITIES

THE COACH OF THE YEAR IS FRANK REICH

The Indianapolis Colts have played seven games this season with all of then being decided by less than a touchdown. The Colts record sits at an impressive 5-2 while enjoying their status as leaders in a crowded AFC South.

When Indy's talisman, Andrew Luck, retired in the preseason, it resulted not only in a league-wide earthquake but in instant re-evaluation of Indianapolis’ 2019 prospects with many forecasting a last-place division finish.

Instead, the argument could be made the Colts are not only in the box seat in the AFC South for their first division crown in five years, but might be the very best team in the conference outside of the New England Patriots.

Head coach Frank Reich has continued to work his magic in Indianapolis, carrying on the work which made him such a revered NFL assistant for more than a decade. Reich not only worked wonders with Future Hall of Famers Philip Riversand Peyton Manning, but his most recent stop in Philadelphia as offensive coordinator coincided with the franchise's first Super Bowl, owing to his excellent work with both Carson Wentz and Nick Foles.

<ad>

He took over a 4-12 team in Indianapolis, and instantly took them to the playoffs, while he continues to extract every ounce out of the current Colts’ roster which has not only had to replace Andrew Luck with Jacoby Brisset, but which has endured injuries all season long.

Reich has won 9 of his last 12 games decided by a touchdown or less, which speaks to a coach able to hold his nerve in tense situations, and one who has instilled so much faith and trust in his squad.

When we think of the game’s very best minds we understandably gravitate to the likes of Bill Belichick, Sean Payton and Andy Reid. 

It's time we start inserting Frank Reich into those conversations. 

THERE’S A WHOLE LOT OF TANKING GOING ON

It’s taken a while for the NFL to catch up to what has been commonplace in the NBA, but this is a league which has finally fallen in love with the benefits of a full-scale tank job.

Arguably, the Miami Dolphins were doing this before a ball was thrown in anger in 2019 with a bevy of pre-season trades. They haven’t won a game to date this season, and are flirting with the notion of becoming just the third team in NFL history to go 0-16.

Joining them in the desperate and dateless line is the Cincinnati Bengals, who have also limped to a winless start, but unlike Miami,won't be able to console themselves with five first round picks over the next two drafts.

It’s a devastating reality that the Atlanta Falcons might have to deal with too, owing to their deplorable start while New York hosts two rosters in the Jets and the Giants that appear a long way off any kind of meaningful contention.

While the NFL’s race to the bottom doesn’t make for a great look - producing regular blowouts - it’s also understandable that teams are taking this option in 2019, particularly considering the calibre of talent in this year's draft. As many as six quarterbacks are projected to go in the first round of the 2020 draft with Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, LSU’s Joe Burrow and Oregon’s Justin Herbert projected to go in the first few picks.

The first half of season 2019 has been compelling viewing, while the second will be all about fighting for playoff positions and conference supremacy, with one of the tightest MVP races still to play out.

Did you enjoy this article? Leave a comment below, or join the conversation on the Stats Insider Twitter or Facebook page.