The first half of the NFL season has come with injuries, COVID-19 worries and a ton of upsets. One word to describe the first half: unpredictable. We’ve seen some of the same: Tom Brady playing great football, the Rams’ defense dominating and the everlasting trend of struggling rookie quarterbacks. However, now that we are eight weeks into the NFL season, here are the teams that I see as performing above their expectations, and those that are playing worse than I expected.

Los Angeles Rams: Overperforming

Led by a historically dominant defense, the Los Angeles Rams are not a team to be messed with. Head coach Sean McVay’s decision to go ‘all-in’ this offseason proved a well-spent investment. Matthew Stafford is playing exceptionally with 22 touchdowns and just four interceptions in eight games. Cooper Kupp is having a breakout year, with a tied-for career-high number of touchdowns in just half of the season. McVay wasn’t happy with his 7-1 record, however, as he added future hall of famer Von Miller to the already stacked defensive line. Right now, it’s safe to say that the Rams are a favorite in the NFC to go to the Super Bowl.

Seattle Seahawks: Underperforming

For a Seattle Seahawks team littered with talent, a record of 3-5 is not good enough. Yes, Russell Wilson is hurt, and Geno Smith is starting at quarterback. Week 10 seems like the target date for Wilson’s return and the inevitable uptick in the Seahawks offense. However, even with Wilson, the Seahawks were 2-2. For a return to the playoffs, something has to change.

Kansas City Chiefs: Underperforming

You can’t talk about underperforming teams without talking about the Kansas City Chiefs. Sitting at 4-4, the Chiefs have been embarrassed by both the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans. Patrick Mahomes is boasting his worst quarterback rating since his rookie year, and Travis Kelce is underperforming. Mahomes, along with his poor QBR, has thrown 10 interceptions. Now, even with the struggles of Mahomes and Kelce, the Chiefs’ offense has been good enough. However, the real issue is the defense. Averaging 27.5 points per game, the Chiefs’ opponents have been tearing up their defense. If Patrick Mahomes and co. can’t right the ship, the Chiefs’ Super Bowl dreams will be in doubt.

New Orleans Saints: Overperforming

Led by quarterback Jameis Winston, the New Orleans Saints have been playing great football. The team currently sits at 5-2, after beating Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, recent news that both Winston and star wideout Michael Thomas may be out for the rest of the year, serves a large blow to the team’s playoff goals. Nevertheless, a Taysom Hill quarterbacked Saints is not the worst alternative. Running back Alvin Kamara will now have a larger role in the offense, and the defense will continue to contribute. In my eyes, the Saints are a playoff team, even without Winston.