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NFL: 10 teams that are better (or worse) than their records indicate

By Luke Dahlgren

Oct 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs against the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Falcons 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs against the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Falcons 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 18, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) is tackled by Denver Broncos strong safety T.J. Ward (43 and free safety Darian Stewart (26) and nose tackle Sylvester Williams (92) in the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) is tackled by Denver Broncos strong safety T.J. Ward (43 and free safety Darian Stewart (26) and nose tackle Sylvester Williams (92) in the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports /

We take a look at ten NFL teams up and down the standings, teams whose records don’t indicate how they have played in 2015.

The Denver Broncos entered into their Week Six game as one of the league’s five undefeated teams, while the Cleveland Browns limped in at 2-3.

If not for a defensive touchdown and a fortuitous overtime period, the Broncos would not have escaped again with a win. The game was an absolute slop-fest, particularly for the Broncos offense and Peyton Manning – who on the season now has 10 interceptions to just 7 touchdowns, and would have trouble throwing a football beyond 20 yards even if it had racing stripes on the sides.

Meanwhile, the Browns looked flawed but not quite as broken as they figured to be heading into the season. Both teams entered and ended the game with records that hid how relatively well (or poorly) they have played.

The midsection of the NFL season is when the league quickly becomes stratified. Even so, regardless of their record through the first games, teams can still decide their fates with surges in the standings or late-season collapses.

We take a look at five teams who are better than they have shown through five or six games, and five who are lucky to be where they are in the standings. To do so, we start in Southern California.

Next: San Diego Chargers

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