NFL 2013 Halftime Report!

It's effectively half-time in the 2013 NFL season. It's been another vintage season with new teams emerging as contenders, and some of last year's contenders struggling to reach the levels of last year.

If the season were to end now, the following teams would be in the playoffs -

AFC - Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, New York Jets

NFC - New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers

Disappointments this season?

While as expected, Jacksonville, St Louis, Tampa Bay, Buffalo have been non-factors this season, everyone sorta expected them to be there so they can't really count as disappointments.

The New York Giants have been terrible this year with Eli Manning no longer playing like the elite quarterback he wants to be. The Redskins and Vikings have come down from their lofty heights of last season - second season syndrome to QBs RG3 and Christian Ponder perhaps. The Steelers had a shocking start but are coming back but it has been a disappointing last few years for the Yellow Towel fans.

Another intercept from Matt Ryan

The biggest disappointments for me would have to be a tie between the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans. All were contenders last season but have shown none of the form that made them the leaders last season. Both Matts have been dreadful with the ball, with Schaub dropped for the Sunday night football game for young QB Case Keenum.

Surprise of the season?

Carolina's form has been great to watch but it's gotta be Kansas City Chiefs. A side who only won 2 games last season are unbeaten under new coach Andy Reid, and sitting on top of the AFC West which Denver was supposed to romp away with with a 9-0 record.

Chiefs now have the bye and a week to look forward to their encounter with the Broncos after that. Bring it on!!

It's clear now that the West is the best - after years of being absolutely mediocre, it seems the NFL's powerhouse has moved to the Pacific coast with the Seahawks, Broncos, Chiefs and 49ers amongst the league's best teams - I expect at least three of them to qualify for the playoffs and one of them to make the Super Bowl.

My tips for the playoffs come January? (Rankings below)

AFC Div Winners - 1.Denver Broncos, 2.New England Patriots, 3.Indianapolis Colts, 4.Cincinnati Bengals
AFC Wildcards - 5.Kansas City Chiefs, 6.New York Jets

NFC Div Winners - 1.Seattle Seahawks, 2.New Orleans Saints, 3.Chicago Bears, 4.Dallas Cowboys
NFC Wildcards -  5.San Francisco 49ers, 6.Detroit Lions

Super Bowl? Seahawks v Broncos