WEB EXCLUSIVE

This NFL season has been incredibly unpredictable to this point. It’s only Week 8, and many records have been broken and the typically weak teams are looking stronger.

I would like to sincerely apologize for my error in the first edition of the The Lion’s Tale newspaper. The Jacksonville Jaguars are not what I predicted them to be. Their offense is as bad as the Cleveland Browns, and their defense is giving up the seventh-most points per game. They are going in the wrong direction, and Gus Bradley needs to go. The Jags are the least likely of three Florida teams to have a winning season.

The other two Florida football teams, the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are starting to turn it around. Both have achieved three hard-fought wins and have a legitimate playoff chance.

The Dolphins started the season 1-4, with an inconsistent offense and struggling defense. They have since surprised the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills, thanks to the coming-out party of Jay Ajayi. The Jay Train became the fourth player in NFL history to rush for 200 yards in back-to-back games. An impressive feat, last achieved by former Dolphins running back Ricky Williams. Ajayi is not the only reason why the Dolphins are winning.

In addition to an improved offense, the defense has held its own. With a relatively easy schedule remaining, the Dolphins have gotten the tougher part of the year out of the way, and staying consistent on all parts of their game could result in a trip to the playoffs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are also searching for a playoff run.

With a tough first half of their schedule, the Buccaneers have shown they have the pieces on both sides of the ball to have success and possibly win a weaker NFC South. Jameis Winston is having a solid sophomore year, leading the Bucs to wins over the 49ers, Falcons and Panthers. A team going the opposite way is the defending NFC champs, the Carolina Panthers.

After letting All-Pro corner Josh Norman walk, the Panthers defense has not looked the same, giving up the fourth most points per game (worse than the Jaguars). Their offense does not appear to be in sync either: the lack of a running game has made them one-dimensional. Unless they can turn it around, missing out on the playoffs seems like a major possibility. Among their losses was a tough Week 3 game versus the up and coming Minnesota Vikings.

When Teddy Bridgewater dislocated his knee and tore his ACL before the season started, the Vikings were counted out by many. People made jokes that Bridgewater would have played on one leg if he knew that they would sign Sam Bradford. Despite the fact that pro bowl running back Adrian Peterson is also injured, the Vikings managed to become the last undefeated team in the league this season. This is large in part because of the rejuvenation of Sam Bradford, emergence of Stefon Diggs, and dominance of the Vikings defense. A good mix of talent and experience give the Vikings a solid chance of winning the NFC North on their way to a deep playoff run.

The Vikings looked untouchable until they encountered the Eagles in Bradford’s return to Philly. Philadelphia may not have a winning basketball or baseball team, but the future is now for the Eagles. Carson Wentz looks for real, and the defense is underrated. They have taken down some tough teams, but winning the NFC East will be a tough task. Why? The Dallas Cowboys are back.

Cowboys rookies, quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott. are leading the way. Prescott is tearing apart defenses as his low draft choice looks more and more ridiculous. Tony Romo must accept that Prescott should be the starting QB unless he starts to struggle. Elliott leads the NFL in rushing yards, and the rest of the team is doing their part. An NFC East title looms in their future if they continue their dominant ways.

Many questions are still yet to be answered. Are teams like the Cowboys, Eagles and Vikings legitimate contenders for a Super Bowl title? Out of these three, the Cowboys seem like the most complete team, but the Broncos proved last year that defense wins championships. That points towards success for the Vikings. Will a Florida football team finally reach the playoffs? Hopefully. The Dolphins have the weaker schedule, while the Buccaneers’ division will be easier to win. A wild remainder of the season is inevitable. There may be more ties, more crazy endings, more unbelievable runs and insane catches.