Re-evaluating NFL Teams: Who Has Performed Well?

The 2025 NFL season is already creating a compelling story for fans. 

We’ve seen top-end clashes and unexpected victories. Three teams are reshaping expectations. Which of the squads have started strongest this year? How do their actual standings rate against the pre-season projections? 

Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts began the season with 8 victories in the first ten games. They now lead their South Division. 

Experts had identified them as fringe play-off contenders – not dominant front-runners. 

Many pre-season previews predicted a moderate finish rather than division dominance. Instead, the Colts rank first in total offence at 396.9 yards per game and post 32.1 points per game, the league’s best. 

Running back Jonathan Taylor is a central part of the Colts’ surge. He is averaging 145.3 rushing yards per game – and that’s third best in the league. 

The offensive line has made gains in run blocking. It seems that coaching has introduced faster rotations and simplified schemes that are working well. 

Defensively, the team has tightened up. Although they allow 20.6 points per game (which is ranked 9th) they still force key stops. 

Looking ahead, the schedule found at DraftKings presents both home-favored games and stiff road trips. They face several division match-ups which will test their consistency. 

If the squad stays fit and they maintain their pace, the Colts look well placed to dominate the conference. 

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos also sit at 8 wins to 2. Pre-season forecasts predicted a moderate upside to their season but flagged their quarterback situation as a weakness.

Forget that. So far their defence is proving fantastic. 

They allow just 270.7 yards per game – the third best in the league. The defence also tied for the most sacks (46.0) in the league. 

Their front seven added edge rushers in the off-season and changed strategy to simplify coverages. The result: fewer big offensive plays allowed. 

Key players such as Nik Bonitto deliver clutch sacks and pressures. Offensively, they remain mid-tier (ranked 13th in total yards) but thanks to that rock-strong defence, the wins keep coming. 

Ahead of them lie multiple division and road games. They must elevate their offence if they want to convert this strong start into a deeper run. 

The defence will carry them for now – but surely the balance will matter soon.

New England Patriots

The New England Patriots also rank at 8 wins to 2. They lead the AFC East. 

It’s their best start in years. Analysts projected a rebuild, not a division title run. 

Under head coach Mike Vrabel, the culture and execution have improved drastically. 

Their offence averages 26.5 points per game – maybe not elite, but a huge upgrade. Their defense allows 19.2 points per game, which ranks 6th in the league. 

Key off season free-agent acquisitions and an infusion of younger players have added energy. The team has fewer stagnant drives and more third-down stops. 

Their schedule includes non-conference games. They must not just win but dominate those games to maintain their surge.

Comparative Insights

What links these three teams – the Colts, Broncos and Patriots? 

They all improved the fundamentals. They elevated key players. And they have outperformed moderate pre-season predictions. 

In current power rankings, they now sit among the top tier, while teams like the Buffalo Bills have slipped from elite tags into a vulnerable slot. 

The changes behind the rise of this trio are concrete. 

The Patriots changed leadership and raised accountability. 

The Broncos upgraded their defensive structure and front-seven talent. 

The Colts rewrote their offensive identity around the run game and improved consistency. 

Winning momentum always matters. Winning breeds confidence and confidence permits risk. 

Risk delivers breakthroughs. And all three teams are riding that cycle.

Future Outlook

The next chapter of the season will reveal who sustains the rise – and who stalls. 

The Broncos face a brutal schedule full of divisional road tests and hostile environments. They need to show offensive growth soon. 

The Colts have more home games but now face tougher opponents and must prove they can win tight games. 

The Patriots may enjoy somewhat easier games but cannot afford to relax – they must turn wins into statement victories. 

Injuries and strength of schedule could loom large. Opponents are now aware of the threat each of these teams poses. 

So, every game from now on feels like a play-off match. If the current form holds, all three could make conference finals. 

If their form slips, they may have to settle for lesser ambitions.

As these teams continue their march, the league narrative shifts. It is no longer about who started well but who can carry that start through to the postseason. 

The question now is not just who has performed well, but who will sustain that level.

Yes, strong starts matter. But moving beyond them matters more. 

The coming weeks will define whether these squads are contenders… or pretenders.