Did FOX Sports activities soar the gun on releasing NFL playoff rankings?

FOX Sports activities launched NFL playoff rankings after week 4, and there are a number of surprises even with the overwhelming majority of the season nonetheless to be performed.

4 video games into the season hardly appears the time to begin speaking playoff image. Most groups have barely made their means into their divisional video games. Others haven’t been absolutely examined. Some could not have even performed a aggressive recreation. However that didn’t cease FOX Sports from releasing playoff standings after week 4.

Sure, you learn that appropriately. Week 4. A mere 22 p.c of the way in which via the season. I imply, the NBA and NHL haven’t kicked off. The MLB hasn’t even began their postseason. And FOX is speaking in regards to the NFL playoffs prefer it’s wishing 2022 would disappear.

However now it’s out within the ether, so we’d as properly have a look. One straightforward strategy to consider its price is in opposition to preseason predictions. Trying on the way-too-early Tremendous Bowl odds, we see most of the standard suspects within the FOX record. Groups just like the Payments, Buccaneers, Packers, and Chiefs have been the favorites going into the season, and all presently reside peacefully on this FOX record. Different contenders just like the Eagles, 49ers, Cowboys, and Bengals have been actually within the dialog and now look poised to make severe runs.

Which surprises are displaying up in NFL playoff rankings?

However who’s lacking? Preseason playoff discussions actually concerned each groups from Los Angeles. The defending champion Rams and the up-and-coming Chargers have been universally thought of preseason prime 10 groups. However the Rams have not reclaimed whatever championship magic they were working with last season. And injuries have plagued a Chargers defense that many assumed could be one of many league’s finest. Additionally noticeably absent are a (preseason prime 10) Broncos team that hasn’t yet gelled on offense and a powerful Ravens team that could easily be 4-0 but for their inability to finish games.

What in regards to the surprises? Effectively, the overrepresentation by the NFC East was a little bit of shocker — and with 13 video games left, all three groups gained’t possible be within the image come January. However the Giants certainly have surprised fans, largely due to the stellar efficiency of Saquon Barkley. And when Dak Prescott went down, nobody thought that Cooper Rush would go on to win three straight for the Cowboys. On the AFC facet, the Jaguars are the one true shock due to how aggressive the convention was anticipated to be. However with a maturing Trevor Lawrence and an offensive whiz in Doug Pederson main the now-far-less-dysfunctional squad, it’s not surprising that this proficient workforce is competing.

Taking a step again, if ESPN can spend half of each SportsCenter, First Take, and Get Up speaking NFL whatever the time of yr, why can’t FOX Sports activities launch an goal record of playoff groups? Absolutely some will take difficulty with this untimely train, however on the finish of the day, statistics, and chatter, and energy rankings imply nothing. The groups compete for playoff spots, so why not body our conversations via this lens?