The NFL is known for its unpredictability, and as former Super Bowl-winning scout Bryan Broaddus famously puts it, “the NFL is a strange lady.”

What he means by this is that no season unfolds exactly as predicted. If the game were predictable, the majority of preseason Super Bowl picks would come to fruition, and the excitement of each week’s action would be diminished. But the beauty of the NFL lies in its chaos—the unexpected twists that keep fans engaged.

Through the first four weeks of the 2024 season, there have already been several surprises. Some teams have emerged as early contenders, while others have faltered in ways no one anticipated. Today, we take a look around the league at the unexpected narratives shaping this young season.

The Undefeated Surprises

Every year, a few teams manage to navigate the opening weeks without a loss, and 2024 is no different. Notably absent from this list is the Kansas City Chiefs—no one is surprised by Patrick Mahomes leading his team to a perfect start. But other teams have turned heads with their undefeated records.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks, led by veteran quarterback Geno Smith, have cruised to a 3-0 start. However, their perfect record is under threat as they head into a Monday Night Football matchup against the Detroit Lions, a team known for its physicality under head coach Dan Campbell.

Seattle’s early opponents have not been the strongest, with a combined record of 4-7. Their wins include a rookie-led Broncos team, a close game against the Patriots, and a victory over a Miami Dolphins squad playing without star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. While the Seahawks’ record is impressive on paper, it may be put to the test in Detroit, where the 12th man—Seattle’s famous home crowd—won’t be there to assist.

Minnesota Vikings

Perhaps the most surprising undefeated team is the Minnesota Vikings, who are sitting at 4-0, powered by the resurgence of quarterback Sam Darnold. The Vikings have been tested against legitimate contenders, notching wins over the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, and New York Giants. Even more impressive is that they’ve managed this success without star tight end TJ Hockenson, who is sidelined with injury. This hot start has positioned Minnesota at the top of the NFC, and their early-season dominance has shocked many fans and analysts alike.

Division Leaders Defying Expectations

While a perfect record garners attention, some teams leading their respective divisions have done so in unexpected fashion.

Washington Commanders

The NFC East, often derided as the “NFC Least” in recent years, might be back in a big way. And leading the charge is none other than the Washington Commanders. Led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, a Heisman Trophy winner, Washington has stunned the league by claiming first place in the division.

After a rough start with a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Commanders have rattled off three straight wins, putting up impressive point totals along the way. Daniels has injected life into the Washington offense, and new head coach Dan Quinn has the team firing on all cylinders. No one expected the Commanders to be leading the NFC East, but with wins over teams like the Bengals and Cardinals, they’ve shown they are no fluke.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are another team turning heads in 2024. The Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens were the presumed front-runners in the AFC North, but the Steelers have surged to the top of the standings, while their rivals have stumbled to 1-3 and 2-2 records, respectively.

Pittsburgh’s success has been driven by a stout defense and the steady play of fill-in quarterback Justin Fields, who has admirably stepped in while Russell Wilson continues to nurse a calf injury. Fields leads the team in both passing and rushing, and while his performance hasn’t been flashy, it’s been enough to guide the Steelers to victories. Pittsburgh will face a major test in Week 5 when they host the Dallas Cowboys.

Random Surprises Across the League

The 2024 season has also featured a number of surprising developments that don’t quite fit into the usual narratives.

Cowboys’ Home Struggles

The Dallas Cowboys, sitting at 2-2, have seen their season get off to a rocky start, particularly at home. This is unexpected considering their dominance at AT&T Stadium last year, where they remained unbeaten until their playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers. Yet, in two home outings this year, they’ve been dismantled.

In their first home game, the New Orleans Saints ran them off the field in a 44-19 thrashing. Baltimore followed suit, rushing for 274 yards in a 28-25 victory, a scoreline that flattered the Cowboys, who were down 28-6 at the start of the fourth quarter. If Dallas has any hopes of making a deep playoff run, they will need to recapture their home dominance.

Injuries Hampering San Francisco

The San Francisco 49ers entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations, but injuries have thrown a wrench in those plans. Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave is already lost for the season, and running back Christian McCaffrey may not be far behind him on the injury report. Key players like Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Fred Warner have also been sidelined, leaving the team scrambling to maintain their competitiveness.

While Kyle Shanahan is one of the league’s best coaches and should eventually right the ship, the 49ers need to get healthy soon, or their playoff hopes could be in jeopardy.

Conclusion

As Bryan Broaddus reminds us, the NFL is full of surprises. The 2024 season has already showcased the league’s unpredictability, with unexpected division leaders, shocking undefeated teams, and perennial contenders struggling out of the gate. This is the beauty of the NFL—a game where anything can happen, and fans can never be quite sure what the next week will bring.