NFL: Sky Sports looks at the big performers at the mid-season mark

We’re just over halfway through the NFL season, every team has played at least half of their 16 regular season games and things are starting to take shape as we move towards the desperate last push for playoff places.

We’ve had some underperformers and we’ve had some surprise packages as always, but who has taken the mid-season honours for their displays so far? Let’s have a look at who’s been making the biggest waves in the voyage to Phoenix.

Playoff Picture

There are no real surprises in the AFC race where New England and Denver occupy top spots, although it was a surprise just how badly the Patriots beat up the Broncos on Sunday. As it stands all four divisional champs from last year will repeat, and the Steelers making the post-season in place of San Diego would be the only change from last year.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the names of the teams well in the hunt just outside of the top six with Cleveland, Buffalo and Miami all at 5-3 and well in touch. Baltimore and San Diego are also not out of it at 5-4, but Denver and New England were the top two heading into the season and nothing we’ve seen so far points to anything different.

In the NFC it’s all change with only one reigning divisional champ currently leading the way and 50 percent of last year’s playoff teams not making the post season as it stands. Arizona leading the way at 7-1 is not what we expected, although after 10 wins last year they were decent outsiders for a playoff spot.

Detroit have found a good balance under Jim Caldwell and New Orleans finally won on the road to put them top of the NFC South, albeit just at an even 4-4. Dallas have hit a speed bump after a flying run but still occupy a wildcard spot, as do the Super Bowl champions, but Seattle are clinging on to the sixth seed due to their head-to-head record against Green Bay.

Top QBs

Peyton Manning picked up where he left of from last year’s record-setting season, as he passed Brett Favre for the most TD passes thrown in NFL history. Tom Brady has recovered from a slow start to return to his masterful best, including a surgical dismantling of Manning’s Broncos and outperforming his age-old rival.

In a season of wonderful quarterback play by the elite group, Ben Roethlisberger has even got in on the act, creating more history with SIX touchdown passes in successive games as Pittsburgh’s offence went nuclear. Despite all these though, third-year man Andrew Luck has topped the charts so far in TDs (26) and yards (3,085) with consistent brilliance for the Colts.

He’s had more interceptions (9) than his rivals and you could also argue that his six wins have not come against the greatest of opposition, but right now he’s leading the way. You’d still not pick him for a one-off All Star game ahead of Manning or Brady, but he’s thrown for seven straight 300-yard games and could be on course to break Manning’s yardage record from last year despite not having such quality receivers to throw to.

It could be a very special year for Luck.

Best teams

Statistically it’s the Arizona Cardinals with their surprising 7-1 record but many people are still not buying them. With their one loss a heavy one in Denver the question is how they can keep up with a firing offensive team if they get embroiled in a shootout. The short answer is they don’t get involved!

Apart from the Broncos no team has put more than 20 on Arizona, and the old mantra of ‘Defence wins Championships’ will be floating around their locker room as they look to become the first team to play in a Super Bowl in their home stadium. Winning in Dallas was a big step but their big remaining battles are two games with Seattle and a tie with Detroit.

Dallas streaked five in a row but back-to-back defeats suddenly has them under pressure in a tough NFC East, where leaders Philly will have to survive six weeks with Mark Sanchez at QB instead of the injured Nick Foles. There’s a lot to like about a balanced Detroit and Green Bay in the NFC North.

The Colts and Steelers can score points at will in the AFC but you’d still have to be brave to predict anything other than a Patriots v Broncos AFC title game in January.

MVP Watch

The usual suspects of Manning and Brady will be circulating again, as will Luck if he continues his yardage and touchdown production, but Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray could be halfway through a very special season indeed.

Murray made history by breaking the 100-yard rushing mark in each of his first eight games of the season, and although that run ended against Arizona he’s still in with a shout of breaking Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 rushing yards set in 1984 for the LA Rams.

Murray has 1,133 yards, a whopping 311 yards more than his nearest challenger, with an average of 125.9 yards a game. Tony Romo’s injury could mean even more work for Murray in the next few games, he’s got a bye week after Wembley and does not face a top 10 defence for the rest of the year.

Comeback player

The Gronk is back! Rob Gronkowski, bionic arm and all, took a few games to find his feet again as he turned from injury to start the season, but he’s becoming that dominant force again that is almost unstoppable. He’s got eight TDs so far and has three 100-yard games in the last five, if he stays fit he could just be the difference for New England.

Biggest disappointment

The Seattle Seahawks looked to have everything in place to start a dynasty after winning the Super Bowl in style while retaining a young, hungry team. However, they're 5-3 and struggling to keep pace with Arizona. Their defence is good, but not as invincible as last year, and they traded away their best playmaker in Percy Harvin. They also suffered a rare home loss to Dallas and, if they don't win the NFC West, not having home advantage in the playoffs will be a big loss.