The 4 Biggest Surprise Teams in the NFL through 10 Weeks

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The NFL regular season is officially more than halfway over with Week 10 now in the books.

Over the course of the season, there have been things that have lived up to expectations. For example, the Kansas City Chiefs are still dominant at 9-0, and Lamar Jackson is once again amongst the leaders in the MVP race.

However, there have also been plenty of surprises over the first two-plus months of the regular season. Here is a look at the four biggest surprise teams in the NFL so far this year.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

Surprise Teams
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Of course, throughout the Mike Tomlin era, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been expected to finish seasons with a winning record at the very least. However, coming into 2024, it looked like it might be the biggest test yet for Tomlin.

The team came into the season with an aging defense, a rushing attack that left little to love in 2023, and a quarterback fiasco after letting go of former first-round pick Kenny Pickett and bringing in both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson.

Instead, the Steelers have not only been winning games, but they have been dominant at times. Along their way to a 7-2 record, Pittsburgh has three wins of 10+ points while their defense has only allowed 20+ points three times. The Steelers hold the lead in the AFC North for good reason, and they should be taken seriously come playoff time.

3. Minnesota Vikings

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We all knew the Minnesota Vikings would feature a strong defense under Brian Flores, especially after a very active offseason in free agency. The questions all revolved around the offense and particularly the quarterback position.

While Sam Darnold has shown some cracks in the armor at times over the course of the season, Vikings fans cannot be less than pleased with what they’ve seen out of their team this season. Darnold has been a game manager at worst and game saver at best throughout much of the season, and their defense has fully lived up to the billing along the way to their 7-2 start to the year.

2. Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) celebrates with offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum (68) after a score against the New York Jets during the first quarter at State Farm Stadium on Nov. 10, 2024, in Glendale.

In a division with the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks, many viewed the Arizona Cardinals as the cellar dwellers in the NFC West once again this season. Instead, they have fought their way to a 6-4 record and lead the division with eight weeks remaining in the regular season.

Kyler Murray arguably belongs among the ranks in the MVP conversation this season, especially if Arizona continues leading the division for the remainder of the season. Despite statistics that won’t quite “wow” folks like those of other QBs, he has been the catalyst of Arizona’s turnaround in 2024 with efficient play.

Rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is also starting to come into his own after a bit of a rocky start to the year, recording 5+ receptions in two of the past three games along with six touchdown receptions on the year.

1. Washington Commanders

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The Washington Commanders are coming off a loss to another team on this list, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Week 10, but that should not take away from what has been a magical rookie campaign for Jayden Daniels with the Washington Commanders.

A year after trading away a number of their biggest names on defense, the Commanders are 7-3 and solidly in the playoff picture in the NFC, just half a game behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East. Washington has not only benefited from terrific play out of Daniels, but Austin Ekeler has been the perfect complementary piece out of the backfield, totaling 581 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns this season.

Washington has a massive matchup this week against those Eagles, but after that, their schedule suggests they can make the playoffs as long as there isn’t a massive collapse. That is not something that can be said often of a team with a rookie QB.


Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.