NFL mid-season review - six things we have learned

Could Jared Goff v Patrick Mahomes be the Super Bowl match-up in February?

Nine weeks down, nine to go: The NFL season has reached the halfway point. So with 137 of the 272 regular season games completed, where do we stand?

We have seen enough to know which teams are favourites to make Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans in February, which are just looking to make the play-offs and which are already focusing on next season.

The Kansas City Chiefs, the defending champions, are the only unbeaten side remaining but are they the best team in the NFL? The Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens may want a say in that.

With 'America's Team' a huge disappointment, rookie Jayden Daniels a surprise packages and Lamar Jackson looking for back-to-back MVPs, there have been plenty of talking points from the first half of the season.

Chiefs dynasty is more than just Mahomes

Here's the scary thing - the defending champs are 8-0 yet Patrick Mahomes is only just warming up. Their win over Tampa Bay was the first time they scored 30 points this season, the first time Mahomes threw three touchdowns and their first time without an interception.

However, you need more than just a great quarterback to become a dynasty in the NFL. Head coach Andy Reid now has the fourth-highest number of wins in history and his defensive co-ordinator Steve Spagnuolo has created one of the best units in the league.

And behind the scenes, the club deserve huge credit for bringing back running back Kareem Hunt and trading for receiver DeAndre Hopkins to plug the gaps.

It's now 14 wins in a row for Kansas City, with the entire organisation continuing to make all the right moves.

Goff's Lions ready for Super Bowl bid

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has put together a record run of passing accuracy

They do not have a perfect record, but the Detroit Lions are almost the perfect team - and probably the strongest all-around side in the NFL, with elite performers on both sides of the ball.

The Lions are top points-per-game scorers, with quarterback Jared Goff producing record numbers for accuracy during their six-game winning run and their best start to a season since 1956.

Amon-Ra St Brown is a top receiver, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are top running backs and they are in the top five for defence and turnovers.

Even when losing star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, they traded for Za'Darius Smith, which is a great move that could ensure they go one better than last year and reach the Super Bowl.

Henry & Jackson - Baltimore's dynamic duo

Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson are one of the best quarterback-running back duos in the NFL

Not many teams can pack a one-two punch better than the Baltimore Ravens. Their off-season move for running back Derrick Henry has proved a huge success.

Henry has passed 1,000 rushing yards already with 11 touchdowns, and has allowed Lamar Jackson to thrive more as a pure passer - he is third in passing yards (2,379) and second in touchdowns (20), with only two interceptions.

Jackson is the highest rated passer in the league, in fact, and if he does win the MVP award for a third time, he will owe Henry a lot. Baltimore are only 6-3 with a couple of surprise losses, but if they can sort their defence out, their two big stars could carry them a long way.

Daniels & Commanders the biggest surprise

Only very special players can make the sort of impact from the word go that rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has achieved. He has led the turnaround for the Washington Commanders, who have been the surprise package of the season so far.

A genuine dual threat with 13 touchdowns, Daniels has poise and accuracy that is incredible for a rookie, while he can also throw the deep ball, as he showed with a stunning Hail Mary winner against Chicago.

At 7-2, Washington have a record bettered by only two teams. In addition, only two teams have a better offence, and with the defence also improving recently, Washington look set for the play-offs. They look genuinely capable of causing a few upsets.

Dallas lead biggest disappointments

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott faces a spell on the sidelines as his side slump

In each of the past three seasons, the Dallas Cowboys have gone 12-5 before falling dramatically in the play-offs - adding to the enduring soap opera of 'America's Team' and their pursuit of the good old days.

This time, it's worse. After a shocking 3-5 start, their season is all but over. Starting quarterback Dak Prescott is injured. Quiet irrelevance beckons. Head coach Mike McCarthy's days seem numbered.

The New York Jets also have three wins when huge things were expected with Aaron Rodgers fit again, especially when the team signed star receiver Davante Adams.

Head coach Robert Saleh was sacked after a poor start but after ending a five-game losing skid, the Jets are still capable of rescuing their season. They have the talent but there's no room for error now.

You could add the Miami Dolphins to the list of disappointments. They did lose quarterback Tua Tagovailoa but should not have suffered such a drop-off in form.

Coach Mike McDaniel's apparent lack of back-up plan made for an alarming watch.

Dark horses to watch for the play-offs

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert could shine behind coach Jim Harbaugh's stout defence

So who might cause the surprises this season? The Atlanta Falcons have a decent lead in the NFC South and plenty of firepower, plus form for winning close games, while the Pittsburgh Steelers top the AFC North ahead of Baltimore - and while they may not finish there, they will be a handful if they make the play-offs.

The Houston Texans should win the AFC South and the Minnesota Vikings will be a wildcard in the NFC, but we already know plenty about both teams.

Of the more surprising sides who could make a run, the Arizona Cardinals have put together a three-game winning streak as Kyler Murray develops his chemistry with exciting rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

The Los Angeles Chargers have a defence nobody will want to face in the play-offs - with Jim Harbaugh's side not allowing more than 20 points in a game so far and, with a quarterback of Justin Herbert's quality, watch out for them ruffling a few feathers.