Parity reigns supreme as the NFL reaches its halfway point

The GIST: Turns out the Sunday scaries have nothing to do with Monday, and everything to do with the NFL’s weekly chaos. As if you needed another reminder that nothing is guaranteed in this league.

👏 Parity reigns supreme at the halfway point: And it’s giving football fans whiplash. Case in point? The NFC North. The division’s top two teams, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, suffered frustrating losses yesterday. In fact, the Lions fell to the NFC North’s last-placed team, the Minnesota Vikings, who were led by a resurgent performance from quarterback (QB) J.J. McCarthy.

• Then, there’s the showdown between Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen and Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. The game followed the script — the Bills earned the 28–21 W for Allen’s fifth regular-season dub against Mahomes — but neither powerhouse sits atop their division.

• Elsewhere, the Indianapolis Colts entered the week as the league’s best team but turned the ball over a whopping six times against the injury-riddled Pittsburgh Steelers en route to a stunning 27–20 loss. It really is the upside down.

☝️ The importance of tomorrow’s 4 p.m. ET trade deadline: Traditionally, the deadline’s a bit snoozy (the most recent blockbuster deal was back in 2022) — but given this season’s parity, wheeling and dealing could make the difference between a postseason ticket and an early vacation.

• Someone like Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson would be a massive acquisition for a struggling defense, while NY Jets star running back Breece Hall is the perfect offensive addition for a contender. Watch this space.