Midseason is almost here, and the story of the NFL’s 100th season continues to twist and turn. From superstar injuries to blowout wins to a mud bowl, stay tuned for all the action and intriguing narratives that makes football the beloved sport that it is.

Chiefs 30, Broncos 6

It’s not the outcome of the game that’s important, it’s what happened in the game. Patrick Mahomes, 2018 MVP and frontrunner candidate to win it this year went down with a knee injury during the game. On a quarterback sneak in the second quarter, Mahomes suffered a dislocated right knee and left the game. However, the Chiefs still managed to route Denver with Matt Moore under center, led by their defense which compiled a whopping nine sacks. Mahomes did not suffer ligament damage and is expected to return in around three weeks. The Chiefs will have to face Aaron Rodgers and the Packers without their superstar quarterback next week, while the Broncos play the Colts.

Packers 42, Raiders 24

Where did vintage Aaron Rodgers go? Look no further good reader, as Rodgers put on a show in Lambeau. The Packers seem to be settling into new coach Matt LeFleur’s offense, with Rodgers throwing for 429 yards, five touchdowns to five different receivers, and running for one in an absolute offensive domination. The Packers hope to improve to 7-1 against the Chiefs who will be sorely missing Mahomes. While the Raiders lost, they lost on the road against one of the NFL’s best teams. Tight end Darren Waller racked up 126 yards and two scores while Josh Jacobs added 124 on the ground. The Raiders look to be just a few pieces away from being a playoff team, and that is good news for a franchise that has struggled over the past few seasons. Next up for the Raiders are the Houston Texans, which should make for an interesting matchup.

Rams 37, Falcons 10

The Falcons’ woes were just amplified after making the struggling Rams offense look like they did last season. Not only that, but quarterback Matt Ryan hurt his ankle and left the game early. I think that Falcons coach Dan Quinn is on the hot seat, as the Falcons fall to 1-6 and nearly dwell at the bottom of the NFL. The Rams play an 0-7 Cincinnati team next that should net them a win while the Falcons play the 5-2 Seahawks next in what appears to be a lost season.

Vikings 42, Lions 30

A showdown between two rivals was as close a game as any, with both Kirk Cousins and Matt Stafford throwing for over 300 yards and four touchdowns apiece. However, it was the Minnesota ground game that made the difference, as star running back Dalvin Cook added 142 yards and two scores onto his already impressive season stat line. Lions receiver Marvin Jones Jr. was the highlight of the offense, as he scored all four of the Lions’ touchdowns. The Vikings head into an easy game against Washington while the Lions play a Giants team that clearly has an issue with turnovers.

Colts 30, Texans 23

Two AFC South teams that have impressed recently went head to head and the Colts came out victorious by a slim margin. Jacoby Brissett was on fire, as he had a career-high four touchdown passes. However, Deshaun Watson and the Texans didn’t go down without a fight, though the Colts took the lead in the division with their win. The Colts play a Denver team that failed to win against a Chiefs team that was without Patrick Mahomes for over half of the game while the Texans play an Oakland team that just got hammered by Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

49ers 9, Washington 0

If someone told me that the red-hot 49ers wouldn’t score a single touchdown against one of the worst teams in the league, I would have laughed it off, but here we are. The 49ers are still undefeated but this time they did it in a teeth-grinding and very ugly fashion. The unique thing is that it was in a literally ugly fashion, as the field was so wet and muddy that players were sliding around and turning their uniforms brown. Dubbed the “mud bowl,” this game will go down in history in consideration for messiest game. I won’t say anything about either team’s offense because there wasn’t any present, but the 49ers defense continues to establish itself as one of the best in the league. Perhaps San Francisco will put on a better show against the Carolina Panthers next week, while Washington plays a very good Vikings team that will likely result in a pounding.

Saints 36, Bears 25

The Saints are 5-0 without Drew Brees, and have managed to beat several quality teams along the way. Teddy Bridgewater has surpassed all expectations thus far, and the Saints have been on a roll. The ground and passing game were clicking with two backups, as Teddy Bridgewater threw for 281 yards and two scores while Latavius Murray ran for 119 yards and two more in place of Alvin Kamara. The Bears seemed to be reeling the entire game, and there isn’t much to say outside of that. The Bears have the floundering Chargers up next while the surging Saints have the upward trending Cardinals next.

Ravens 30, Seahawks 16

A clash between two of the best teams in the league, the Ravens came out on top behind their stifling defense and Lamar Jackson’s running ability. The dynamic Seahawks were held to only one touchdown while Lamar Jackson showed off his wheels, scampering for 116 yards and a score on fourth down. The Ravens have a titantic matchup next against the New England Patriots after their bye week, while the Seahawks play another bird themed team in the flailing Atlanta Falcons.

Cowboys 37, Eagles 10

The matchup that decided who would have the lead in the NFC was surprisingly one sided. The Eagles offense stalled out almost all of its possessions while not being able to prevent the Cowboys from rapidly piling up points. The Cowboys dominated on the ground, with three different players scoring and Ezekiel Elliott racking up 111 yards. Look for the Cowboys to ride off into the sunset as victors once again, as they are slated to play a turnover-prone New York Giants team that they beat 35-17 in week one. The Eagles will have a tough time getting airborne again, as they draw the Buffalo Bills and their vaunted defense on Sunday.