5 biggest questions halfway through the 2023 NFL season

The last month has changed many of our early perceptions of the NFL's pecking order as numerous teams caught fire or found themselves in a slump.

Here are the NFL's five biggest questions at the midway point of the season.

What's gone wrong for 49ers, Dolphins? Stephen Maturen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

San Francisco and Miami don't look anywhere near as untouchable as they did earlier this season. Since starting 5-0, the 49ers have dropped three in a row. The formerly 4-1 Dolphins have gone 2-2 since Week 5 but have lost two of their last three.

So, just how did these behemoths come crashing down to earth after a ton of early-season hype?

We'll address Brock Purdy in a second, but it would be unfair not to mention the injury bug that's infected the 49ers during this tough stretch. Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams missed the past two games. Those are huge losses for the 49ers' offense, and no one has felt the consequences more than Purdy.

But for arguably the first time in his career, there's pressure on Purdy's arm to win games, and so far, he hasn't been able to do so. Perhaps some regression to the mean was due after the 2022 seventh-round pick captivated our hearts with a 10-0 start to his regular-season career. However, Purdy's performance in the fourth quarter - especially in do-or-die moments - is increasingly worrying for a title-hopeful 49ers team. Here's how some of his key stats break down this season:

Situation	Completion %	TDs	INTs	Passer Rating
1st quarter	73.7%	3	0	112.5
2nd quarter	66.1%	4	0	118.2
3rd quarter	73.5%	2	2	107.4
4th quarter	60.7%	3	3	82.2
4th quarter within 7 points	44.4%	0	3	23.1

The Dolphins' play has been less problematic, but it's still created questions about their true place in the category of NFL heavyweights. All three of Miami's losses this season were against traditional contenders: the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, and Buffalo Bills. Mike McDaniel's club has not beaten a team with a winning record since Week 3 of 2022 and has lost six straight to opponents over .500, per NFL Network's James Palmer. The Dolphins have no problem beating inferior talent - and they have a lot of it on their schedule - but eventually, they need to prove they can hang with the best.

Should NFL ban the 'tush push'? Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

The biggest debate at the midway point of the 2023 season may not be about the best team or best player, but about a single play that has created more controversy than anything else: the "tush push."

The play - which looks more like a rugby scrum than a quarterback sneak - has been borderline unstoppable ... for the Eagles, that is. Despite critics of the play describing the quarterback-sneak variation as unfair and impossible to stop, other teams replicating the tush push haven't reproduced Philadelphia's success. The Giants even lost two players to injury on a failed attempt at the play in Week 4.

No one has been a bigger supporter of the tush push than Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni. From his perspective, Philadelphia has found a legal competitive advantage and it's up to other teams to either stop it or copy it. Outlawing the play would be unsportsmanlike, according to its advocates.

"Every first down is first-and-9," Sirianni said in October. "People can't do it like we can do it. Don't ban this play. If everybody could do it, everybody would do it."

Sirianni isn't exaggerating. Philadelphia has had success everywhere with the play: on fourth down, on the goal line, and even backed up against its own end zone.

Micah Parsons goes crowd surfing. pic.twitter.com/xW2czGWt1l

- Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) November 6, 2023

Cowboys star Micah Parsons went as far as to call it a "cheat code" due to the quality of the Eagles' offensive line, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Lawrence Dow, but he also said it would be "suckerish" to remove a play because opponents can't stop it.

Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley offered another solution: Don't let Philly run the play.

"The best way to stop it is to stay out of third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 and on the goal line," he said, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini.

The NFL's competition committee plans to review the tush push again this offseason. Until then, the debate will continue over whether it deserves a place in the game.

Are Lions legitimate threats in NFC? Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Lions carried an immeasurable amount of hype and optimism into the 2023 season after a strong finish to last year. Impressively, they've not only managed to maintain their momentum, they've exceeded expectations. A 6-2 start gives Detroit the second-best record in the NFC.

It may be time to accept Detroit as a true contender.

The Lions have a strong grip on the NFC North, and it's unlikely that will change with the 5-4 Vikings forced to start either Jaren Hall or Joshua Dobbs at quarterback the rest of the way. The NFC as a whole lacks the quality depth it once did, so the title of the Eagles' biggest challenger is free for the taking.

The NFC South lacks a true front-runner, and the Seahawks' and 49ers' issues with consistency at quarterback suggest they can't be penciled in just yet. The Cowboys may have the best chance of being the conference's second contender, but when's the last time Dallas could be counted on in the postseason?

That leaves us with the Lions, who rank eighth in scoring thanks to a powerful group consisting of Amon-Ra St. Brown, David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, and a rejuvenated Jared Goff. Sure, the Lions' lack of playoff exposure and an embarrassing recent blowout loss to the Ravens is worrying, but that shouldn't take away from Detroit's large body of good work. Dan Campbell's group has won five of its six victories by over 10 points. The Lions' one close win? They edged the reigning Super Bowl champions.

Too early to say Panthers should have drafted Stroud over Young? Eakin Howard / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Despite only being separated by one pick on draft day, there couldn't be more of a difference between No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and second overall selection C.J. Stroud when it comes to how their careers have started.

Player	Record	Completion %	YPA	TDs	INTs	Passer Rating
Bryce Young	1-6	63.9%	5.5	8	7	77.1
C.J. Stroud	4-4	62.0%	8.1	14	1	102.9

Given the contrast between the quarterbacks' performances, is it time for the Panthers to wonder if they made the right choice?

While it's possible - and maybe even likely - that the Texans passer could end up being the better player, coming to that conclusion after half a season is way too premature. Instead, the Panthers should be investigating why their heralded Alabama product looks completely overwhelmed at the next level.

Carolina just hasn't put Young in a position to succeed, and that has a lot to do with the talent - or lack of talent - around him.

The No. 1 pick has been pressured on 39.7% of his dropbacks, sixth-highest in the NFL, according to PFF (mininum 100 dropbacks). It should come as no surprise that Young has a passer rating of 43.3 when under pressure, but it jumps to 93.0 from a clean pocket, per PFF.

And it's not just the offensive line that's letting Young down. His leading rusher is Chuba Hubbard and his leading receiver is 33-year-old Adam Thielen. Though Thielen's had a brilliant year thus far, those two names hardly strike fear into the hearts of defensive coordinators.

Stroud may very well emerge as the better NFL passer. But, in all likelihood, it wouldn't have mattered who the Panthers picked first considering their young quarterback's lack of quality resources. While Young has played below expectations, that doesn't mean there's been no sign of why he went first overall. Before anyone starts panicking, Carolina needs to do a better job of providing Young with the tools to realize his potential.

Which coaches are on the hot seat after Raiders' mass firing? Todd Rosenberg / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Hot-seat season kicked off last week in the NFL when Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis fired general manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels. Davis chose to cut his losses on McDaniels after just 25 games, and it cost him a pretty big chunk of dough.

McDaniels probably won't be the only coach looking for work by the end of Black Monday, the league's unofficial day of head coach firings.

Two coaches who might already be feeling some heat are Matt Eberflus of the Bears and the Chargers' Brandon Staley. Eberflus has now coached 26 games and Chicago has seemingly only gotten worse; he's posted a 5-21 record and Justin Fields' development is stagnating. As for Staley, his team is at risk of missing the playoffs for the second time in his three seasons. If he doesn't get the job done, the Chargers' front office might opt for a fresh start.

Others in trouble could include Ron Rivera, who has yet to record a plus-.500 season with the Commanders, and Todd Bowles if the Buccaneers struggle to the end. After two consecutive 7-10 seasons for the Falcons, 2023 could be a deciding year for coach Arthur Smith.

Maybe the NFL is in for an additional surprise or two in the coming months. Heck, even Bill Belichick got asked about his job security with the Patriots earlier this week.

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