[Mambattedge]

Nov 1, 2010 - Alright, so technically it is not "halfway through the NFL season" for all teams, And unless byes are done away with there never will be a week when all teams have played half their season at the same time. In fact, as of the end of tonight's action, 22 teams will have played seven games and only ten will have played eight.
#5 -- Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
The Seahawks are coming off of a 5-11 season in 2009, and with one game left until their halfway point, are only one victory shy of their total from last year. After a decisive victory over the 49ers at home in their first game, Seattle lost the following week at Denver. A victory at home against San Diego came next, but that was followed up with a loss at St.Louis.
#4 -- Oakland Raiders (4-4)
The Raiders finished 2009 with a 5-11 record, the same as Seattle, and at this stage have as many victories as the Seahawks, but are a bit more of a surprise. After all, the Seahawks have had a proven quarterback, and the Raiders, to this point, have not, although Jason Campbell, if he continues to perform as he has the past couple of weeks, might enter Hasselbeck territory quickly. Then the Raiders picked up a signature win, taking down the Chargers, before going in reverse and giving San Francisco its first win of the year in a Battle of the Bay Area that dropped Oakland to 2-4.
#3 -- Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)
The Chiefs lead Oakland by a game and a half in the AFC West. San Diego is showing signs of coming to like, while Denver looks as if they have thrown in the towel on 2010. Kan Kansas City do a worst-to-first in their division? yes, they can.
#2 -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2)
Would I be surprised if they can maintain this pace? Yes I would be surprised, especially in the teeth of that duo of the Saints and the Falcons in the same division. But this column is about surprise teams to date in 2010, and I would say that a three-win team from last year already having five wins in seven games a major surprise.
#1 -- St.Louis Rams (4-4)
Here is a team that is coming off of a 1-15 record in 2009, and with a rookie quarterback. Put those two elements together and you have the recipe for another long, long season. The season began for the Rams with a familiar refrain -- losing. A four-point loss at home to the "old" St.Louis team -- the Arizona Cardinals -- was followed by a two-point loss in Oakland and the Rams were exactly where they were "supposed" to be at 0-2. A half-game behind Seattle going into their bye week, the Rams must feel in some pretty heady territory right now, with a chance to win a division a year removed from 15 losses. Can they sustain what they have started?