Six weeks into this NFL season, it’s safe to say a lot of surprising stuff has happened. Of course every season is different (otherwise, why would we keep watching?), but this one seems to have its own uniqueness, although it’s mainly for somber reasons. But there have still been many positive surprises this year, including the emergence of young skilled players, unexpected teams on the top of their division and an optimistic future of a franchise in limbo. So all the way from domestic abuse to tight end records being broken, here are the most surprising stories so far of the 2014 NFL season.

Domestic/Child Abuse becomes an important issue in the league
    
    First of all, let’s not kid ourselves here; this isn’t the first time an NFL player has had a problem with domestic violence, but it was never thrust widely into national discussion as it is now. Even if you can’t name a single NFL player, you heard about the video that leaked online last month showing former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice knocking out his now-wife Janay Rice in an elevator. Rice, who was a young star with a big fan base, was immediately cut from the team when the video surfaced and will likely never play in the NFL ever again. The Ravens have filled the void on the field nicely with Justin Forsett and Lorenzo Taliaferro, but Rice would have absolutely made a bigger impact than the running back committee being used now.
    Soon after the Rice incident, the Carolina Panthers put their top defensive end Greg Hardy – who was found guilty of assaulting a female and communicating threats in July – on the inactive list to solidify their stance on the issue. The Panthers have since had one of the worst defenses in the league, dropping from one of the top five units in the league to the 26th.
    The Panthers were following suit of the Vikings, who had just placed one of their star players on the inactive list after arguably more heinous allegations than domestic violence. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, one of the most respected players in the league both by fans and colleagues alike, was indicted on charges of child abuse to his 4-year-old son in September. While Peterson is off the team and going through a lengthy trial process, backups Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon don’t even come close to the elite runner’s ability.
 
Big injuries from durable players

    Yeah, yeah, injuries happen all the time, I know. But while it’s easy to predict the loss of injury-prone players like Knowshon Moreno, DeAngelo Williams and now Robert Griffin III, there have been a handful of injuries that shocked the NFL world.
    Known as one of the best and toughest players in the league, elite wide receiver Calvin Johnson was finally benched last week after playing some of the season with a hurt ankle. With Johnson possibly spending several more weeks off the field, the Lions are 4-2 with a very talented defense and look to sustain a good record until the receiver returns.
    After losing oft-injured running back Ryan Matthews for some time, the San Diego Chargers then lost 3rd down explosive running back Danny Woodhead for the season. The team has seen success thanks in part to the breakout performance of rookie Branden Oliver, who could take over Matthews’ starting role, but Woodhead will be missed in crucial moments.
    Week 6 was cruel, as New York Giants #1 wide receiver Victor Cruz, New England Patriots starting running back Stevan Ridley and New York Jets second-year starting corner Dee Milliner were all big-name players who suffered season-ending injuries. We will have to wait and see how the players stepping up in their absence perform.

 

Redskins name challenged by University

    Another year, another Washington Redskins name controversy. However, this one has a little more significance than discussions before. The big news is that the US Patent and Trademark Office invalidated some trademark protections of the Redskins, meaning the team will no longer be able to take legal action against certain counterfeit products.
    However, the more important story will be a hot topic when the Redskins visit the Minnesota Vikings on November 2. In the middle of constructing their new stadium, the Vikings are playing their home games at the University of Minnesota’s stadium for the next two years. The university has requested that the Redskins wear their throwback uniforms that make no mention of the team name during their game, as their name violates the school’s diversity policy. If the Redskins adhere to this request, we could see the team making some big changes concerning their name in the future.

Surprise division leaders

    In most divisions, it is business as usual for the NFL’s strongest teams, but there are three divisions with teams on top that no one would have seen coming.
    At 5-1, it’s not that no one expected the San Diego Chargers to do well, but nobody foresaw the team performing this well. While they are only the sole leaders of the AFC West because the Denver Broncos have already had their bye week, they deserve to rank on top with both an elite offense and defense that rivals the Broncos.
    Despite losing starting quarterback Carson Palmer for three weeks, and competing with two top teams – the San Francisco 49s and Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks – the 4-1 Arizona Cardinals lead the NFC West thanks to a productive offense and a top-three run-stopping defense.
    Flirting with mediocrity the past four years, the Dallas Cowboys looked to have one of the worst defenses in the league this year, despite having an elite offense. The defensive unit that was one of the worst in history last year has stepped up and given their offense time to shine and bring the team to a 5-1 record and a tie for first in the NFC East.

The Bills are staying in Buffalo

    Ending on an extremely happy note, Buffalo Bills fans have been in turmoil for most of the year, wondering if the team would remain in New York after the death of longtime owner Ralph Wilson. The Wilson estate put the team for sale after the owner’s death, which made fans concerned that the Bills could leave the city they’ve called home since 1960. Several bids were made, including a very realistic opportunity that the team could end up in Toronto, Canada, but the Bills were ultimately sold in September to Buffalo Sabers owners Terrence and Kim Pegula, who have vowed to keep the team in Buffalo.