In any given week, a team at the bottom of the standings can pull off an upset, but a few squads that struggled early could make a push for a playoff berth in January.
As we head into the second half of the season, top contenders should beware some sub-.500 teams capable of putting together strong performances around Thanksgiving.
Several games into the term, a new coaching staff may have found its team's winning formula, a star player could provide a boost after recovering from an injury or a squad that lost some nail-biters might change its late-game fortunes with better execution in critical moments.