Under Investigation: Three NFL Gangs Nobody Saw Coming
By Paul Gould
The Football Bureau of Investigation (let’s call it the FBI for short) is currently looking into the activities of three NFL ‘gangs’, all of whom are acting suspiciously.
Currently under surveillance, the troublesome trio have conducted high-profile heists in the first four weeks of the season and now boast unexpected 3-1 records. One has taken control of the NFC East, another the AFC North, and the third is threatening to upset the dominant powers of the AFC West.
Naturally, the disruptive behaviour of these outfits is causing concern among established NFL operations who conduct business in their vicinity.
I’ve managed to obtain the files from an anonymous source within the authority and can share its findings with you now…
Persons of Interest
If you had the Browns, Raiders and Giants down to all post 3-1 records through four weeks, it’s time to buy a lottery ticket. Seen as being at various stages of rebuild projects before a ball was snapped, expectations of any of them competing for a playoff berth were minimal. A month later, the Browns and Giants currently top their respective divisions, while the Raiders were among the five remaining unbeaten teams going into Week 4.
Cleveland Browns
After a Week 1 drubbing in Jacksonville, the signs were ominous. But the Browns have since rallied with three one-score wins, albeit racked up against teams with .500 records or less.
One of the youngest rosters in the league has shown resilience and grit beyond their years to close out these tight games. Their attitude reflects the work ethic demanded by HC Todd Monken. On offense, rookie WRs Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion have both made promising starts and second-year RB Quinshon Judkins is beginning to show the form that made him a standout player in 2025.
On defense, starters from last year’s draft selection, such as Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger, continue to develop and have become leaders within the group.
Even if the Browns were to fall short this season, the foundations have been set for the team to emerge as a force over the next few years.
Outside of their divisional games, the Browns’ schedule looks favourable. They have yet to face the Jets, Titans, Saints, Texans, Raiders, Falcons, Giants and Colts. A minimum 4-4 record from those matchups would keep Cleveland in the hunt.
With the Ravens and Bengals for company, winning the AFC North might be beyond them, but Cleveland could conceivably hit double-digit wins by January and be firmly in the wildcard mix.
Also in the Browns favour is the fact that potential and anticipated AFC rivals are cratering early. The Titans, Dolphins and Jets seem incapable of mounting a playoff challenge, and two teams who were expected to take a wildcard spot at the very least – the Texans and Chargers – don’t have a win between them. And if you consider the Colts and Steelers to be lacking the quality or consistency to stack sufficient wins, then the Browns are among the nine remaining AFC teams in contention for one of seven postseason places…along with the Raiders.
Threat level – High
Las Vegas Raiders
From 3-14 to 3-1, how did we get here? Well, even the most sceptical Raiders fans were hopeful of beating the Dolphins in Week 1 and that optimism was justified. In contrast, the short Week 2 trip to L.A to face the Chargers was undertaken in hope rather than expectation. We now know that the Bolts are a mess, but that win was well deserved and was followed by another impressive showing in New Orleans. 3-0, bring on the Chiefs.
In what proved to be the best game of Week 4, the Silver & Black went toe to toe with their old rivals and led with less than five minutes remaining before the Chiefs put the Raiders back in their box with a late rally.
Las Vegas emerged from the contest with much credit, however, and the Raiders have walked the walk thus far. The team is transformed from the desperate 2025 set up, with wholesale changes to the roster and coaching staff.
The sliding doors moment of the Ravens passing up on the opportunity to sign Maxx Crosby has enabled the Raiders to rebuild the defense around him. Notably, Nakobe Dean has proved an excellent addition to stop the run, ably assisted in the linebacker corps by another free agent signing Quay Walker.
The offense has also shown sign of life, particularly in the passing game with veteran Kirk Cousins playing the role of an old gunslinger. If RBs Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington can continue to increase their productivity, then the unit as a whole is dangerous.
The schedule is brutal though – six of the Raiders next seven opponents made the playoffs last year. The AFC West is as tough as ever, and the Chiefs and Broncos will be difficult to overcome. But talk of a playoff push is growing and, for now, belief among the Raider Nation is strong.
Threat level – High
New York Giants
The Giants have scrambled to 3-1 and the summit of the NFC East the hard way. Endzone interceptions in the dying seconds of back-to-back home games against the lowly Titans and Cardinals have protected slender leads and secured wins in Weeks 3 and 4.
Their other win was an eye-catching 28-20 victory against the fancied Cowboys on opening Sunday Night. Way back then, they had the swashbuckling Jaxson Dart running the offense and that Week 1 performance sent expectations soaring.
But a week later in Los Angeles, with a season-ending knee injury felling their young QB, those high hopes crumpled to the ground too. Enter, Dart’s entertaining but erratic understudy, Jameis Winston to pick up the pieces.
Winston had an uncharacteristically quiet game against the Titans, followed by a more recognisably uneven display on Sunday versus the Cardinals. For now, the starting job is his, but the equally unreliable JJ McCarthy, recently acquired from the Vikings, is waiting in the wings should the Jameis Winston Experience falls flat.
Fortunately, the supporting cast around the quarterback is bolstered by the return of Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers from devastating injuries that ruled them out of much of the 2025 campaign.
On the other side of the ball, first-round pick Arvell Reese leads the team in tackles, including three for a loss, and has an interception to his name. Safety Jevon Holland made the game-winning pick against the Titans and already has three in total. The defense has six interceptions combined, equalled only by the Jaguars and Seahawks.
Ultimately, John Harbaugh’s experience could be the crucial factor in determining how things play out for the Giants, but Dart’s absence and a challenging set of fixtures from Thanksgiving onwards will make Giants’ fans nervous.
The Big Blue will run the gauntlet from late November, facing the Jaguars, 49ers, and Seahawks in quick succession. They conclude the regular season with crucial games against the Cowboys and Eagles which could potentially decide the fate of the division.
Threat level – Moderate
Case closed?
Based on the evidence compiled to date, there’s enough to suggest that the perception of the Browns, Raiders and Giants has shifted from also-rans to contenders. It appears that the time has come to put some respect on their names.
Interestingly, we’ll see the Browns face both the Raiders and the Giants in Week 12 and Week 15 respectively. If those games are still relevant at that point in the season, then they really will be considered legitimate prospects.
In the case of all three gangs, they remain at large and the case against them is far from closed.
PAUL GOULD
NFL ANALYST
A freelance writer and editor based in Cambridgeshire, Paul has avidly followed the NFL since the late 1980’s and spends much of his spare time wondering if he’ll ever see the Raiders play in a Super Bowl again.
