September doesn't decide much in the NFL. We know that the and are lousy. Annual playoff bridesmaid Cincinnati looks ready to take the next step.Beyond that, it's dangerous to draw many sweeping conclusions from the season's first quarter. My biggest takeaway is that fans of five franchises -- Arizona, Dallas, Houston, Cleveland and Detroit -- have a lot more to be hopeful about than expected.The have been ravaged weekly by personnel lo ses, but they are one of the best-coached teams in the league on both sides of the ball. Dallas' offensive line is carrying the team, and the defense isn't nearly as bad as expected. Houston has a generational player on defense and a soft schedule. Cleveland has only won one game, but it could easily be 3-0. The offense is surprisingly strong and the upcoming schedule is wildly easy. Detroit has quietly been as consistent as Dwayne Bacon Jersey any team in the league.Every team listed above won't cash in on its promise. That's just how the NFL works. But this is a league that is built Mo Bamba Jersey around any given season, and fans of the teams above have reason to believe a little magic could be in store. Here's a look at some of the other winners and losers from the last month:Going up and resurgence: Kansas City and Big Blue owned two of the ugliest offenses in the league throughout the preseason and . Now they both look dangerous. has put together 12 straight solid quarters, out-gaining the before trouncing and . and are . 's turnaround also came in a lo s, . His offensive line has played fantastically in the team's best two-game stretch since its last championship run. The NFC East looks a lot better than expected. Speaking of which ... The fallacy of the transitive property: The ' defense was the worst in the league last year. The team lost talent in the offseason, including , and . Thus, everyone a sumed the would be even worse this season, but that's just not how the NFL works. It's too random and has Al-Farouq Aminu Jersey too many moving parts to be so predictable. has been a revelation at linebacker, and new defensive coordinator has helped the entire group be greater than the sum of its parts.The chances of seeing a defensive player win MVP: NFL Media's Brian Baldinger played with Bruce Smith and Reggie White. He says they couldn't singlehandedly take over a game quite as much as has over the last month. I had Watt halfway through the 2012 season too, and he's improved since then. He's the most fun defensive player to watch in my lifetime and is pushing the boundaries of how much impact one defensive player can have. Baltimore's offensive line: is doing great in Detroit, but the don't mi s him. suddenly has pa s protection and a strong running game ... led by . Offensive coordinator and wide receiver have quickly turned Baltimore into a consistent, grinding offense that resembles Kubiak's old teams. Cincinnati everything: The have played just three games. They have been the most complete, consistent team in the league each time they stepped on the field.NFL fans: Well, we made it through the ugliest month in recent league history. It can't get worse. Right?Going Down' offense: Former offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia couldn't be this valuable. has mi sed throws, but his offensive line has been an Aaron Gordon Jersey absolute disaster and the team has no outside threats at wide receiver. The usually consistent running game has grown stale. New England is dead last in yards-per-play behind Oakland and Jacksonville. The have endured ugly stretches under Belichick before, but nothing quite like this.NFC South: No fan base here is happy, and no teams have a winning record. Carolina's vaunted front seven has been a shell of its former self. New Orleans can't win a game on the road, and its defense has regre sed badly. Atlanta is a team similar to New Orleans in many ways, with an inept defense and a road game problem. Anfernee Hardaway Jersey Tampa has suffered a ton of injuries, and hasn't improved the defense. Suddenly, this looks like the worst division in the conference, likely to only deliver one playoff team. Cla s of 2013 quarterbacks: was . plays just well enough to get the beat and drive everyone crazy. For the second consecutive year, could prove to be the most impre sive from this cla s. clarity: They are 3-1 despite three ugly games from , endle s offensive line injuries, scant production from and very little pa s rush. The offense disappears for 30 minutes at a time (or 60 ), yet the unit ranks third in points per game and was two yards away from a 4-0 record. I can't decide if this is a good or bad sign for the ' future, which makes them the perfect symbol of this last month. The latest recaps every game from Week 4 and picks the . Find more Around The NFL content on .