If you're an unsuccessful gambler hoping to kick the habit, look no further than Lucas Oil Stadium for the realization that predicting the outcome of NFL games is better left to dumb sportswriters who are smart enough not to gamble.
At the (kind of) halfway point of the season, the 4-3 Indianapolis Colts play the 4-3 Miami Dolphins in a game no one would have attached playoff implications to when those two teams and their rookie QBs were getting beat by a combined 40 points in Week 1.
"I think you could go with Miami as the surprise team of the first half," said Vikings defensive end Brian Robison. "Then again, really and truly, if you want to get down to it, Indianapolis could be the team. To go 2-14, start over, a new quarterback, all the turmoil with their coach [Chuck Pagano] battling leukemia. That's pretty amazing."
At 5-3, the Vikings also are in the mix as most surprising team. Of course, they're also in the mix to be this year's version of last year's Buffalo Bills.
Like the Bills last year, the Vikings started 4-1. Like the Bills last year, the Vikings were 5-2 before losing their eighth game. The Bills, of course, ended up losing seven straight en route to 6-10. So much for surprise starts.
The Cardinals are 4-4 after a 4-0 start. The Falcons are 7-0 for the first time ever, not that anyone outside of Atlanta notices. The Bears are 6-1 and Lovie Smith is suddenly smart again.
Tony Romo keeps finding ways to help the Cowboys underachieve. Mario Williams is turning into another defensive lineman who becomes a high-priced free-agent bust. And who the heck knows what Rex Ryan and the Jets are thinking when it comes to Tim Tebow.
The Chiefs are a letdown at 1-7 and have yet to lead a game in regulation. But they can't top the 2-5 Saints in terms of disappointment. The Saints are the first NFL team since at least 1950 to allow 400 or more yards in seven consecutive games.