As it proves each year without fail, trying to predict how the NFL season will unfold is nearly impossible.

By the end of the weekend, the 2018 NFL season will be a quarter of the way finished. As teams enter the second stretch of the season, let's take a look at the six most surprising storylines of the season thus far.

No. 6: The Miami Dolphins' hot start.

Maybe Ryan Tannehill is a franchise quarterback after all.

The Miami Dolphins, who many experts picked to finish last in the AFC East, have started the season with three straight victories. Tannehill has thrown for close to 700 total yards through three games, with seven touchdowns and just two interceptions, both coming in Week 1. The seventh year veteran missed all of last season with a torn ACL.

The Dolphins will get a true test to see how good they are when they travel to New England to face the defending AFC champions and AFC East division winners 14 of the last 15 years.

No. 5: The Patriots' not-so hot start.

The Patriots have had slow starts before, but this one feels sort of...different.

New England has dropped two consecutive contests following their Week 1 victory, with both coming by double digits. It's the first time such has occurred since 2002.

Tom Brady has struggled to connect with his wide receivers.

Here's some eye-opening numbers for you: Tom Brady is 1-for-9 throwing to wide receivers outside the numbers over the last two weeks (for a grand total of 12 yards). #Patriots — Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) September 25, 2018

The Patriots traded for Cleveland Browns troubled star receiver Josh Gordon, and the Patriots need to get him going right away.

No. 4: Ryan Fitzpatrick is lighting it up.

FitzMagic was given the opportunity to start for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to Jameis Winston being suspended, and Fitzpatrick never looked back.

Through three weeks, the 35-year-old has thrown for a league-leading 1,230 yards. He's the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 400+ yards in three straight games. He ranks second in the NFL for both passing touchdowns and quarterback rating among those qualified, trailing only Patrick Mahomes.

While Fitzpatrick is not the Bucs' long-term guy, he has earned the right to be their starting quarterback. With Winston returning to practice this week, signs still point to Fitzpatrick being the starter Sunday.

No. 3: Michael Thomas on pace for a 200-catch season.

The Saints third-year veteran is setting NFL records through the first three weeks of the season.

Through three weeks, Thomas has caught 38 passes. If he kept this rate up for a full 16-game season, he would be on pace for 203 catches, 60 more than Marvin Harrison's NFL record 143 in 2002. He's the first player in NFL history to catch 10 or more passes in each of the first three games of the season.

He truly is living up to his nickname, "Can't guard Mike."

No. 2: The Redskins defense

Through three weeks of the season, only the Baltimore Ravens have allowed less yards per game to their opponents than the Washington Redskins.

That's pretty good for a team that finished 20th in total defense last year, and dead last against the run. It's especially impressive when arguably their two best pass rushers, Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith, have both yet to register a sack.

Whether the Redskins can keep this up will be a key determining factor in how successful their season will be.

No. 1: Patrick Mahomes is the oddsmakers' MVP favorite.

When the Kansas City Chiefs traded veteran quarterback Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins, they made it clear that it was now Patrick Mahomes' team.

The second-year product from Texas Tech is tearing apart NFL defenses through three weeks. He leads the NFL in touchdown passes with 13, and has yet to throw an interception. He's proved that he's a threat with his legs as well, and can make any throw possible.

According to BetOnline, Mahomes is a +300 favorite to win MVP. Aaron Rodgers, who has the second-best odds, is +500. Mahomes was +3300 to start the year.

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