10 most surprising developments of the NFL season so far

Every NFL season is filled with surprises. That's why the league has captured the hearts of so many sports fans.

This season hasn't been any different. If anything, it's been more shocking than usual. From All-Pro players leaving the league to unexpected MVP candidates, the first two-and-a-half months of the 2019 season have seen a little bit of everything.

Here are the 10 most surprising developments of the year through the first 11 weeks:

Andrew Luck's retirement

The 2019 season started with a bang on the surprise front, as one of the league's best quarterbacks and a four-time Pro Bowler retired at 29. Luck dealt with a ton of injuries from 2015-17, missing 26 games, but in 2018 he threw for 4,593 yards and 39 touchdowns, which was second to only MVP Patrick Mahomes.

Behind those numbers, Luck won the 2018 Comeback Player of the Year Award.

If Luck were still in the league, there's a chance he would be sidelined again this season. All summer, he didn't participate because of a right-leg injury. That, combined with all of his other ailments over the years, led to the NFL losing one of its brightest stars before the season even began.

Lamar Jackson in MVP conversation

A year-and-a-half ago, there was seemingly a legitimate conversation about whether Jackson would even play quarterback. Well-respected scouts and general managers argued his style of play wouldn't work behind center in the NFL.

Those takes couldn't have been more wrong, as Jackson is doing unprecedented things right now. The Baltimore Ravens completely revamped their offense after selecting him, and Jackson has taken off with the opportunity.

He has 25 total touchdowns and just five interceptions this season. Jackson has been extremely efficient with an 8.1 yards per attempt average, and he's put to rest accuracy issues with a 66.3 completion percentage. He is also 10th in the NFL with 781 rushing yards.

Jackson's posted a 14-3 record in two years as a starter.

Antonio Brown out of the league

He was on his way to entering Jerry Rice territory. Instead, Brown is the next Terrell Owens — he'll get into the Hall of Fame but won't be celebrated as just a great player because of all the offseason headaches.

Brown earned his release in Oakland, played a game in New England and then received sexual assault and rape allegations all in the span of about two weeks. On Thursday, Brown filed a countersuit against his reported victim, Britney Taylor.

With these lawsuits unsettled, Brown has been blacklisted but remains hopeful that the cases could be resolved so he can return to the league before the end of the season.

Don't bet on it. He seems to have used up all his chances.

San Francisco 49ers last to fall from ranks of the unbeaten

There's a badge of honor awarded to the last undefeated team in the league. This year that badge went to one of the most unlikely teams in the 49ers.

Even with the expectation that the organization should eventually compete with Kyle Shanahan and Jimmy Garoppolo, an 8-0 start was a big surprise. San Francisco is fifth in yards per game, second in rushing yards per contest and second in points scored per week.

Even more surprisingly, the 49ers have gone from 13th in total defense to second. They possess the No. 1 pass defense in the NFL.

Atlanta Falcons' 1-7 start

After three coordinator changes and a bolstered offensive line, the Falcons appeared ready to compete with the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South or at least for a wild-card spot. Those hopes quickly vanished with a 1-7 start.

The Falcons have won two straight since then, but in the first half of the season their defense was historically bad, giving up 31 points per game, allowing opponents to convert 53 percent of their third downs and permitting the opposition to score touchdowns on 69 percent of its red-zone possessions.

Even if the Falcons run the table, which they suddenly seem capable of, a 9-7 record will more than likely not be good enough for a playoff spot in the difficult NFC.

Teddy Bridgewater posts 5-0 record

In a year where backup quarterbacks and young signal-callers have received ample playing time, the veteran Bridgewater has performed better than them all. The Saints playmakers, defense and special teams did plenty to help, but Bridgewater going undefeated keeps alive New Orleans' hopes of a first-round bye or even home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Bridgewater completed 67.7 percent of his passes for nine touchdowns and only two interceptions while averaging 7.0 yards per attempt this season.

Oakland Raiders have a winning record

The Raiders have one winning season and playoff appearance since losing Super Bowl XXXVII almost 17 years ago. During that stretch, Oakland has lost at least 10 games an incredible 12 times.

With a 6-4 start, the Raiders can avoid losing 10 games with one more win. If the playoffs started today, Oakland would be the AFC's sixth seed, and the Raiders appear to be Kansas City's biggest threat in the AFC West.

Kirk Cousins earns top five QB status

On one hand, this isn't a surprise. Cousins set a record and new precedent with a three-year, $84 million contract fully guaranteed before last season. Minnesota wouldn't have inked him to that deal if the organization didn't believe Cousins could be an elite quarterback.

Cousins has been good but not great until this year. This season he's arguably a top five quarterback because of his new downfield efficiency and elimination of mistakes. He's averaging a career-best 8.6 yards per pass and has 21 touchdowns vs. three interceptions. Cousins is on pace for a career-high 31 touchdowns and career-low five interceptions.

He still needs to do it against elite competition, but Cousins beating the Cowboys on the road in prime time is a step in the right direction for that issue that's plagued him.

Kansas City Chiefs lose three at home

Heading into this season, the Chiefs owned a 36-12 home record under coach Andy Reid. From 2017-18, Kansas City went 13-3 at Arrowhead Stadium during the regular season.

Yet the Chiefs have already lost three times — to the Colts, Texans and Packers — at home this year. If they don't win their last three home games, against the Raiders, Broncos and Chargers, they will post their first non-winning record at Arrowhead Stadium since going 2-14 overall in 2012.

Myles Garrett's helmet swing, indefinite suspension 

Anyone who stayed up to watch the bitter end of "Thursday Night Football" last week was met with the shocking fight that ended with Garrett swinging Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph's own helmet at his head. That was enough to make our list, but the week that's followed belongs here too.

The public outcry for Garrett's helmet swing made the suspension initially unsurprising. For once, it seemed like the NFL acted quickly and swiftly, handing out punishment that fit the crime.

Actually, given the league's history, the NFL's quick action was surprising.

But after a week to cool off, the suspension seems unreasonably harsh. An indefinite suspension is unprecedented and while it seems like the NFL will probably reinstate him before next season, Garrett's camp is rightfully concerned about the possibility that the league won't deem him allowed to return in 2020.

With Garrett claiming Thursday that Rudolph called him a racial slur prior to the helmet swing, the situation is now even more cloudy. Regardless, a simple six-game suspension will suffice.