We’re a quarter of the way through the NFL season, and the standings are starting to take shape — but don’t let the records fool you. From the surging Colts to the fading Chiefs, the question isn’t just who’s winning; it’s who’s legit. In this week’s Contrary to Popular Opinion, we break down which teams are the Real Deal and which ones are No Deal — and you might be surprised who lands where.

On September 23, 2001, fate stepped in. A brutal hit sidelined Drew Bledsoe, and a sixth-round afterthought named Tom Brady took the field. What followed was two decades of football dominance, six Super Bowl rings, and an unbreakable dynasty—or was it? As time has passed, the age-old debate lingers: Was it Brady’s brilliance or Belichick’s blueprint that built the empire?