AFC Midseason Report Card
New England Patriots – I don’t think this team could perform any better than they already have. They have dominated on offense like no one else ever has through 9 games. 16-0 is now a very serious possibility.
Grade: A+
Buffalo Bills – The Bills have brought a defense that keeps them in games to go along with a bruising rushing attack. They are not someone that you want to play. Had they not had the collapse in the final seconds against the Cowboys, they could easily be 5-3. Great signs for the future.
Grade: B-
NY Jets – They came into the season with high hopes to repeat their playoff run of last year but have fallen flat on their faces. The locker room is filled with inner turmoil and a quarterback controversy dominated the headlines for weeks. Finally, they have made the switch from Pennington to the young Kellen Clemens; however the result has been the same. There are two paths to take. Make an effort to end the season with as many wins and the most momentum as possible or just blow it off and leave it as a lost cause. We’ll find out which path they choose soon enough.
Grade: D-
Miami – The Dolphins have had so many things go wrong in the past five years that you almost feel bad for them. But this is the NFL. There is no time for excuses or feeling down. There isn’t a reason that a team doesn’t win a single game through 8 weeks, no matter how injured or beat up they are.
Grade: F
Pittsburgh Steelers – Ben Rothlisberger is back to the form that made him an instant star in the league and Willie Parker is as good as anyone when it comes to rushing the football. Mike Tomlin has made an extremely nice transition into head coach of the Steelers and if the defense continues to dominate opponents, the Steelers will present a difficult task for the Pats and Colts.
Grade: B+
Cleveland – Unbelievable turnaround from what looked like a terrible season in the making. Derek Anderson is not just some quick fix quarterback. He is playing with confidence and skill. I don’t know what the future holds now for Brady Quinn. You think he regrets holding out now? I bet he does. Anderson looks like what Romo was last year. Think about it. Young quarterback, talented, comes out of nowhere and catches fire. Maybe next November, we’ll be talking about Anderson’s 67 million contract.
Grade: B
Baltimore – Brian Billick has won a Super Bowl in Baltimore so it’s not fair or accurate to say that he wasted years of one of the best defenses of all time. However, had he been more creative on and off the field with the offense, there is no doubt in my mind that the Ravens could have been in at least another championship game. Now the defense is starting to look old and the offense is as bad as I’ve seen all year. Last year’s 13 win season is an afterthought.
Grade: C
Cincinnati – I am not going into too much detail here other than saying that Marvin Lewis has squandered his opportunity to be a premiere head football coach. He has not controlled his players and he has wasted the talent of superstars. He shouldn’t be the head coach of the Bengals come next year.
Grade: D
Indianapolis – Despite losing to the Patriots in the final 8 minutes, the Colts shouldn’t hang their heads too low. After all, they were without their top wide receiver and they led for the majority of the game. If they can get a little bit of a handle on Randy Moss, they can beat the Patriots.
Grade: A+
Tennessee – Vince Young has not play well this season. Point blank. He has not. Yet the Titans are 6-2. You have got to give Jeff Fisher his due. He is an absolutely amazing head coach and finds ways to win consistently, year after year. Think about the possibilities if Vince finds his stride. Scary.
Grade: A-
Jacksonville – Got off to a bit of a slow start and I knocked them early for having a lethargic offense. However, they’ve won 5 out of 8 games so they can’t be too bad. I still don’t see them making the playoffs though.
Grade: C+
Houston – Fast start, then they sizzled. It was exciting for a few games to think about the possibility of the Texans in the playoffs but there is no way that is happening. They still need a lot of help on the offensive line and they need a star running back desperately.
Grade: C
San Diego – They are atop the division, as expected. But did you see them doing that with a lousy 4-4 record? I know I didn’t. They have underachieved and Phillip Rivers has regressed. LT is trying hard but he doesn’t look like he has confidence in the gameplan or the direction of the team.
Grade: B-
Kansas City – Herm Edwards has to be considered for coach of the year at this point because he has made the defense better and won with no quarterback. That is a hard feat to accomplish, ESPECIALLY in the AFC. If Edwards can get himself some consistency at quarterback and another good wide receiver, the Chiefs will be a contender in 08.
Grade: C+
Denver – A favorite to contend with the elite, they have underachieved like so many others this season. Travis Henry has run well but there has been little else to be proud of. They aren’t winning games they are supposed to and could very easily be a 2-6 football team (think back to when they jipped Oakland with the field goal timeout tactic).
Grade: D+
Oakland – I really want the Raiders to get good at some point. It’s no fun having a badass team like them being a doormat for so many years. I am shocked about the whole JaMarcus Russell situation. I would have never thought he’d waste so many games of his career and so much time for development the way he has thus far. I think the Raiders will be better next year, but then again, I say that every year.
Grade: D-
NFC Midseason Report Card
Dallas Cowboys – It’s clear that the Cowboys have surpassed everyone’s expectations; even their own, despite what they say. Their only loss came to the Patriots and at this point, that is nothing to be ashamed of. Their defense needs to be addressed though as they have been gashed on numerous occasions. Defense is of utmost importance in the playoffs so if Dallas wants to make it to do the Super Bowl, they had better tighten up.
Grade: A
New York Giants – Another example of a team that has gone over and beyond in reaching midseason expectations. Don’t forget that this team was all but dead going into the second half of week 3 against Washington. The defense was a joke and the fans were growing restless. However, Eli is looking more and more like a leader and this team is moving in the right direction; fast.
Grade: A-
Washington Redskins – Jason Campbell is maturing and the defense is a good one, minus that New England trashing of course. However, the offensive line is missing three starters and that hurts a lot given that this team likes to run the ball more than anything. Their success hinges on controlling the ball and if the linemen can get some sort of consistency, the Skins should be in the thick of things come wildcard time.
Grade: B
Philadelphia Eagles – They got off to a horrific start but have won their last two games and are starting to look like they can creep back into the playoff picture. Their real test comes this week against Dallas. If they pull off the upset and get to 4-4, with 3 straight wins, everyone in the NFC needs to watch out.
Grade: C-
Green Bay Packers – I will be the first to admit that I was 100% wrong about Brett Favre. He’s like my Jeep. The monitor on the top says “2 miles until empty” but it somehow manages to get another 30. Favre is the same way. As good of a story as the Packers are however, they need to be able to run the ball if they want to win in November and December.
Grade: A
Detroit Lions – I said it in preseason and I am boasting about it now. The Lions are a good, solid football team and Mike Martz ALWAYS does very well in his second season with the team. It’s a fact. Jon Kitna was ridiculed by talk shows around the country for predicting 10 wins. A lot of people are going to have to eat their words it looks like.
Grade: B+
Chicago Bears – Well, it’s clear that Rex Grossman was just the scapegoat for an overrated team. The defense, though injured, has fallen apart. I do understand that they have some key players out but if this defense was as good as they said they were, they’d overcome the adversity. It’s not like other teams are 100% healthy either. Half of the losses on the Bears record are the defense’s fault.
Grade: D
Minnesota Vikings – This team should be able to rush for 150 yards per game because they have TWO starting running backs. I don’t care if defenses stack the line with 8 players or not. Fresh legs always come through in the end. It also should be pointed out that the Vikings have a nice defense. Brad Childress is to blame for the lack of progress.
Grade: D
Carolina Panthers – I still cannot understand how this team is 4-3. They have to be the sneakiest 4-3 team ever. Julius Peppers hasn’t stepped into the leadership role that was expected of him and there is no clear starting quarterback. It’s a battle between a first round bust and a 43 year old man. Go figure how far this team will go.
Grade: B-
Tampa Bay Bucs – Gruden will probably save his job if the Bucs win 5 of their last 8 and he will probably lose his job if they lose 5 of their last 8. It all comes on the shoulders of Jeff Garcia. If he can continue to move the ball and limit mistakes, this team should be in every game come the fourth quarter.
Grade: C+
Atlanta Falcons – The Falcons are in absolute disarray and seem to have no direction. The coach is in la-la land and the team is lost. The players don’t want to play, the fans don’t want to cheer, and this organization is in trouble.
Grade: F
Seattle Seahawks – The second easiest division in football (AFC east being the first) and the Seahawks cannot seem to separate themselves from the pack. They have looked very good and very bad, all within the same quarter of a single football game. Shaun Alexander is nothing like his old self and the offense looks anemic at times. This team is greatly underachieving, but lucky to be in a lousy division so we will see them come playoff time.
Grade: C+
Arizona Cardinals – Every year we predict the Cardinals to break out and be a contender for a playoff spot but every year something happens. Some years its injuries, others it’s bad coaching, and more often than not it is players underachieving. This year can be blamed on injuries. Maybe next year, right?
Grade: C-
San Francisco 49ers – This was the sexy pick of the offseason and everyone thought they’d be the new, young, hip 49ers. Well, injuries have decimated all hopes of success and we can only look to next year and hope for better luck for the Bay Area squad.
Grade: D
St. Louis Rams – Top 7 quarterback, top 7 wide receiver, top 5 running back. That would be a dream come true for coaches around the league. Yet somehow, some way, the Rams have managed to win zero games through half the season. I know that there have been injuries but zero wins out of eight tries is inexcusable. If the Atlanta Falcons can with a game with Joey Harrington and the Carolina Panthers can win a game with Vinny Testeverde, there is absolutely NO reason that the Rams shouldn’t be at least 1-7. They are an absolute disgrace.
Grade: F- (if that’s even possible)