So what we’re approaching Week 10 in the NFL, it’s still ‘mid-season’ for a bunch of teams that have played just eight regular games so far, which is why I’m now offering up my annual NFL mid-season report card on every team in the league!
From the good (Green Bay, San Francisco), to the bad (Minnesota, Cleveland, Seattle, Arizona) – and the downright ugly (Indianapolis, St. Louis and Miami), I’m covering all of the bases in an attempt to enlighten NFL fans and betting enthusiasts everywhere as the 2011 regular season moves further into its second half.
American Football Conference
AFC East
NY Jets 5-3 (B-)
The Jets get a B- from me, mostly because they’ve sown the kind or resiliency and fortitude that a team needs to advance in the playoffs in winning their final three games of their first half following their uninspiring 2-3 start.
Buffalo Bills 5-3 (A)
Why do the Bills get an A for being 5-3 if the Jets get a B-minus? Mostly because they’ve come from out of nowhere in order to get there. Ryan Fitzpatrick is having a breakout season and the Bills look like they’re well on their way to being a competitive team for the next several seasons at the least.
New England Patriots 5-3 (C)
The Patriots could very well rebound, but they’ll hit their second half riding a two-game SU and three-game ATS losing streak and have some very real problems running the ball – and stopping the pass. Right now, New England gets a C at best.
Miami Dolphins 1-7 (F)
I’m not trying to be a braggadocio or anything, but I saw Miami’s train-wreck of a season coming from a mile away, starting with the foolish extension of lame-duck head coach Tony Sparano’s contract. The Fins now need a total overhaul and get an F for their first half performances no matter how you look at it.
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals 6-2 (A+)
If you thought the Cincinnati Bengals would be 6-2 after eight games, raise your hand. Okay, first and foremost, if you raised your hand … stop lying. If you’re like everyone else, then you know the Bengals and rookie quarterback Andy Dalton both get and A+ across the board.
Baltimore Ravens 6-2 (B)
The Baltimore Ravens have been a bit inconsistent over the first half, but there’s nothing inconsistent about beating Pittsburgh twice in the same season. That alone should get Baltimore a ‘B’ if you ask me.
Pittsburgh Steelers 6-3 (B-)
The Steelers haven’t been ‘themselves’ more often than not this season, but they’re still going to be a factor in the AFC playoffs unless they fall completely apart in the second half – and that’s not going to happen.
Cleveland Browns 3-5 (D)
After getting off to a solid 3-3 start after a half-dozen games, the Browns are back to floundering in a big way, so much so that broadcaster Tony Rizzo absolutely went nuts on-air this past weekend.
AFC South
Houston Texans 6-3 (B-)
The Texans are sitting pretty at 6-3 but their last three wins came over a trio of mediocre teams in Tennessee, Jacksonville and Cleveland, so I’m going to remain skeptical at this point, though I will admit that Houston’s offense is scary good.
Tennessee Titans 4-4 (C)
I have to give the Tennessee Titans a solid ‘C’ even though they’ve mostly played above expectations up to this point. While I’ve been impressed with the play of veteran signal-caller matt Hasselbeck, I’m thinking the Titans need to start playing Jake Locker even if it does cost them some wins this season, particularly since the Titans aren’t going to the playoffs anyway.
Jacksonville Jaguars 2-6 (F)
The Jaguars are a complete mess NFL fans, even though I rally like rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Believe it or not, Jacksonville has yet to score 21 points in any game this season.
Indianapolis Colts 0-9 (F)
I don’t care what anyone says, the pathetic play of the Colts this season is a disgrace and head coach Jim Caldwell needs to be held accountable. I know the Colts don’t have Hall of Fame-bound quarterback Peyton Manning this season, but Indy’s play on both sides of the ball has been so inept that I have to lay a ton of blame at Caldwell’s feet!
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs 4-4 (C)
The Chiefs are the proverbial ‘enigma wrapped inside a mystery’ if you know what I mean NFL fans. After getting off to a discouraging 0-3 start, the Chiefs reeled off four straight wins – before getting blown out by previously undefeated Miami 31-3 in Week 9.
San Diego Chargers 4-4 (D-)
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times … the San Diego Chargers have got to be the biggest bunch of talented underachievers the league has seen over the last decade. The Bolts continually self-implode each season despite being loaded with talent and hit their second half riding an uninspiring three-game SU losing streak.
Oakland Raiders 4-4 (C)
The Oakland Raiders may have changed head coaches – and quarterbacks – this season but they still look like the same bunch that has underachieved – and teased – Raiders fans for the better part of the last four seasons. The Raiders take a two-game losing streak into their second half and haven’t looked good at all in losing to Kansas City and Denver.
Denver Broncos 3-5 (D)
I’m a huge fan of both, Tim Tebow and John Fox, but I’ve got to say the Broncos are playing under even their modest expectations for this season. After benching struggling quarterback Kyle Orton in favor of Tebow, the Broncos have won two of three, so I guess the Broncos have no place to go but up.
National Football Conference
NFC East
NY Giants 6-2 (A)
The New York Giants – and quarterback Eli Manning in particular – have been nothing short of outstanding so far this season. Manning is getting mentioned as a possible league MVP (behind Aaron Rodgers of course) and the G-Men look like they’re going to be a very tough out once the postseason rolls around.
Dallas Cowboys 4-4 (D)
The Cowboys have a lackluster 4-4 record after eight games, but they’ve underachieved for the most part despite having a talented roster. Thanks to inconsistent quarterback Tony Romo, the ‘Boys have at least two losses that should have been sure-fire wins!
Philadelphia Eagles 3-5 (F)
Talk about underachievers and the Philadelphia Eagles may be the biggest bunch of underperformers in the entire league this season. The Birds made a huge splash in free agency this past offseason that had many believing they could challenge for a berth in the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, things haven’t worked out quite so well for the ‘Dream Team’ and now they face an uphill battle to reach the postseason in the powerful NFC.
Washington Redskins 3-5 (F)
The Skins have fallen apart after getting off to an encouraging 3-1 start after four games. Back in training camp, head coach Mike Shanahan tried to make people believe that Rex Grossman and John Beck were both the second coming of Johnny Unitas. Four straight losses while not reaching the 21-point plateau have Skins fans begging for Donovan McNabb.
NFC North
Green Bay Packers 8-0 (A+)
I told NFL fans and betting enthusiasts everywhere that the Packers were going to be even better than they were last season. Eight straight wins to start the season have justified my belief in Aaron Rodgers and company.
Detroit Lions 6-2 (A+)
The Detroit Lions get a resounding ‘A+’ for the first half of the regular season, having turned into a consistent scoring machine – and defensive force – thanks to Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh.
Chicago Bears 5-3 (C)
Thanks to the eye-opening play of multi-talented running back Matt Forte and solid play from quarterback Jay Cutler, the Chicago Bears are on pace to rack up a 10-win season in the suddenly-powerful NFC North.
Minnesota Vikings 2-6 (F)
No matter how you look at Minnesota’s positive decision to bench Donovan McNabb and start rookie signal-caller Christian Ponder, the Vikings’ first half start has been a monumental failure. This team was ‘supposed’ to be solid at the very least with several talented veteran players on the roster, starting with all-world running back Adrian Peterson.
NFC South
New Orleans Saints 6-3 (C+)
The New Orleans Saints are NFC title contenders that will be in the playoffs this year. Having said that, the Saints’ loss to the pitiful St. Louis Rams in Week 8, tell me that this team is capable of losing to anyone at a moment’s notice – mostly because they’re a middle-of-the-pack team across the board defensively.
Atlanta Falcons 5-3 (C)
I love Matt Ryan, Tony Gonzalez, Michael Turner and rookie wideout Julio Jones. What I don’t like about the Falcons – and nor do their fans – is the team’s inability to stop anyone defensively. Not that it’s a big secret or anything, but the Falcons have also struggled offensively this season, currently ranking in the middle third in almost every significant offensive category.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-4 (C)
The NFC South is undoubtedly one of the toughest divisions in all of football and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers personify this fact perfectly, having won 10 games a year ago, but left on the outside looking in come playoff time. I think Bucs fans are looking at another non-playoff season with the team – and young quarterback Josh freeman struggling mightily in half of their games this season,
Carolina Panthers 2-6 (A)
So what the Carolina Panthers have what appears to be a dismal 2-6 record after eight games! If you know football then you already know that rookie quarterback Cam Newton has been nothing short of miraculous in his first eight NFL regular season starts while keeping the Panthers in every single game this season and putting very real scares in Green Bay, Chicago and New Orleans in losses that all came by less than a touchdown.
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers 7-1(A+)
The San Francisco 49ers have been totally revamped under ‘jackass’ head coach Jim Harbaugh. No, really, Harbaugh can clearly coach the game and has hi Niners team believing they can beat anyone. Frisco has been so good this season, they would be undefeated were it not for a Cowboys fluke play in overtime. Anytime you can get veteran quarterback Alex Smith to actually look competent, you’re doing something right!
Seattle Seahawks 2-6 (D-)
The Seahawks looked good in going 7-9 in Pete Carroll’s return to the NFL last season, but they look like a mess this season – even in the mostly incompetent NFC West. Seattle literally dropped the ball when they let Matt Hasselbeck go in favor of the mediocre Tavaris Jackson , duh!
Arizona Cardinals 2-6 (F)
The Arizona Cardinals thought they were getting a gifted quarterback when they traded for former Eagles short-lived starter Kevin Kolb this past offseason. Clearly, this guy is not going to make anyone forget about Kurt Warner. Of, did I forget to mention that Arizona needs to sack head coach ken Whisenhunt? Well, they do!
St. Louis Rams 1-7 (F)
Speaking of sacking head coaches and you’ve got to figure that Rams’ leader Steve Spagnuolo is in hot water right now. The Rams – and more importantly – gifted quarterback Sam Bradford – have taken some huge steps backward this season. To put it mildly, I’ll be surprised to see St. Louis reach four wins this season.