“NFL Mid Season Grades”——–
(AFC WEST)

CHIEFS..The spotlight has been on the turnovers plaguing QB-Patrick Mahomes and some of the panic plays he makes under duress.  The real target should be on LT-Orlando Brown, a troubled offensive line, and the lack of defensive playmakers around DT-Chris Jones…Grade (B)

CHARGERS…Learning curve of a season for brand new coaching staff, that’s why up and down so far..Better days ahead for Justin Herbert and skill people…Not sure about  very young defense….Key-Joe Lombardi use all the skill in his tool box…put a lot of different people and looks around his QB…  Future infront of them.  Grade (C)

RAIDERS..Season falling apart because of off field distractions…Jon Gruden’s decisions, personal-professional will haunt this team..Shy in talent now with first round draft pick failures…How do the trades of Amari Cooper-Khalil Mack look now?..Feel bad for David Carr trying to save this season…Grade (D)

BRONCOS..Best QB in the building is John Elway..Don’t know how to gauge Coach Vic Fangio because talent level is so sparse..Been a long time since they won anything..Feels like massive rebuild must happen..is Drew Lock real quarterback?..Grade (C)
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AFC-EAST)

BUFFALO…Good-not great yet…Still need RB to compliment QB-Josh Allen…Defense is young and very athletic..not quite there yet as a team…Grade (B)

PATRIOTS…QB-Mac Jones should be Rookie of Year candidate…Lots of components in place…Combo young picks-free agents add ons playing well together…Impressive job transition  era by Belichick..Grade (B)

MIAMI..Tough year with injuries…Still not sure if QB-Tua Tagovailoa is game changer or game manager….Still get feel Deshaun Watson winds up there at end of all these investigations in off season…Disappointing year for Brian Flores…Grade (C)

JETS…Talent base is frighteningly bad and now you add on all these injuries…Unfair to judge Coach Robert Saleh for a couple of years…Don’t know what is worse…turnovers or injuries…Grade (D)
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(AFC NORTH)_

RAVENS…Some chemistry mix…John Harbaugh…Lamar Jackson…Tough guy defensive….play calls…A very good franchise…Grade (A)

STEELERS…Feels like ‘End of Era’…Mike Tomlin still there to coach it..but roster seems to have arrow pointing down in talent level…Ben Roethlisberger not have enough around him…Grade (C)

BENGALS…Joe Burrow to Jamar Chase..fun to watch…Not much else on roster that spells strong team…As always, it’s about Mike Brown’s ownership leadership….Grade (C)

BROWNS…Worked so hard to stockpile talent-thought this would be break-thru year, but it is a year of breakdowns with injuries everywhere….QB-Baker Mayfield may not be superstar we thought…Very disappointing team right now despite glitter on roster…Grade (D),
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(AFC SOUTH)

TITANS…Coach Mike Vrable pushes the envelope…pushes the right buttons…Would not want to meet them in the playoffs….Loss of RB-Derrick Henry is a blow…Defense will punch you in mouth..(8-2) record is not fraudulent…Grade (A)

COLTS…Injuries from Day 1-have slowed down Frank Reich team…RB-Jonathon Taylor is a star in making-are they good enough…Grade (B)

JAGUARS…Makes you sick to think about all defensive studs they had on roster-all gone..and so are chances of winning…Will take years to put people around QB-Trevor Lawrence…Who knows if Urban Meyer is right coach?…Grade (F)

HOUSTON…Disgrace of a franchise..Ruined season ticket base…Handling of Deshaun Watson is a mess…Long road back for sure…Grade (F)
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(NFC WEST)

ARIZONA…They have arrived….Dynamic head coach-and quarterback and have now added firepower around Kyler Murray and defense better than anyone knows..Grade (A)

RAMS…Have to win now..no tomorrow having traded away all their picks and  salary capped into the future…Still believe Matthew Stafford will be difference maker, though team speed and lack of run game could be problem… What’s not to like about Aaron Donald-Von Miller-Jalen Ramsey…All ingredients there to go deep into playoffs…but last two weekends-bad sign…Grade (B)

49ers…Haunted by bunch of failures of Coach Kyle Shanahan…Have they solved QB issue…Can they stay healthy…Are they better run than throw….is that enough…Grade (C)

SEATTLE…Era looks over…Wonder if front office has failed QB-Russell Wilson…just not sure enough quality on what few stars they have on roster…Franchise looks like it is going in wrong direction…Grade (D)
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NFC-EAST)

DALLAS…Diverse-Dynamic offense…have upgraded defense…Dak Prescott might have best OL in league and lots of skill people…Someone should use word Super Bowl contender….Grade (A)

EAGLES…Building year with young QB-Jalen Hurts and aging defense and new coaching staff learning on job…Not perfect fit..Grade (C)

GIANTS…In midst of long rebuild that is not flourishing…GM-Dave Gettleman has failed team…Not enough talent around young QB and RB…Grade ()D)

WASHINGTON…No quarterback…Owner has no credibility…have not fixed offensive side of ball to match all draft picks they stockpiled on defense….Grade (D)
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(NFC-NORTH)

PACKERS…It’s always been about Aaron Rodgers and head coach Matt LaFleur relationship…Defense is not bad at all and playing home games at Lambeau in postseason is important..If they get to finish line healthy..will be a force despite off field junk going on…Grade (A)

VIKINGS…Mike Zimmer coaching to save his job…Got lots of ingredients around Kirk Cousins..but defense is spotty and always hurt or out with Covid issues…Grade (C)

CHICAGO…QB-Justin Fields has come alot quicker than most thought-got skills…Does not have very much else around him on offense…Defense is cold weather tough but alot of hurt guys…Grade (C)

DETROIT…Long road back-but they haven’t been anywhere in a decade…Don’t think Jared Goff is the answer…Those #1 picks they stockpiled may have next quarterback in building…Beset by lots of bad luck injuries to what few good players they have on defense…Grade (F)
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(NFC SOUTH)

Bucs..Might be last go round for Tom Brady-Bruce Arians marriage….Team really dinged up on offense…Will still be a player come playoff team…Maybe last year only year they get it done…Grade (B)

SAINTS…Life after Brees not going well…Impressed coaching job Sean Payton did with Jameis Winston before injury…Team chewed up by injuries to Michael Thomas and at running back…Who would have thought a Payton team would have to win with detense alone…Grade (C)

CAROLINA…Cam Newton comes back after Sam Darnold got hurt…and they were struggling before injuries nailed them…Need to find support talent for Christian McCaffrey…Grade (C)

ATLANTA…Wasting away Matt Ryan’s career trying to do it by himself…Have not hit bottom yet-likely headed there…Need lots of talent on roster….Grade (D)
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