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“NFL–MID SEASON REPORT CARD”
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We are headed to the final push for playoff spots in the NFL.
A mid season report card of the teams and the divisional races:
AFC-EAST
..Patriots..You knew the culture would change with Mike Vrabel coming in. Was not so sure we saw the explosive growth of 2nd year QB-Drake Maye and an offense’s growth. (350YPG)..Defensive unit is healthy and robust
..Bills..They seem to have every component to be a Super Bowl team..but too many Sunday’s it seems Josh Allen has to carry too much of the load..Defense has improved…Win over Chiefs impressive.
..Miami..Tua has had an up and down season..devastating loss of Tyreek Hill..Defense not very good…Fired the GM-coach axing likely end of season
..Jets..Disaster of season has led to firesale of a roster..Have stockpiled 8-picks in first and second round over next two years..Has to be a QB coming..Hard to believe an NFL team could have a starting QB throw for 45-49-54 in 3-games this year..that’s Justin Fields’ resume this year
AFC-SOUTH
..Colts..Shocking surprise of season..Daniel Jones looks so different with a good OL infront of him, Jon Taylor at RB, and a miix on defense. Now they add Sauce Gardner in the secondary. Could go a couple rounds in the playoffs.
HOUSTON..Half a season to fix a disappointing team..The offensive line is a mess, the run game substandard, and the QB-beatup. The defense is superb.
JAGUARS..A quick start but injuries have hit and they have tailed off. Stunning how much Trevor Lawrence has tailed off with a poor QB-rating and now no WR to throw too..Travis Hunter now gone for year.
TITANS..A very tough learning curve season for QB-Cam Ward…You see spurts of great throws, but not enough around him and a new coach coming in the off season.
AFC-NORTH
..Baltimore..Injuries wrecked the first half of the season, now half a season to get healthy and get into postseason. Can Harbaugh rally this? Can Lamar Jackson stay healthy?
..Pittsburgh..Aaron Rodgers’ arrival has not meant much..Not alot of playmakers on a pedestrian offense..The defensive secondary has been shabby and aside from sacks, they have not played consistently…Alot of heat on Mike Tomlin.
..Bengals..Typical Mike Brown-Zach Taylor season…Joe Burrow gets hurt-no run game-bad offensive line-turmoil on defense…Nothing changes unless ownnership changes.
..Browns..A disaster of a season-and very little has to do with Kevin Stefanski-coaching..The Black Hole at QB issue continues starting with Deshaun Watson’s injuries-contract..and now the drafting of Dillon Gabriel-Shedeur Sanders…The OL continues to be a mess…Wasting a superb defensive season-again…How about this stat..the Browns have had 41-different starting QBs since 1999’s return of the franchise.
AFC WEST
..Chargers..Justin Herbert vs the World…Season damaged by the loss of both OTs, and injuries to 7-different offensive lineman plus the loss of both top running backs..Good start sidetracked by injuries..How Herbert is still standing is stunning..Tough games still to come.
..Chiefs..Patience has paid off, now the injured-suspended are back..Really need a run game..Defense has rallied back…Might be another Super Bowl run in them…Guess the era is not over.
..Broncos..Mystery team…Fierce defense, sacks, 3rd down conversions…Bo Nix not as explosive in 2nd year and team still missing down the field big plays and need a pass catching tight end…An up and down year.
..Raiders…Massive disappointment…Cannot run football despite Ashton Jeanty..cannot protect turnover prone QB-Geno Smith…Traded away top speed receiver…defense lost alot of veterans on back seven…Not what anyone expected from a Pete Carroll led team.
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NFC EAST
..Eagles..Made 4-trades around the deadline to fill holes they created in free agency…they are now hitting on all cylinders…Hurts-Brown-Smith-Barkley..the Tush-Push OL..cannot be stopped…Defense has re-emerged too.
..Cowboys..Dak Prescott brilliant first half but they don’t play enough defense-so all the big plays to CD Lamb-George Pickett and their TEs are wasted..The deadline deal for Quinnen Williams along with Ken Clarke-helps but secondary is leaky.
..Washington…QB-Jayden Daniels..5-injuries in two years..WR group never got healthy..loss of Austin Ekeler and defense looks like it has quit.
..Giants..There is promise with Jaxson Dart plus Skattebo and Nabers, coming off surgery, but defense has been a disappointment and there will be a new coach coming in.
NFC NORTH
..Lions..The beat just goes on and on for Dan Campbell..What a great roster…Who would think Jared Goff would put up the kind of numbers he has..The defense makes life miserable and they are doing this in a really tough division.
Packers…Jordan Love has grown so much as a leader but now his wide receiver-tight end group is wiped out by injuries…Micah Parsons has added to a great defense…but depth is a problem.
Bears..No one is talking about Caleb Williams growth but this team has made a big jump with new head coach Ben Johhnson…Power run game, group of receivers and tough defense.
..Vikings..Setback of a season because of the QB-crisis and no one knows if JJ McCarthy is the right guy..Phenom talent in Jefferson-Addison at WR…Defense is spotty too.
NFC SOUTH
..Tampa Bay…What a season of leadership and production from Baker Mayfield even with the loss of virtually all his skill guys, and they are not back..Todd Bowles defense is wicked but not enough offense to go deep into postseason.
..Falcons..Michael Penix competes at QB and with Bijan Robinson-Drake London you think there is a ton of talent to make thius work…But the OL struggles and the defense has not done its job consistently…Maybe a .500-record is the best they can be this year.
..Carolina…Some progress with 2nd year coach Dave Canales…They gave Bryce Young a run game and some receivers and the defense plays hard…Not enough overall talent level on roster.
..Saints…Long rebuilding job coming for Kellen Moore…QB-Tyler Shough gets rest of the season to prove himself…Feels like wasting the final years of Alvin Kamara career.
NFC WEST
..Rams..What a package..Matthew Stafford having an MVP season..with lots of firepower around him…Defense is fierce with all these young draft picks…and the mad man leadership of Sean McVay.
..49ers..What a coaching job by Kyle Shanahan…what a mess of injuries…Some fill in job by QB-Mac Jones but just not enough healthy players…Better roster on IR than on the field.
..Seattle..Is this for real? They keep playing, keep winning. Sam Darnold has figured it all out, deep threat speed with Smith-Njiba, can run the ball, and a defense that gets after it.
..Arizona..Awful season again with a QB-beset by injuries…Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison give you hope, bug they cannot keep people on the field and off IR…Hard to believe they would get rid of Murray at the end of the season, but they have not arrived as a team yet under Jon Gannon.
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