NFL Report Card Week 8: Handing out Grades to All 32 Teams

When Week 8 concludes, we'll have reached the unofficial midway point of the regular season.

Even so, some teams encountered critical matchups on Sunday.

The Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys battled to avoid falling further behind in the NFC East race. Pittsburgh hosted New England, hoping to show that it won't be fading from the AFC's elite anytime soon.

But in this week-to-week grind known as the NFL, 20 other teams were in for yet another test of their ability. Here's how they all graded out.

New Orleans Saints: F

With a score of 17-0 between the Saints and Rams, a sane person would figure that New Orleans would be on the winning end.

However, in what has to be the most stunning result of the NFL's first half of the season, the Saints were the victims of the Rams' first victory one week after Drew Brees and company ran up 62 points on the Indianapolis Colts.

The usually-explosive passing game failed to ignite, as Brees was picked off twice. On the ground, Pierre Thomas managed only 23 yards on seven carries.

St. Louis Rams: A

It's likely that some of the World Series fortune from the Cardinals rubbed off on the Rams.

With A.J. Feeley at quarterback in place of the injured Sam Bradford, St. Louis played well above expectations against New Orleans.

The second-worst scoring defense in the NFL coming into Week 8 limited the league's highest-scoring offense for the entirety of the first half, only yielding points when the game was basically out of reach.

Running back Steven Jackson returned to form with 25 carries for 159 yards and two touchdowns.

Miami Dolphins: C+

Was it sloppy play by the Giants or solid execution by the Dolphins that helped Miami get a 17-10 lead entering the fourth quarter?

Whatever it actually was, it went away in the final 15 minutes as New York prevented beleaguered head coach Tony Sparano's club from notching their first win of 2011. 

The one positive to take away, other than the fact that they didn't get blown out, was the re-emergence of running back Reggie Bush (15 carries, 103 yards).

New York Giants: B-

The Giants gave all of their fans a pre-Halloween scare, but they pulled out a 20-17 much-needed win against the winless Dolphins, considering the rough slate that awaits them.

New York was out of tune in the first half, committing five penalties and being unable to make tackles.

But the second half proved to be much more effective. That was especially the case for the defense, which held Miami scoreless in the fourth quarter.

Eli Manning continued to be solid at QB. He threw for 349 yards, completing passes to eight different receivers and tossing a pair of touchdowns.

Jacksonville Jaguars: C-

The Jaguars defense was never in sync, partially due to starting quarterback Blaine Gabbert leaving the game briefly in the first quarter due to bruised ribs.

The rookie out of Missouri was just 10-of-30 for 97 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

But it's quite doubtful that Gabbert would have done much better healthy considering the youthful state of his game right now.

Jacksonville's defense stood up to the challenge of Matt Shaub and Arian Foster through one half but let the game get away from them in the final two periods.

Houston Texans: B

Andre Johnson's imminent return will help the Texans offense immensely.

In what may very well be the final game without No. 80, Houston lacked big-play potential.

What Matt Schaub could rely on was the running game of Arian Foster, who toted the ball 33 times and gained 112 yards, finding the end zone once.

The defense did their part as well. Blaine Gabbert was overwhelmed, and the Jags gained just 174 total yards.

Arizona Cardinals: C+

Overall, the Cardinals played well against one of the league's best teams.

However, they have to be disappointed with the way they let a big lead slip away.

Arizona appeared to have Baltimore's number, consistently pressuring Joe Flacco and holding Ray Rice in check.

A punt return by Patrick Peterson contributed to a 24-6 lead at halftime.

The second half is where things unraveled, as the defense couldn't make up for the offense's shortcomings.

Baltimore Ravens: B

The grade for the first half by Baltimore was a flat-out F.

In fact, the past six quarters were a colossal failure, especially on offense.

Then, apparently, the switch went on and the Ravens started to make progress.

So much so that they completed the biggest comeback in team history, which resulted in a 30-27 victory against the Cardinals.

Ray Rice scored all three touchdowns in the turnaround, while Anquan Boldin had 145 receiving yards.

Minnesota Vikings: B

In a battle of rookie quarterbacks, Christian Ponder kept pace with the more highly-touted Cam Newton.

The Florida State product, in his second start, hit on 5-of-5 pass attempts to lead the Vikings to what would turn out to be the game-winning field goal.

It always helps to have the likes of Adrian Peterson on your side. He totaled 162 yards and reached pay dirt twice.

Minnesota's defense helped pave the way for scores, forcing two fumbles that resulted in seven points each for the Vikes.

Carolina Panthers: B-

Cam Newton doesn't lack excitement.

Unfortunately, he and his Panthers (2-5) lack the ability to close out games.

This will eventually change as Newton matures, but the upside is fantastic.

Last year's Heisman Trophy winner fumbled twice but went 22-of-30 for 290 yards and three TDs and would have driven Carolina down to a tie game in the late going if not for an Olindo Mare missed field goal.

Indianapolis Colts: D-

When it rains, it pours.

The now 0-8 Colts were ineffective in all three phases of the game.

Curtis Painter was picked off twice. Unfortunately, he was the team's leading rusher (79 yards).

A Pat McAfee punt deep in Indy territory in the second quarter was blocked and recovered by the Titans for a touchdown to put the Colts in a 10-0 hole.

Tennessee Titans: B-

The Titans weren't all that impressive in a 27-10 win over Indianapolis, but it's certainly a rebound from the lifeless effort against Houston.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was much more effective, connecting on 22 of his 33 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions.

On defense, Tennessee forced two picks and had 12 passes deflected.

The lone exception to this rebound performance was Chris Johnson, who continues to struggle with 34 rushing yards on 14 carries against the Colts.

Detroit Lions: A

Detroit healed the sting of their two consecutive losses with a 45-10 stomping of the Denver Broncos.

Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson played just like they did in the early portion of the season.

The Lions quarterback completed 21 of 30 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns. His main target had seven grabs totaling 125 yards, including a scoring connection that went 56.

The defense terrorized the Broncos throughout, holding them out of the end zone until the late moments of the contest and scoring two touchdowns of their own.

Denver Broncos: F

Tim Tebow's second start of 2011 looked much like his first one, with the exception of the fourth quarter miracle. He was 18-of-39 for 172 yards and one touchdown along with a pick-six and a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.

But to be fair, he wasn't the only one who struggled in the Broncos' 35-point home loss to Detroit.

The offensive line failed to protect their quarterback, yielding seven sacks. The defense also failed to keep Denver in the game right from the start.

Washington Redskins: F

Is it time for a Rex redux?

John Beck had his second straight poor outing, which have come in a pair of Redskins defeats.

Without prime running back Tim Hightower and top wideout Santana Moss, Washington was completely inept on offense against Buffalo.

In fact, it was the first time that Mike Shanahan had a shutout loss in 24 seasons as an NFL coach or offensive coordinator.

The 'Skins defense was befuddled by the mix of running and receiving by the Bills' Fred Jackson, who finished with nearly 200 scrimmage yards.

Buffalo Bills: A-

The Bills continued to do what has made them the most opportunistic team in the NFL.

They forced Redskins QB John Beck into a pair of interceptions and continued to extend their league lead in turnovers.

Washington found no rhythm on offense, as the Bills pitched their first shutout since 2006. They sacked John Beck nine times and held the 'Skins to just 178 total yards.

But the 23-0 victory was also made possible with the continued precision of Ryan Fitzpatrick as well as the versatility of Fred Jackson.

Fitzpatrick completed 21 of his 27 pass attempts, compiling 262 yards with a TD and an INT.

Jackson ran for 120 yards on the ground and totaled 74 through the air.

Cincinnati Bengals: B+

Cam Newton may be the most outstanding rookie in terms of statistics and athleticism, but Andy Dalton has been the best in terms of managing his offense.

Granted, Sunday in Seattle wasn't his best effort (18-of-29 for 168, two TDs, two INTs).

However, he won yet another game. This latest one coming in the hostile environment of Quest Field.

It also helped that the other side of the ball recorded four sacks and 12 QB hits.

Brandon Tate's 56-yard punt return in the final quarter sealed the Bengals victory, improving their mark to 5-2.

Seattle Seahawks: D

The main downfall of the Seahawks on Sunday was the disoriented offense.

For some weird reason, backup Charlie Whitehurst started at quarterback even though Tarvaris Jackson was healthy enough to play.

Jackson came in for Whitehurst at the start of the third offensive series—and fumbled on the his very first play.

That was a microcosm of how Seattle fared in its Week 8 contest. Jackson's final fault was an interception that was returned for a touchdown.

Cleveland Browns: D+

The Browns couldn't stop Niners running back Frank Gore, and that played a major role in a 20-10 setback.

In addition, they were unable to find traction in their ground game.

With Peyton Hillis again missing due to injury, Cleveland mustered just 66 yards—30 of those by QB Colt McCoy and 34 from Chris Ogbonnaya.

Josh Cribbs' 45-yard TD reception was the lone offensive excitement for the Browns.

San Francisco 49ers: B+

With solid efforts on defense and the ground game, San Francisco is no longer a nice surprise.

At 6-1, the Niners are a legit NFC contender.

Frank Gore was the offensive star, carrying the ball 31 times, totaling 134 yards and scoring one touchdown in the win over the Browns.

That took plenty of pressure of quarterback Alex Smith, who kept his mistakes to a minimum.

Safety Dashon Goldson was the recipient of an ill-fated Colt McCoy pass, which was one of two turnovers forced by San Francisco.

New England Patriots: C-

For a Patriots team that we're used to seeing go up and down the field with relative ease, they were held to under 100 yards of total offense until the third quarter.

This was due to the Steelers' constant pressure of Tom Brady and his receivers.

Brady's counterpart, Ben Roethlisberger, seamlessly exposed the porous Pats secondary.

New England's defense also had trouble getting off the field, as its offense had just three plays in the first quarter. Those early struggles set the tone for the remainder of the 25-17 loss at Heinz Field.  

Pittsburgh Steelers: A

All those critics who called the Steelers defense slow are suddenly silent.

For a group that has had trouble with Tom Brady in the past, Pittsburgh finally got to the star QB.

Linebacker LaMarr Woodley had two sacks before leaving the field with a hamstring injury.

Ben Roethlisberger was pass-happy on this afternoon, throwing 50 passes and completing 36 of them.

These connections totaled 365 yards and resulted in two touchdowns as the defending AFC Champs showed why they are still among the conference's elite clubs.

Dallas Cowboys: D

Coming into an NFC East showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys had a rushing defense that was tops in the NFL.

It didn't appear that way on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field with LeSean McCoy having little trouble finding the open field.

Tony Romo and the offense were in all kinds of trouble, flustered and shut out until the fourth quarter.

Adding injury to insult, the Cowboys saw linebacker Sean Lee, defensive back Mike Jenkins and punter Mat McBriar leave the game with ailments.

Philadelphia Eagles: A

It was an immensely important game, and the Eagles played like it was.

For the first time this season, Philly played up to the level of expectations in a 34-7 trouncing of the rival Dallas Cowboys.

Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy shredded the stout defense of Rob Ryan.

In addition, the Eagles did not turn the ball over.

Conversely, Philly's defense has been much maligned in 2011. That was certainly not the case on Sunday evening.

Kansas City Chiefs: Incomplete

The first three games were a total failure.

Then came a turnaround for the Chiefs, especially for QB Matt Cassel.

They won three in a row with victories over Minnesota, Indianapolis and Oakland.

One can't be completely sold on K.C. considering two of those wins came against lousy competition (Vikings and Colts) while the other was one that topped a Raiders teams sans a stable quarterback situation.

However, beating the San Diego Chargers tonight will certainly turn some heads.

San Diego Chargers: Incomplete

The Chargers are annual slow-starters, but they got off to a fast beginning this year at 4-1.

Then came a 27-21 loss to the New York Jets at Metlife Stadium in which San Diego's offense was shut down in the second half and the defense allowed 17 points in the final two quarters.

A healthy Antonio Gates, who returned last week, should mean an improved Philip Rivers and a more versatile offense.

Beating Kansas City at Arrowhead would give them separation in the AFC West Division race.

Atlanta Falcons: Incomplete

Did the Falcons get out of their funk with a critical road win against the Lions last week?

That's a question that will be answered best when they host the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 13.

For now, their focus is on the upcoming contest after the bye week, which comes against the Colts next Sunday afternoon. .

Chicago Bears: Incomplete

The Bears appear to have figured out what their game plan should be on offense for the foreseeable future.

That's to utilize running back Matt Forte as much as possible.

As a way to take the heat off of quarterback Jay Cutler, Forte has gained a league-leading 1,089 yards from scrimmage in 2011.

Forte could pose major problems when Chicago (following a 14-day break) travels to Philadelphia for a Monday night encounter in Week 10.

Green Bay Packers: Incomplete

If the Packers were playing in Week 8, it's likely they'd come out on the winning side.

They've yet to be beaten this year, and it'll take an A+ performance by an opponent to knock them off.

Aaron Rodgers has been at the top of the class as far as quarterbacks are concerned. The Super Bowl XLV MVP leads the NFL in passing touchdowns, completion percentage and QB rating.

The most pressing issue for Green Bay is its passing defense, ranked 31st (288.9 points per game) in the league.

New York Jets: Incomplete

For two quarters in their Week 7 contest, it appeared as if the Jets were in the same offensive dry spell that had plagued them way too many times in 2011.

But Mark Sanchez, for the moment, got it turned around.

Much of his gratitude should be extended to wideout Plaxico Burress, who made three touchdown receptions in the 27-21 victory over San Diego.

New York, sitting at 4-3, now is in the midst of a two-week respite before they face an important matchup with fellow AFC East contender Buffalo.

Oakland Raiders: Incomplete

There's no other way to say it—Oakland's 28-0 stomping at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs was ugly.

Kyle Boller and Carson Palmer combined for six interceptions as the Raiders failed to make it three straight victories.

The latter hopes to take the team's bye week as a time to fully understand the offense after being dealt from the Cincinnati Bengals just days earlier.

It was quite apparent that Palmer was not completely used to his new surroundings and that he still had to shake off the rust of having not played since the end of the 2010 season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Incomplete

When Tampa Bay beat the Saints in Week 6, one would believe that the Bucs are capable of being the NFC South champs.

The loss to the Chicago Bears in London in Week 7 exposed Raheem Morris' club as one that lacks a running game.

With LeGarrette Blount sidelined and Earnest Graham injuring himself for the remainder of the season, Josh Freeman was left to handle the majority of the offense.

However, Blount should be healthy when the Bucs next take the field in a rematch with the Saints.

The defense better show up when they travel to New Orleans, as they rank 26th in passing and 22nd in rushing.