Midseason Report Cards for All 32 NFL Teams

At the halfway point of the NFL season, multiple teams have shocked nearly everyone. The Cincinnati Bengals are 5-2, while the Philadelphia Eagles are just 3-4.

Though some of the NFL's teams have shocked us, others have lived up, or down to, expectations. Aaron Rodgers has led the Green Bay Packers to a 7-0 start, and the Indianapolis Colts are 0-8.

The first half of the season is not necessarily an indication of what is to come, but close analysis can be used to make predictions of future performance.

Here's a look at how each team has looked through the first eight weeks of the 2011 season.

Chicago Bears

It is obvious to anyone watching the Bears that the team's offensive line is in disarray. Jay Cutler really isn't a bad quarterback, but he can't do anything with the absurd amount of pressure he constantly faces.

In recent weeks, offensive coordinator Mike Martz has done a good job of minimizing Chicago's abysmal offensive line. With fewer seven-step drops and additional blockers, Cutler has actually had some time to throw.

Matt Forte has proven to be a legitimate star and is carrying the Bears offense. Forte is dominating both as a receiver and runner and will be paid in one way or another come the offseason.

Though the numbers don't show it, the Bears' defense has played well. The team has given up modest production to some of the NFL's most high-powered offenses.

The 4-3 Bears may not be a great team, but they are good enough to compete for a playoff spot.

Grade:  B-

Cincinnati Bengals

The 5-2 Bengals are perhaps the biggest surprise in the first half of the NFL season. Though rookie quarterback Andy Dalton hasn't turned the Cincinnati offense into a high-powered scoring machine, the team is scoring enough points to win.

Dalton has been surprisingly effective working with a young offense, and first-round draft pick A.J. Green looks like a legitimate superstar. In the super competitive AFC North, the Bengals are managing to win games.

The biggest reason for Cincinnati's success is the team's defense. The Bengals are allowing the fifth fewest yards per game in the NFL while shutting down offensive attacks.

Cincinnati hasn't played many good teams thus far and is overachieving, but the team's play has been impressive regardless.

Grade:  B

Buffalo Bills

Though the Bills are allowing a ton of offensive production, they are more than keeping up. The 10th-best offensive team in the NFL, Buffalo is 5-2 because of the team's high-powered offensive attack.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has played well enough to receive a six-year $59 million contract extension, and head coach Chan Gailey has quickly turned the Bills into an offensive force. Fred Jackson has been one of the best runners in the NFL, and even without Stevie Johnson producing much, the Bills are scoring points at an impressive rate.

The Buffalo defense, on the other hand, hasn't been so good. The Bills are allowing the 26th-most yards per game, despite shutting down both the Chiefs and Redskins. Even with this poor defensive performance, Buffalo has been one of the better teams in the NFL through the first eight weeks.

Grade:  B+

Denver Broncos

To put it simply, the Broncos are a mess. Though Kyle Orton struggled in the early part of the season, Tim Tebow is playing even worse. John Fox's team has been below average on both sides of the ball, and things aren't picking up.

The No. 12 pick in 2009, Knowshon Moreno has struggled even when healthy. The former Georgia star is losing carries to Willis McGahee, who has been far more productive.

Though Von Miller has been extremely productive, Elvis Dummervil hasn't tallied a single sack, and Robert Ayers has only been slightly more productive, registering two sacks.

Denver has some talent on defense, but the team's offense is a mess, and unless Tim Tebow undergoes a miraculous turnaround, the Broncos need to draft a quarterback. John Fox left one team in shambles only to join another in an equally bad state.

Grade:  D-

Cleveland Browns

If one thing has been proven over the course of this season, it is that Colt McCoy is not a franchise quarterback. Yes, the Browns lack significant talent on offense, but McCoy has been absolutely pathetic.

Peyton Hillis hasn't even played well when healthy, and try as they might, Cleveland cannot successfully throw the ball. Without Eric Steinbach at guard, the Browns' offensive line has fallen apart and is not helping McCoy or the run game.

Though the team's defense hasn't been great, it has been surprisingly decent. Cleveland hasn't played many, if any, offensive powerhouses, but Ahtyba Rubin, D'Qwell Jackson and Joe Haden are three underrated players who have dramatically impacted the Browns defense.

Pat Shurmur has struggled in his first season as a head coach, and it is quite obvious that he needs to hire an offensive coordinator. With this said, the main reason for the team's struggles is a blatant lack of talent. Even though the Browns are currently 3-4, they could finish as one of the NFL's five worst teams.

Grade:  D-

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers have actually given up 38 more points than they've scored, yet the team currently stands at 4-3. After a great 2010 season, Josh Freeman has struggled and LeGarrette Blount has also disappointed.

Along with Freeman, the team's offense has faltered. Last year's rookie sensation Mike Williams has been virtually nonexistent, and the Buccaneers are currently ranked as the NFL's 15th-best offense—almost dead average.

While the team's offense hasn't been bad, the team's defense has been. Tampa Bay is allowing the 29th-most yards per game.

Though the Buccaneers haven't lived up to expectations thus far, they could easily rebound in the second half of the season. In a division with the New Orleans Saints and an improving Falcons team, they better.

Grade:  C

Arizona Cardinals

With Kevin Kolb as the new guy in Arizona, the Cardinals had high hopes for the 2011 season. However, things haven't gone exactly as planned, and the team is currently 1-6.

Though Kolb does play behind an awful offensive line, the former Eagle has not impressed and occasionally struggled to get Larry Fitzgerald the ball. Beanie Wells has been decent when healthy, but he isn't the star Arizona expected him to be.

The Cardinals have also struggled defensively. The team lacks any real pass-rushers and is ranked 27th in yards allowed per game. Rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson has been hot and cold, but he has at least flashed playmaking ability as a return man.

Overall, Arizona has been one of the NFL's worst teams. Ken Whisenhunt's honeymoon may finally be coming to an end.

Grade:  F

San Diego Chargers

Even with Phillip Rivers struggling, the Chargers have been playing excellently on offense. The team has produced the eighth-most yards in the NFL, and second-year pro Ryan Mathews has been surprisingly effective after a disappointing rookie campaign.

The seemingly starless San Diego defense has allowed the fourth-fewest yards per game and excelled against the pass in particular. The Chargers may not have an exciting defense, but it sure is good.

As was already mentioned, the San Diego offense has been great in spite of Rivers's less-than-stellar play. This just goes to show how good the team's offense can be once Rivers reverts back to old form. And with Antonio Gates now healthy, the Chargers could become even more dominant.

Grade:  B+

Kansas City Chiefs

After getting off to a pathetic start, the Chiefs have actually played well. The team barely loss to the Chargers earlier in the year and then went on a three-game winning streak, beating the Vikings, Colts and Raiders.

Kansas City's awful start to the season skews the team's overall numbers, but even so, they aren't near the bottom in offense or defense. Dwayne Bowe is once again dominating the competition, and even Matt Cassel has had three competent games.

Tamba Hali is quietly putting together another solid season, racking up four sacks in his first six games. With a win against the Chargers in Week 8, Kansas City would gain a share of the division lead.

After the team's first two games, who would have predicted that?

Grade:  C

Indianapolis Colts

Right now, there is no worse team in the NFL than the Indianapolis Colts. Jim Caldwell continues to show that he is a completely incompetent head coach, and Curtis Painter simply isn't a starting quarterback.

There simply aren't any positives for the Colts at the moment. The team can't pass, run or stop either of the two on defense. Though the team has been hassled some in the "suck for luck sweepstakes," they aren't trying to lose. Indianapolis is just that bad.

In the absence of Peyton Manning, fans have, for the first time, had a chance to see how bad Bill Polian has been in recent years. Without their star quarterback, the Colts can do nothing right. This is an almost completely talentless team.

Grade:  F

Dallas Cowboys

Looking at the Cowboys' roster, it really seems like the team should be better than 3-4. The fact that the team is top 10 in both offense and defense supports this claim. Despite his flaws, Tony Romo is still a decent quarterback, and the team is loaded at the skill positions.

Dez Bryant and Miles Austin should become one of the NFL's best receiving duos, and the combination of Felix Jones and DeMarco Murray is already lethal. The Dallas offensive line isn't great by any means, but it isn't awful either.

Then there's the defense. DeMarcus Ware is one of the game's best pass-rushers, and Rob Ryan is a great defensive coordinator. There really is no excuse for the team's mediocre record.

For whatever reason, the Cowboys just can't seem to combine offense and defense for a win.

Grade:  B-

Miami Dolphins

Has there ever been more of a lame duck head coach than Tony Sparano? With the exception of the Colts, the Dolphins are the worst team in the NFL. Add in owner Stephen Ross's efforts to hire Jim Harbaugh, and it's obvious that Sparano's time in South Beach is limited.

Miami has what seems to be a talented defense, yet the team is allowing the 23rd-most yards per game. With Cameron Wake, Paul Soliai, Karlos Dansby and other good defensive players, this is inexcusable.

The team's offensive struggles, on the other hand, are more understandable. Matt Moore is currently the team's starting quarterback and Reggie Bush receives the majority of carries. Add in a poor offensive line, and it's easy to see why Miami is 21st in yards per game.

Grade:  F

Philadelphia Eagles

Before a dominating performance against the Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles had been the biggest underachievers in the NFL. Multiple offseason moves had garnered a ton of hype for Philadelphia, yet the team was just 2-4 prior to the contest.

Mike Vick might be the most talented player in the NFL, but he is extremely inconsistent as a passer, and behind a poor offensive line, he is prone to injuries too. However, LeSean McCoy has emerged as a star running back, and the team may have the best skill players in the league.

Though Philadelphia's offense has still been great, they haven't been nearly as good on defense. The Eagles' linebackers have especially stood out for their awful play.

The Eagles definitely got off to a slow start, but considering the influx of new players, this shouldn't be a huge surprise. Look for the team to really pick it up in the second half.

Grade:  C

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons are yet another team that has really disappointed. Though the team is 4-3, they are just 17th in offensive production after dominating a year ago. With the NFL's 20th defense, Atlanta needs to pick it up if they want to make the playoffs.

Matt Ryan seems to have regressed, and Michael Turner has been asked to carry the Falcons offense. After being one of the game's premier receivers the past three years, Roddy White is also struggling.

The Atlanta defense wasn't good last year and has continued to struggle in 2011. Thomas Dimitroff and company chose to invest the team's draft picks in Julio Jones rather than addressing the defense, and the lack of defensive talent has shown.

Grade:  C

San Francisco 49ers

Though the 49ers haven't been particularly good on offense, the team's defense has been good enough to carry them to a 6-1 start. New head coach Jim Harbaugh has obviously had an effect on Alex Smith, and the San Francisco defense continues to improve.

Running behind a great offensive line, Frank Gore has been excellent thus far in the 2011 season. With such a good defense and run game, Smith hasn't had to do much at the quarterback position but has played well nonetheless.

While the San Francisco offense is average at best, the team's defense is spectacular. The 49ers have one of the NFL's best defenses and have especially dominated against the run. Rookie Aldon Smith has already made a huge impact on the team's pass rush.

In a division as weak as the NFC West, the 49ers are more than good enough to make the playoffs.

Grade:  B

New York Giants

Though the Giants' defense has struggled, Eli Manning and the offense have been good enough to lead the team to a 5-2 start. With Ahmad Bradshaw struggling, Manning has taken control of the offense with excellent results.

The younger Manning quarterback is on track for his best season yet and is making surprisingly few mistakes. Hakeem Nicks is off to yet another good start, and the team's passing attack looks legitimate.

Though New York's pass rush has been as dominant as usual, the team's defense has just been average. A plethora of injuries in the secondary has definitely hurt the team, but the lack of success is still somewhat surprising.

Grade:  B+

Jacksonville Jaguars

It would appear that the Jaguars made a mistake when they released David Garrard. The 10th pick of the draft, Blaine Gabbert has been awful, and though Maurice Jones-Drew has been great, Jacksonville is dead last in offense.

Though Gabbert could still end up being a good quarterback, no one has been worse through the first half of the 2011 season. The former Missouri quarterback is in over his head, and with few decent wide receivers, he is dealing with a serious lack of talent.

The Jaguars' defense has been great, however. With Terrance Knighton and Tyson Alualu at defensive tackle, Jacksonville does a good job of stopping the run. Despite a weak secondary, the team is also excellent against the pass.

It's apparent that the Jaguars have the defense to win, but the offense is still far away from being decent.

Grade:  D+

New York Jets

With the team's defense not dominating as much as last year, the Jets have struggled in 2011. Mark Sanchez is obviously one of the game's worst quarterbacks, and New York's run game isn't nearly good enough to carry the offense.

Though Santonio Holmes is Sanchez's only legitimate receiver, the former USC star is just awful. The 29th*ranked offense doesn't just lack a passing attack, however. The Jets also have the 28th-ranked rushing attack.

New York's defense is as stout as ever against the run, but the team is in serious need of a pass-rusher. Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie are the NFL's best cornerback tandom, yet New York struggles to defend the pass.

After succeeding in his first two seasons with the team, Rex Ryan is finally facing some serious trouble. In a division with the Bills and Patriots, the Jets need to pick it up to have a shot at making the playoffs.

Grade:  C-

Detroit Lions

A well-balanced team, the Lions are gaining the 13th-most yards per game while allowing the 11th-most on defense. A healthy Matthew Stafford has given Detroit a legitimate passing attack that was always missing a good quarterback.

Calvin Johnson has officially claimed the title of the NFL's best wide receiver, and the Detroit passing attack has virtually unlimited potential. Only an injured Jahvid Best and below-average offensive line are limiting the team's explosiveness.

Though the team's offense gets the majority of the attentions, the Lions have been good defensively as well. Ndamukong Suh has continued to progress, and Corey Williams is among the NFL's most underrated players.

Detroit isn't as good as they first appeared, but they are a legitimate contender that's only going to improve as time goes by.

Grade:  B+

Green Bay Packers

After winning the Super Bowl earlier this year, the Packers have actually improved. Aaron Rodgers is far-and-away the best quarterback in all of football, and he has some great weapons as well.

Though James Starks and Ryan Grant have formed a decent running back tandem, Rodgers is the reason the Green Bay offense dominates. It seems ridiculous to say, but the 27-year-old quarterback has no weaknesses. Even at such a young age, Rodgers is turning in what might go down as the best season ever for a quarterback.

While the Packers have been dominant on offense, the team's defense hasn't been quite as good. The numbers are somewhat skewed due to Green Bay's high-powered passing attack, but the defense hasn't quite lived up to expectations.

Even with an underperforming defense, the Packers are easily the best team in the game and have a legitimate shot at winning another championship.

Grade:  A+

Carolina Panthers

Many expected Cam Newton to play well as a rookie, but virtually no one expected him to dominate the way he has. Through eight games, Newton has gained more than 2,300 yards and 15 touchdowns, on the ground and through the air.

The sixth-ranked offense in the NFL, Carolina has gained a ton of yards while scoring plenty of points. Offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski has done a great job of utilizing Newton's unique skill set, and the Panthers seem likely to build upon their offensive success.

The Carolina defense has not been quite as good, however. The team has allowed the fifth-most points per game and is 2-6 as a result.

Though Newton has been spectacular, he is still a rookie quarterback. An underachieving run game and below-average defense have cost the Panthers multiple victories, but Carolina could have a surprisingly good second half of the season.

Grade:  C

New England Patriots

Not surprisingly, Tom Brady is throwing for a lot of yards and touchdowns. What is somewhat surprising is Brady's unusually high interception total. Brady's many turnovers and a poor defense have limited the team to a disappointing 5-2 record thus far.

The NFL's third-ranked offense hasn't run the ball much, but when they do, the team has the 10th-best average. Wes Welker has been dominant thus far and is on pace for one the best seasons ever for a wide receiver.

While the New England offense has been great, the team's defense has been terrible. As usual, the Patriots have struggled to produce much of a pass rush and are getting picked apart by opposing quarterbacks.

Bill Belichick's team may not be as good as it has been in other years, but the team may still be good enough to reach the Super Bowl. If Belichick can find a way to improve the Patriots defense, they could win it.

Grade:  B+

Oakland Raiders

With the exception of their Week 7 contest against the Chiefs, the Raiders have been great in 2011. Prior to his injury, Jason Campbell was having a career season, and Oakland seemed likely to make the playoffs. After a Campbell injury and a dreadful trade for Carson Palmer, this is now less likely.

Darren McFadden has continued to build on last year's breakout season and has been dominant when healthy. As a result of the late Al Davis's obsession with speed, the Oakland offense has huge playmaking ability and can score a touchdown at any time.

The Raiders' dominant defensive line has often made its presence known, and the defense is playing well. Even without Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland is allowing just the eighth-most yards per game.

If Palmer is able to pick up the team's offense and play better than he has in recent years, the Raiders could still make the playoffs. That just seems rather unlikely at the moment.

Grade:  C+

St. Louis Rams

Before beating the Saints in a huge upset, the Rams were one of just three winless teams. After a phenomenal rookie campaign, Sam Bradford has struggled with injuries in 2011.

Even when he is healthy, Bradford has failed to get the St. Louis offense rolling, but he is not entirely to blame. The team's offensive line has been awful, and even after acquiring numerous wide receivers, Bradford doesn't have any legitimate targets.

As bad as the Rams' offense has been, the team's defense has been worse. A lack of talent has been obvious throughout the season, and it grows more so by the game. Chris Long is St. Louis's only consistently good player, and he isn't enough to make the team's defense competent.

Grade:  F

Baltimore Ravens

Despite Joe Flacco's struggles, the Ravens are off to an impressive 5-2 start. The NFL's No. 1 defense has absolutely dominated, and at the moment, Baltimore simply doesn't need much offensive production.

Ray Rice has continued to establish himself as one of the game's most productive running backs, and though Flacco has been terrible, the team is ranked 14th in yards per game. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has limited the Baltimore offense but look for his play-calling to improve as the season goes on.

Even with Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Ed Reed and others aging, the Ravens have been incredible on defense. Lewis and Reed are still two of the best defensive players out there, and Haloti Ngata is the best defensive lineman in football.

If Flacco and Cameron can perform up to their abilities, Baltimore could be in position to make a serious run by the season's end.

Grade:  A-

Washington Redskins

After getting off to a great start, the Redskins have really faltered. Rex Grossman showed why he can't be counted on to start, and John Beck's performance hasn't been inspiring either.

Tim Hightower was playing great for Washington prior to tearing his ACL and being placed on the injured reserve. With no great wide receivers, a bad quarterback and nothing special at running back, the Redskins' offense is virtually talentless.

Washington got off to a great start defensively, but the team's defense is far from elite. Though rookie first-round draft choice Ryan Kerrigan has been great thus far, the team needs more depth around the defense.

Right now, the Redskins are headed down a bad path—and there's not much Mike Shanahan or anyone else can do about it.

Grade:  D+

New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees and the Saints have been surprisingly hot and cold thus far in 2011. Though the team has the NFL's first-ranked offense, New Orleans has occasionally struggled to put up points.

Rookie Mark Ingram has been a disappointment thus far, and Brees has thrown far too many interceptions. Though Brees hasn't been awful by any stretch of the imagination, he has been somewhat inconsistent, throwing two or more interceptions in a single game on four occasions this year.

Though the Saints' offensive success was widely expected, the team's defense has been surprisingly good. The 15th-ranked defensive unit has limited offenses despite being on the field fairly often. Often a great offense can hurt the team's defense, but that hasn't been the case in New Orleans.

Grade:  A-

Seattle Seahawks

After making the playoffs a year go, the Seahawks have been dreadful in 2011. Anyone who watched Week 7's debacle between Seattle and Cleveland knows how bad Pete Carroll's team is.

Tarvaris Jackson isn't a good quarterback, yet he is far better than Charlie Whitehurst. The Seahawks don't have much talent at running back, and the wide receiver position isn't really any better. The team does, however, have a decent offensive line.

Though Seattle's defense isn't terrible against the pass, it really dominates against the run. Unfortunately, Carroll's emphasis on stopping the run has limited the Seahawks' pass rush.

Seattle's defense gives Seattle fans reason to hope, but the team's offense is torture to watch, regardless of who's playing quarterback.

Grade:  D-

Pittsburgh Steelers

After getting off to a rough star, the Steelers have already rebounded. Though Rashard Mendenhall and the run game have really struggled, Ben Roethlisberger has carried the team's offense.

The NFL's ninth-ranked offense has relied on the passing attack more than they traditionally have, but it's hard to blame offensive coordinator Bruce Arians for leaning this direction. While Mendenhall hasn't been able to get anything going, Roethlisberger has been great.

Pittsburgh's defense is as dominant as usual and is second-best in yards allowed per game. Even with star linebacker James Harrison hurt, the Steelers are dominating offenses.

It's always hard to judge whether the earlier or more recent games were the fluke, but it looks like the Steelers are back in business.

Grade:  B+

Houston Texans

Even without Andre Johnson, the 5-3 Texans are far and away the AFC South's best team. Matt Schaub is leading Houston to yet another great offensive year, but the Wade Phillips coached defense has been a bit of a surprise.

Since recovering from a hamstring injury, Arian Foster has been phenomenal and is still playing up to last year's standards. Schaub may not be an elite quarterback, but he is making plays and getting the ball to the team's stars. With an offense as talented as Houston's, that's all he needs to do.

Mario Williams has already been lost for the season with a pectoral injury, but the Houston defense is still the third best in the NFL. Phillips was expected to come in and improve the Texans' defensive attack, but not many expected such a drastic turnaround.

For years, Houston has been talked up as a "surprise team." The team is finally living up to expectations and should compete in the playoffs following the season's completion.

Grade:  B+

Tennessee Titans

Surprisingly, it has been the Titans' run game, not passing attack that has limited their offensive production. Matt Hasselbeck has proven to be a great free-agent signing and has played great as a game manager for Tennessee.

Chris Johnson has been awful following his lengthy holdout, and Javon Ringer has been much more productive when on the field. With Johnson struggling, the Tennessee offense is decent, but it won't scare any opposing defense.

Despite getting off to a great start, the Titans haven't been anything special on defense either. The team is ranked 19th and still seems to be overachieving.

Tennessee is not a bad team at all, but at 4-3, they are overachieving. In a year, the Titans could be legitimate contenders, but for the moment, they aren't.

Grade:  C

Minnesota Vikings

In what may be the least surprising development of the 2011 season, Donovan McNabb is still terrible. The Vikings have a poor offensive line and wide receiver corps, but it is obvious that rookie Christian Ponder gives Minnesota a better chance to win than McNabb does.

As the NFL's best running back, Adrian Peterson is on his way towards another spectacular season. The team's poor quarterback play hasn't aided Peterson's production at all, but he is still consistently dominating defenses. At quarterback, Ponder is still young and raw, but he at least looks somewhat competent under center.

On the whole, the Vikings' defense hasn't been great, but defensive end Jared Allen has been unbelievable. The former Chief has an astounding 11.5 sacks through just eight games and has a chance at setting a record.

Though Minnesota is currently struggling, there is reason for hope. Peterson is always capable of taking over a game, and if Ponder progresses like he should, the Vikings can even develop a decent passing attack.

Grade:  C-