Ranking All 8 NFL Divisions, Midseason Edition

As we approach the midway point of the NFL season, a clearer picture of each team's potential is starting to develop. There are still plenty of unknowns, but the contenders are starting to separate themselves from the pack.

As fans, we all love to debate and compare our favorite teams, as well as our team's division. Nobody wants to believe that the success of their team is tainted because of a weak schedule. We all want to believe that our favorite team faces the top competition.

Developing a ranking of the eight NFL divisions is not an easy process. There are a lot of things to consider like strength of schedule, strength of the top teams and how low are the lows. I looked at each division from top to bottom, and developed my ranking.

No. 8 NFC West

The NFC West is by far the weakest division in the entire NFL.

The St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks have a combined total of four wins—three wins behind the Green Bay Packers. These teams not only have terrible records, but have been playing terrible football.

St. Louis' poor play has been a major disappointment, because many felt they had a chance to win the division. However, they have struggled on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Second-year quarterback Sam Bradford is suffering through a major sophomore slump.

Bradford is only completing 53 percent of his passes, which is the main reason for the lack of offensive consistency.

Defensively, the Rams are allowing a league-worst 165 rushing yards per game. They are also allowing nearly 230 yards passing a game. This unit is allowing nearly 27 points per game, which isn't helping this team earn any victories.

Arizona has lost four games by one score or fewer, meaning they have had opportunities to win a few more games. However, their inability to close out football games is very disappointing. Arizona expected that the addition of Kevin Kolb would propel them back into the division race. The fact is this isn't a very good football team, who has plenty of holes on both sides of the ball.

The Seattle Seahawks are another team that has really struggled this season. They currently have two victories, one of which was handed to them by Eli Manning. This team is an offensive disaster unable to establish a consistent running or passing attack. As a team, they are averaging around 280 yards per game. Seattle's only real hope for winning a game is their home-field advantage.

Keeping this division afloat is the San Francisco 49ers, who have jumped out to a 6-1 record. This football team has shown it's for real, with victories over the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Unfortunately, the success of the 49ers isn't enough to push this division out of the basement.

No. 7 AFC South

Peyton Manning's injury has not only devastated the Indianapolis Colts, but also the status of the AFC South.

His injury has taken the Colts from a Super Bowl contender to a league-worst 0-8 record. Unfortunately, the rest of the division hasn't been world-beaters.

Indianapolis has to see this season as an opportunity to land a top draft pick. This team has holes across the entire roster, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The defense is one of the worst in all of football, allowing an average of 31 points per game. Indianapolis could very well end the season without a victory. There is a strong case to be made that this is the worst team in the NFL.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are not a terrible football team, but are dealing with a rookie quarterback. The growing pains of Blaine Gabbert have really hampered the offensive production. Jacksonville is averaging a league-worst 123 passing yards per game.

The Jaguars will play a ton of close games, but I haven't seen anything from Gabbert that makes me feel he can win a game on his own.

Three of the Tennessee Titans' four victories have come against the Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts. Those victories haven't earned the Titans a ton of respect, especially because they haven't really been playing great football.

Offensively, they are averaging a league-worst 69 rushing yards per game, putting a ton of pressure on Matt Hasselbeck. The passing game has Hasselbeck, but very limited playmakers on the outside. This defensive unit is not capable of carrying this football team to many victories.

The Houston Texans are at the top of this division, but are playing their usual inconsistent football. This team is playing good football, but I expect more out of them. There is a good chance that the Texans end the season with an excellent record, but at this point they don't stack up with the other division leaders.

No. 6 AFC West

The AFC West has a lot of parity, with three teams tied for the division lead. Each of the division leaders have had their share of ups and downs.

At this point, nobody has a clear advantage, which should make for an interesting second half of the season. All the unknowns make it really tough to feel great about any one of these teams.

Their divisional ranking takes a hit because they lack that one dominant team. San Diego was expected to be among the AFC's best, but have really struggled against the other top-rated teams. It also doesn't help to have the Denver Broncos in this division. Denver has not played very good football, with things appearing to hit a low point.

The Broncos were not expected to contend this season, but they don't exactly look ready for a quick turnaround. Tim Tebow is the only quarterback under contract for next season, and he has looked like anything but the answer. The rest of the offense is also lacking high-potential players. Denver seems further away from contending than the fanbase is willing to accept.

I will be the first to admit that I was wrong about the Kansas City Chiefs. This team has really turned their season around, having a legitimate shot to returning to the playoffs. I can't really explain how they are finding success, but Matt Cassel is playing some inspired football. He may never be an elite quarterback, but he is excellent leader.

Kansas City has also seen an improvement on the defensive side of the ball. It is amazing how dominating Tamba Hali can be, really possessing the ability to change the outcome of a game.

Oakland is a bit of an unknown at this point, as nobody knows what to expect from Carson Palmer. They are going to remain a run-first team, but they will need Palmer to make plays. Palmer's development will be what makes or breaks the Oakland Raiders' season.

The San Diego Chargers continue to frustrate everyone. They have the players to be a great team, but are plagued by inconsistent play and mistakes. San Diego has also been dealing with a roster filled with injury-plagued players. Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson, Ryan Mathews, Malcolm Floyd and Shaun Phillips have all had their share of injuries.

The next three games will go a long way in determining the Chargers' season, as they face the Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders and Chicago Bears.

No. 5 NFC East

The NFC East features the "Dream Team," the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants. If this ranking was based on preseason expectations the NFC East would likely rank at the top.

However, this division has been wildly disappointing. I have little confidence in any of the top teams in this division, they have just not shown enough consistency.

At the bottom of the division is the Washington Redskins, who actually have the same record as the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. However, the quarterback situation really limits the potential of this football team. Defensively, the Redskins have the talent to make a strong playoff run. The offense just isn't ready to equal the defense's talent.

Outside of an overtime victory versus the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas has really struggled against the upper echelon of the NFL. Many will point to the fact that Dallas actually should have beat the Jets and Lions. However, good football teams don't give away late-game leads. The Cowboys have a lot of talent, but have not proven they can consistently win football games.

Does one dominant performance mean that the Philadelphia Eagles have fixed all their problems? No, this football team still has plenty of question marks. However, the health of the offensive line has really helped stabilize the offensive attack. Philadelphia's offense will continue to improve, but the health of Michael Vick will be the catalyst for success.

Defensively, this team has not solved the struggles of their rush defense. It wasn't exposed against Dallas because of their large lead, forcing the Cowboys to abandon the running game.

The New York Giants are 5-2, but their five wins have come against teams with a combined record of 10-25. Three of the wins have come against the St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals. These still count as victories, but really don't do much in the respect department.

As a team, the Giants are struggling to win the battles in the trenches. They rank towards the bottom of the league in rushing yards and rushing yards against. The lack of a running game is really concerning, as it puts a lot on Eli Manning's turnover-prone shoulders.

No. 4 NFC South

If this was a ranking of the divisions with the brightest futures, the NFC South would have to top that ranking. However, this is a ranking of the current standing of each division.

Top to bottom, this might be the strongest division in the NFL. The Carolina Panthers are in last place but are playing much better than their record. This division has two legitimate Super Bowl contenders and three teams that appear deserving of a playoff spot.

The Carolina Panthers are playing competitive football, thanks to the quick development of Cam Newton. He has given this offense a spark, which has them ranked in the top 10 in both rushing and passing yardage. The defense is more than a few steps behind the offense, but are capable of keeping this team in games. Carolina has lost a lot of close games and have an opportunity to finish the season out strong.

After the first game of the season, the Atlanta Falcons looked like a team that was going to fail to meet expectations. However, they have actually had a very solid season and appear to be finding their stride. This is a team that was the NFC's No. 1 seed in last year's playoffs, they still have a chance to make a strong Super Bowl push.

This might be the season where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers make it back to the playoffs. Tampa continues to surprise, and appears capable of winning this division.

Offensively, their young talent continues to take positive steps. Josh Freeman and LeGarrette Blount are not only building blocks for the future, but give them hope for the present. The defense has not really performed at a high level and have a lot to do with Tampa's three losses. Another concern is the youthfulness of this team, as they have been prone to making some costly mistakes.

The New Orleans Saints are a legitimate Super Bowl contender, but appear to be prone to excusable losses. The recent loss to the St. Louis Rams brings back memories of last season's playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Everyone has a bad game, but it seems like the Saints have their's at unfortunate times.

No. 3 AFC East

Obviously the AFC East is brought down by the horrid play of the Miami Dolphins. When your division has a team that starts 0-7, it is tough to overcome.

However, this division has three teams that will be making a strong playoff push.

Despite their struggles, the New England Patriots have to be considered a strong Super Bowl candidate. The Buffalo Bills are a great story, but are they really considered Super Bowl contenders? Most people are having a hard time figuring out the New York Jets.

This division has good teams, but each have their problems.

Miami is a franchise in turmoil, as they have uncertain roster and coaching situations. It is almost a given that Tony Sparano will not return. The fate of quarterback Chad Henne seems to be equally certain.

Currently, the Dolphins have just not played good football. The poor play is starting to result in some back-and-forth between coaches and players. Everyone appears to be out for themselves, which isn't a recipe for winning football.

The New York Jets need a good second half of the season just to make the playoffs. Mark Sanchez and the offense need to find a way to move the football. Any more offensive struggles will only result in more media coverage and distractions. This offense has not shown anything to make me believe they are capable of consistently playing winning football.

The next four weeks will ultimately determine the outcome of this season, as they finish their scheduled games against the Bills and Patriots.

Tom Brady's presence means that New England will always have a shot at winning football games. He is the X-factor, making those around him better. However, he isn't capable of playing defense, which could be the Patriots' Achilles heel.

I actually feel that the Patriots defense is getting a bad rap. New England's offensive pace does not provide this defense with enough rest. It also forces teams into attack mode, as they try to keep pace. The Patriots are winning games so the scheme won't change, but it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Are the Buffalo Bills for real? This is the question every NFL fan is asking themselves. On paper, Buffalo looks like a team capable of no more than a handful of wins. However, this team has found a way to outperform all those expectations. I have a hard time believing in a team that has so many holes.

The offensive line and defense really lack the type of talent that make up a winning team. However, this team keeps winning, so at some point I guess I'll jump on the bandwagon. My lack of faith is what is keeping this division down in the rankings.

No. 2 AFC North

The AFC North is not a very exciting division, but they have good teams from top to bottom. They have their bottom-feeding team, but even the Cleveland Browns have three wins.

The surprising play of the Cincinnati Bengals is what gives this division the edge over the other divisions.

However, it doesn't hurt having two powerhouses in the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.

Imagine where the Browns would be if they got some production out of Peyton Hillis. This is a team that was really counting on featuring Hillis, and his absence has really hurt the offense. Cleveland isn't a very good football team, but have enough talent to beat out the other last-place teams. Cleveland is one of two last-place teams with three wins, which really helps the AFC North's ranking.

Cincinnati is right up there as one of the most surprising stories this season. This is a team who was dealing with the Carson Palmer retirement, as well as breaking in a new rookie quarterback. However, Marvin Lewis has embraced this clean slate and is winning football games.

The Bengals are led by their defense, who are one of the best in the entire NFL. Offensively, Cincinnati still needs some improvement but they are capable of winning games. They have the ability to grid it out and also get a quick strike. I don't see them as a Super Bowl contender, but they are still a good football team.

The Baltimore Ravens have been a very frustrating team to watch. At times, they appear unstoppable and other times they struggle against weaker opponents. The key to the Ravens' success will be how the offense and Joe Flacco develop. This defense is again capable of leading a team to the Super Bowl, but they need the offense to find a rhythm.

Pittsburgh has gone from a team that was too old to contend, to a team that might be the Super Bowl favorite in the AFC. The truth is that this is a good football team, with veteran leadership and good coaching. Ben Roethlisberger is an elite quarterback, capable of winning games on his own.

Defensively, this is still a top-notch unit. The lone concern surrounds the running game, which is something they will need to make a strong Super Bowl run.

No. 1 NFC North

The NFC North has the defending Super Bowl champions, the best of the surprise teams and a team coming off an appearance in the NFC Championship Game.

This is a very strong division, which possesses three teams capable of making a strong playoff run.

At the bottom, the Minnesota Vikings have proven they can play with anyone. This is the top division because of the all-around solid play and the dominance of the Green Bay Packers.

Minnesota is going through a bit of a rebuilding year. However, there is a lot of talent on this roster and it shows with their play on the field. Five of their losses have come with an average of a 4.4-point differential. Basically, this means Minnesota's record could be a lot better than 2-6.

The Vikings still have players like Adrian Peterson and Jared Allen, who give them a chance to win every time they take the field.

Last season, the Chicago Bears won the NFC North and came within one win of making the Super Bowl. However, they lost the NFC Championship Game to the rival Green Bay Packers.

This season has looked very similar to last year. Chicago's offensive line was terrible early, but improved as the season progressed. The offense is still a question mark, but this team has enough on defense and special teams to earn another playoff berth.

The Detroit Lions have been a bit of a surprise, but many felt they were ready for a breakout season. This football team is very talented and is playing with a chip on their shoulder. Detroit has a legitimate chance to not only make the playoffs, but also challenge for a spot in the Super Bowl.

Matthew Stafford's health is going to be the catalyst for this team's success. They need him to remain healthy and play at a high level. Defensively, the Lions have the pass rush capable of disrupting any NFL offense.

Winning the past Super Bowl and starting the season 7-0 has made the Green Bay Packers the clear favorite. Aaron Rodgers is playing at a very high level, and is the favorite for the early MVP vote. Defensively, the Packers have had their ups and downs, but I have faith that Dom Capers can right the ship.

AFC vs. NFC

I currently give the edge to the NFC, as they appear to have more teams capable of winning a Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers are the best team in the NFL, with no AFC team appearing capable of challenging.

At this point, I only see the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots as legitimate Super Bowl representatives for the AFC.

All three AFC teams can very easily win it all, but I am not sure anyone can keep up with Green Bay. Yes, I know that teams like the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans have played good football. However, it takes great football to win Super Bowl titles.

The NFC has other contenders in the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and New Orleans Saints. Each of these teams have the ability to match up with the top three teams in the AFC. The thing that really separates the NFC is the play of the Green Bay Packers.

Aside from the top of the conferences, the AFC features the only two teams left without a victory. The Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins have a stranglehold on the battle for worst team in the NFL—even the NFC's worst teams have played competitive football.

Ultimately, the conferences are pretty evenly matched. The parity is what makes the NFL such an attractive sport.