NFL Midseason Report Card

In lieu of Power Rankings this week, I am doing a midseason post. As I've said many times this year, I have no clue what's really going on with some of these teams this season in the NFL. But because we about halfway in the season, it calls for a progress report. And in the spirit of last week's Halloween, I'm going to grade the teams trick-or-treat style. Pumpkins are bad, Candy Corn is good. The more of each, the better/worse their "grade is".

AFC EAST
Buffalo (5-3) - A team that may have surprised some, considering Trent Edwards is their quarterback. But the defense is playing well and with Tom Brady out, know they have a real shot of winning the division. GRADE:
Miami (4-4) - Their grade would be a lot worse if not for Chad Pennington coming in right before the season and saving them in the QB position. Ronnie Brown is also slowly becoming a beast in the league. GRADE:
New England (5-3) - Remember when Brady went down? Lot of people said this team was done. Instead, they are right they probably would be. Defense has been shaky but seems to be improving. GRADE:
NY Jets (5-3) - Well, Brett Favre has made them worth talking about. But this team has problems on defense. The loss at Oakland still has to sting but the Buffalo win probably soothed it a bit. GRADE:

AFC NORTH
Baltimore (5-3) - Gotta give props to the Baltimore offense putting up points under Joe Flacco. You knew the defense would be good but the offense has done their part. John Harbaugh doing great as first-year head coach. GRADE:
Cincinnati (1-7) - No one thought they would make the playoffs at the beginning of the year but no one also thought they would be 1-7 right now. Once Carson Palmer went down, so did hopes of a good season. GRADE:
Cleveland (3-5) - The changing of the guard has finally come. After inconsistent play by Derek Anderson (and the whole team), Brady Quinn is here to save the day. Or so the Browns and the Dawg Pound hope. GRADE:
Pittsburgh (6-2) - Just your typical Steelers team. Playing good football on both sides of the ball. And they've been doing it as a banged-up football team as well. When healthy, they may be the best in the AFC. GRADE:

AFC SOUTH
Houston (3-5) - They may try to blame their 0-4 start on Hurricane Ike but don't buy that. The 3 wins have come because the offense woke up. Schaub to Johnson will be a deadly combination for years to come. GRADE:
Indianapolis (4-4) - Manning hasn't looked the same since the surgery. The defense doesn't look the same without Bob Sanders. And the losses haven't been pretty. Tough to tell where this team will go. GRADE:
Jacksonville (3-5) - My Super Bowl pick has played terribly. They looked uninspired and are finding themselves almost out of the playoff hunt. But Jack Del Rio is a good coach. May turn this around. GRADE:
Tennessee (8-0) - Well, we knew this team could run the ball. But that was with Vince Young at QB. Kerry Collins has stepped in and actually made this team better. And this defense is just punishing teams. GRADE:

AFC WEST
Denver (4-4) - The record may not look terrible but trust me, the Broncos are not happy to have just 4 wins. Their offense can put up 28+ points each week. But it's the defense that need to stop opponents from doing the same. GRADE:
Kansas City (1-7) - Three quarterbacks are have started in 8 weeks. Larry Johnson is suspended and Tony Gonzalez wanted a trade. Nothing good is happening here. But Herm still has them fighting. GRADE:
Oakland (2-6) - Darren McFadden hasn't been healthy enough to make an impact. JaMarcus Russell still needs more game experience. But most of all, Al Davis needs to step down if this team wants to win games. GRADE:
San Diego (3-5) - Many thought they would fight for the AFC title. Instead, they have to go 7-1 or 6-2 in the second half to make the playoffs. Oh, and I guess they should be 4-4 if not for Ed "Big Guns" Houchuli. GRADE:

NFC EAST
Dallas (5-4) - Solid start but staggered to the finish of the first half. Losses to Arizona and St. Louis. Romo's injury hurt but the defense picked up the slack against TB. Now, can they stop all the drama? GRADE:
NY Giants (7-1) - The Super Bowl champs are playing like it. The only stumble is against the Browns of all teams. But considering the losses of Strahan and Umenyiora, have to be impressed with their strong first-half. GRADE:
Philadelphia (5-3) - Injuries to the defense and Westbrook are the reason for the 5-3 start. But it could be worse. Andy Reid is working his magic once again. But McNabb staying healthy is the key to making playoffs. GRADE:
Washington (6-3) - Where did they come from? Jason Campbell has no INT. Clinton Portis running the ball with intensity. Santana Moss making big play after big play. Oh, and that defense is pretty good too. GRADE:

NFC NORTH
Chicago (5-3) - Credit Kyle Orton and rookie Matt Forte for the offense scoring points again. But the defense is giving up more points than usual for a Bears team. Plus, Devin Hester is no longer a secret. GRADE:
Detroit (0-8) - Matt Millen fired. Jon Kitna injured. Roy Williams traded. So far, been a lot of bad news around this team. And there's no reason to believe any good news is coming. Daunte Culpepper maybe? GRADE:
Green Bay (4-4) - Aaron Rodgers has filled in great for Brett Favre. Meanwhile, Ryan Grant is nowhere near the same guy he was last year. But in this division, they may be playing good enough to win it. GRADE:
Minnesota (4-4) - The defense that played so well last season is not this season. And the offense can't pass the ball well enough to allow Adrian Peterson to run wild. True disappointment in the first half. GRADE:

NFC SOUTH
Atlanta (5-3) - Mike Smith has done a great job bringing a new attitude to this team. Matt Ryan is playing like a seasoned QB and Michael Turner is proving he is worth every penny of his free-agent contract . GRADE:
Carolina (6-2) - The duo of DeAngelo Williams and Johnathan Stewart has been great on the ground and Delhomme to Smith is becoming a weekly occurance. MVP though is kicker John Kasay, who has yet to miss a FG. GRADE:
New Orleans (4-4) - The record isn't great but the offense sure is. Brees is proving he is the best QB in the NFC each week. The defense though has to help the offense out by stopping teams once in a while. GRADE:
Tampa Bay (6-3) - The defense is playing amazingly as usual. But it's the offense that has stepped up this season. Griese and Garcia have both played well and managed this offense to keep the Bucs rolling. GRADE:

NFC WEST
Arizona (5-3) - It's like Kurt Warner was put back in St. Louis. Instead of Bruce/Holt, he's got Boldin/Fitzgerald. The defense has given up a lot of points though. Something to work on in the second half. GRADE:
St. Louis (2-6) - Granted, 2-6 is not where they want to be but the team is improving. But as far as the entire first-half, it was ugly. A coaching change, an injured Steven Jackson, and even a Trent Green sighting. GRADE:
San Francisco (2-6) - Started 2-1 and lost 5 since. J.T. O'Sullivan has been a bust at QB and Frank Gore hasn't been able to get on track. Plus, Mike Singletary has already dropped his pants. Yikes. GRADE:
Seattle (2-6) - Tough way for Mike Holmgren to finish his last season with the Seahawks with his starting QB going down with injury. And unlike year's past, no Shaun Alexander to fall back on. GRADE: