Overall grades for each NFL team at midway point of 2023 season: Eagles, Ravens come up aces; four teams fail

The NFL has reached the midway point of the 2023 season, a step nearer to finding out which teams are going to be competing in Super Bowl LVIII come February. The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs seem primed for a Super Bowl rematch, whilst the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys are a couple of teams taking a look to crash the birthday party.

Through 9 weeks, 15 teams are above .500. The Buffalo Bills are out of the playoff image and the New England Patriots have the worst file within the AFC (most effective team within the convention with out 3 wins). The AFC has 13 teams that experience a sensible shot at making the playoffs, because the No. 7 via No. 13 seeds are separated via 1.5 video games. 

The NFC has the Eagles on peak and everybody chasing them. As for the playoff race, the Minnesota Vikings have the No. 7 seed whilst the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Commanders are a sport again. Regardless of information, the NFL has been complete of parity within the first 1/2 of the 12 months. 

With the primary 1/2 finished, each team needed to take domestic a grade after the primary 9 weeks. So how did each team fare after the midterm examination? It is determined by the expectancy, however efficiency used to be an enormous issue within the ultimate mark. 

The Cardinals deserve some credit for taking part in exhausting beneath first-year head trainer Jonathan Gannon within the first 1/2 of the 12 months. This team used to be meant to be as dangerous as their file indicated, particularly with Kyler Murray lacking the primary 9 video games. They’re recently projected to get the No. 1 pick out, so issues are going to plot. 

Beating the Cowboys used to be their lone win, which used to be utterly sudden. Might be their most effective win. 

The Falcons are within the NFC South race for the reason that department is deficient. They do not use Bijan Robinson sufficient, particularly within the purple zone, and Kyle Pitts has develop into a ghost within the offense. Losses to the Titans and Vikings on consecutive weeks are unacceptable, making an allowance for each teams had quarterbacks taking part in their first sport with the ones teams. The protection remains to be a lot better beneath Ryan Nielsen. 

Desmond Ridder used to be benched in want of Taylor Heinicke. Hard to take this team significantly and not using a just right beginning quarterback, even supposing Atlanta is one sport out of the NFC South race. 

The Ravens are truly, truly just right. Baltimore has overwhelmed Detroit and Seattle — two of the end NFC teams — via 30-plus issues over the past 3 weeks. They are 4-1 in opposition to profitable teams and feature the top-ranked scoring protection, as Baltimore is permitting 13.8 issues in line with sport (the bottom via 9 video games for the franchise since 2000).

Lamar Jackson is also the MVP frontrunner as he is the league chief in final touch proportion, whilst nonetheless an actual risk operating the ball. The Ravens speeding offense remains to be elite as neatly, having a balanced assault with the made over passing sport. 

This is also the most efficient team within the AFC at the midway point. They’ll be examined in the second one 1/2. 

Injuries are considerably hurting this Bills team on protection, although Buffalo is 7th in issues in line with ownership allowed. The offense additionally turns out off, although Buffalo is fourth within the league in issues in line with force and 3rd in yards in line with ownership. 

Hard to forget about the deficient losses to the Jets and Patriots, the the reason why the Bills are at the outdoor taking a look in in regards to the AFC playoff race. Their season might be decided when the Bills play the Eagles, Chiefs and Cowboys in consecutive weeks. 

Hard to inform if Bryce Young is a bust or no longer (it is only been 9 video games), however the way in which C.J. Stroud is taking part in in Houston makes one wonder whether Carolina made a mistake. Frank Reich already gave up play-calling tasks to Thomas Brown, and the alternate hasn’t affected Young from making deficient selections and operating for his existence. 

The offense is twenty eighth in issues in line with ownership and the protection is thirtieth in issues allowed in line with ownership. They do not actually have a first-round pick out to give a boost to after the 12 months in consequence of buying and selling up to No. 1 to get Young. 

This is a crisis of a season for Carolina. The Panthers must be higher, a lot better than what they’re appearing at the discipline. 

This used to be the fashionable pick out to take an enormous step within the NFC, due to the addition of D.J. Moore to be the No. 1 large receiver for Justin Fields. One drawback, Fields by no means evolved as a passer because the Bears were given off to a horrendous get started. Once the Bears allowed Fields to play extra freely, the offense if truth be told stepped forward slightly. 

Whether Fields is the franchise quarterback is but to be noticed. Head trainer Matt Eberflus is most likely on his approach out and the Bears are seeking to give a boost to for 2024 and past. Trading for and signing Montez Sweat used to be a smart move to give a boost to a cross rush that is ultimate in power price. The Bears additionally recently have the No. 2 and No. 3 choices within the draft due to their business with the Panthers.

The 2023 season is a wash for the Bears, however issues are taking a look up. 

The Bengals were given off to a gradual get started as Joe Burrow used to be therapeutic from a calf harm in coaching camp. Burrow is obviously wholesome as Cincinnati has rebounded from a 1-4 begin to win four immediately and get again within the AFC North race. This team is a Super Bowl contender when Burrow is true, as Cincinnati has overwhelmed 3 immediately teams with profitable information to show the season round. 

Cincinnati must give a boost to operating the soccer (thirty second in NFL) and stay Burrow upright (3rd in NFL in power price in line with dropback allowed). This is a special team than the person who entered the season regardless.

The Bengals are a second-half team. They must by no means be counted out. 

The Browns deserve so much of credit for being the hardest out within the AFC. Cleveland had the appearance of a just right team in coaching camp, evidenced via their protection being moment within the NFL in issues allowed in line with ownership and primary in yards allowed in line with ownership. This protection has held 3 teams to 3 issues or fewer this 12 months, as Jim Schwartz is also one of the most efficient assistant trainer hires of the offseason.

The offense misplaced Nick Chubb and will nonetheless run the ball successfully. Deshaun Watson hasn’t been nice, however the Browns offense is a lot better when he performs as opposed to when he does not.

Cleveland has the glance of a playoff team. The Browns would possibly live on the grotesque AFC North, too. 

The Cowboys must be a Super Bowl contender, however they may be able to’t beat any team this is on their stage. Dallas must have overwhelmed Philadelphia, but failed to attain thrice throughout the Eagles’ 30-yard line within the fourth quarter. The Cowboys have been additionally blown out via the 49ers of their first true check in opposition to a just right team, going 0-2 in opposition to their greatest pageant within the convention. 

Dallas remains to be a just right team and getting nice soccer from Dak Prescott, but situational soccer eludes them. This team might be in the end judged in January because the early returns do not appear promising. 

After a horrendous get started within the Sean Payton generation, the Broncos have righted the send with two immediately wins going into their bye week. Payton hasn’t made the Broncos contenders, however he has mounted Russell Wilson (16 touchdowns, four interceptions, 101.4 ranking) and the operating sport is beginning to thrive with Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin. 

The protection used to be abysmal after the primary four video games (they allowed 70 to the Dolphins), however have allowed simply 15.0 issues over the past 3 video games. The Broncos if truth be told beat the Chiefs too!

Denver seems to be at the upswing, although the Broncos must be higher at this level beneath Payton. They’ll be fascinating to look at in the second one 1/2.

The Lions have been hyped up as a team on the upward thrust within the NFC, and up to now they’ve lived up to it. Beating the Chiefs in Week 1 used to be a observation victory as Detroit cruised to a 5-1 get started sooner than getting blown out via Baltimore. The Lions are moment within the league in yards in line with sport and proceed to run the ball neatly in spite of the ordinary accidents to David Montgomery

Sam LaPorta seems to be the following celebrity at tight finish and Jahmyr Gibbs is entering his personal at operating again, extra offensive items and already just right unit can use down the stretch. 

Dan Campbell has this team in command of the NFC North and within the race for home-field merit within the convention. These are the Lions, proper? 

There can have been unrealistic expectancies of the Packers this season, particularly relating to Jordan Love and his construction. Losing David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins early within the 12 months did not lend a hand issues, that have affected all the offense. The protection has if truth be told held its personal, however is not elite sufficient to hold an inconsistent offense each week. 

The Packers have not scored over 20 issues since Week 3, although the protection has most effective given up over 20 issues two times in that span. This season comes all the way down to Love bettering as a passer, in particular at the deep ball. 

Green Bay is not out of the playoff race, however must stack up consecutive wins to get again in rivalry. 

The Texans are essentially the most stepped forward team within the NFL after being the laughingstock of the league because the Deshaun Watson fiasco. Mired in a protracted rebuild, this used to be meant to be the transition 12 months upward with a rookie quarterback in C.J. Stroud and first-year head trainer DeMeco Ryans.

Stroud is arguably a top-10 quarterback within the league already and has the Texans offense as a top-10 unit. He’s thrown only one interception whilst being accountable for the Texans profitable video games. Ryans has the protection at the upswing, too, even with rookie Will Anderson no longer making a right away affect within the cross rush. 

Take away a loss to the Panthers, and the Texans would have a playoff spot within the AFC. This 12 months would possibly the primary in an overly vivid long term for Houston. 

Shane Steichen’s affect has already been felt in his first 12 months in Indianapolis, even supposing franchise quarterback Anthony Richardson is misplaced for the season. The Colts are the one team to attain 20-plus issues in each sport this 12 months, and they are 7th within the league in issues in line with sport. They were given the Jonathan Taylor state of affairs discovered and the operating sport is clicking with he and Zack Moss. 

Gus Bradley’s protection hasn’t been nice (twenty fifth in issues in line with ownership allowed), but the Colts are taking care of the teams they fit up neatly with at the agenda. They actually have a win over the Ravens at the street, the signature win of the 12 months. 

This season may have been a crisis when Richardson went down. It hasn’t. 

Give the Jaguars vital credit towards rising as a Super Bowl contender within the AFC, profitable 5 immediately video games — all in opposition to teams that entered the sport with a profitable file. They have essentially the most opportunistic protection within the league with 18 takeaways in 8 video games, along side the end run protection in soccer (3rd in yards allowed in line with sport).

Trevor Lawrence battled a knee harm and has nonetheless been environment friendly, due to the intensity of pass-catching ability he has to throw to. Travis Etienne is rising as a celeb operating again in consequence of Doug Pederson’s West Coast-based offense. 

Jacksonville is a tricky out for the contenders each week. The Jaguars are a contender themselves. 

Weird to suppose of the Chiefs as a defensive team, however that is their id within the first 1/2 of the 12 months. Kansas City is moment within the league in issues allowed in line with sport and fourth in yards allowed in line with sport, preserving each opponent to 24 issues or fewer. 

Patrick Mahomes remains to be getting the task accomplished at quarterback with the shortage of playmaking cross catchers outdoor of Travis Kelce (even though Rashee Rice is entering his personal). The Chiefs are nonetheless 9th in issues in line with ownership regardless.

Andy Reid’s teams are normally second-half teams, so the 7-2 get started for the Chiefs is bad for the remaining of the AFC. 

Inclined to provide the Raiders a better grade simply because they fired Josh McDaniels sooner than the season went off the rails. Just per week in the past it used to be unsure if Davante Adams used to be even going to near the 12 months in a Raiders uniform, showcasing the mess McDaniels created in his couple of minutes there. 

The Jimmy Garoppolo experiment seems to be to be a failure, and it took McDaniels getting fired to get Josh Jacobs going. The offense nonetheless wishes so much of paintings with the quarterback being unsure, however the protection has held their very own, due to Maxx Crosby.

The Raiders are a large number, but in some way they are 4-5. This team is instantly higher with McDaniels out of the image. 

Feels like this team must be worse than they’re, but that is the curler coaster journey of the Chargers. Leave it to the Bears and Jets to get their season again on course, even supposing the Chargers are 1-3 in opposition to teams that recently have profitable information. 

Justin Herbert hasn’t been elite, however he hasn’t been reasonable both. Austin Ekeler’s go back has indisputably helped, because the Chargers offense remains to be 5th within the NFL in issues in line with ownership in spite of the loss of Mike Williams. The protection isn’t just right, score twenty seventh in issues allowed in line with ownership and thirty first in yards allowed in line with ownership in spite of taking part in neatly the ultimate two weeks.

Hard to gauge what the Chargers are in the course of the midway point. Their second-half agenda (Lions, Ravens, Bills, Chiefs) can alternate the narrative. 

The Rams discovered an rising celebrity in Puka Nacua, however this team is most effective aggressive if Matthew Stafford is wholesome. Stafford has been coping with a thumb harm, which significantly hinders the Rams offense from getting the ball to its playmakers and scoring issues. 

Los Angeles is not just right sufficient to overcome the nice teams and the Rams are not one of the worst teams within the NFL. They are someplace within the heart, however no longer aggressive when Stafford misses time. Kyren Williams’ harm hasn’t helped issues both. 

Time for a rebuild in Los Angeles, whether or not the group needs to head via it or no longer. 

The Dolphins are the most efficient team within the AFC East at the midway point and seem primed to visit the playoffs for the second one consecutive 12 months. Their high-flying offense got here up brief in opposition to the nice teams (Chiefs, Eagles, Bills), which ponders questions how just right Miami truly is. 

The offense remains to be an issue to sport plan in opposition to each week (first in issues and yards in line with ownership), having a balanced assault throwing (first in NFL) and operating the ball (moment in NFL). The protection has already noticed a spice up with the go back of Jalen Ramsey. 

The moment 1/2 of the 12 months will inform if the Dolphins are a real Super Bowl contender or no longer. They’re a just right team, however are they an elite team? 

The Vikings have battled via adversity all season lengthy, from their 1-4 begin to Kirk Cousins being misplaced for the season. They gained a sport with a quarterback who did not even know the avid gamers on his personal team ultimate week. 

Minnesota has gained four immediately video games in spite of the entire early season hindrances it confronted, preserving down the general playoff spot within the NFC at the midway point. The Vikings are one of the worst operating teams within the league, however the protection has considerably stepped forward beneath Brian Flores in spite of the ability discrepancy (sixteenth in issues allowed in line with ownership and seventeenth in yards allowed in line with ownership). 

Can this Vikings team cling on with Josh Dobbs? Their agenda is indisputably favorable. 

The Patriots have been going to be dangerous this 12 months simply by the offseason strikes. Bill O’Brien used to be meant to make the offense higher, but the Patriots are twenty ninth in issues in line with ownership and battle to transport the ball constantly. The franchise can have to transport on from Mac Jones, as he is made deficient decisons throughout the year. 

Injuries have affected the cross rush, and the go back of J.C. Jackson did not make the secondary higher. The Patriots are a foul soccer team and Bill Belichick is out of contact with nowadays’s sport.

Might be time for New England to transport on from Belichick and get started a rebuild. The offense is constructed to win in 1993 and the protection is not just right sufficient to prevent warring parties constantly. This team would possibly most effective win 5 video games (or much less). 

The Saints must be higher than their file signifies, in keeping with the warring parties they performed. New Orleans has most effective confronted one team that recently has a profitable file, but take a seat only one sport over .500 and main a deficient NFC South. 

This is a greater team and it’s beginning to display it. Derek Carr is beginning to get extra comfy within the offense and Rashid Shaheed is changing into one of the most efficient deep-ball wideouts within the league. The protection has been exceptional — 6th in issues allowed in line with ownership and 3rd in yards allowed in line with ownership — whilst recording 18 takeaways. 

The agenda is not daunting in the second one 1/2 both. The Saints must win at least 11 video games. 

Actually wonderful how this team has two wins. The Giants have been content material with dropping via 31 issues within the divisional playoffs, signing Daniel Jones to an enormous contract and putting Saquon Barkley at the franchise tag. The enhancements at the offensive line were not truly enhancements and the gathering of No. 2/No. 3 receivers they signed are simply that. 

The result’s 0.91 issues in line with ownership (thirty second within the NFL) and failing to attain 20-plus issues in any sport however one. The Giants have 39 issues within the ultimate four video games — and Jones is now misplaced for the 12 months with a knee harm. 

New York must rebuild the roster. Hopefully Brian Daboll is not a casualty of the entrance place of job’s errors. 

Losing Aaron Rodgers used to be the only harm the Jets could not find the money for to have, and it passed off four performs into the season. The offense has been a crisis with Zach Wilson since, score thirty first in issues in line with ownership and thirty second in yards in line with ownership. The Jets are sticking with Wilson for 2023, however he nonetheless is not higher than the model they were given the ultimate two years. 

New York’s protection is elite, shutting down the most efficient quarterbacks within the league (Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen). They’re additionally one of the league’s easiest scoring defenses (fourth in issues allowed in line with ownership), which is why the Jets are .500 within the first position.

This team used to be constructed to have Rodgers lead the offense, however that used to be misplaced mins into the 12 months. Amazing this team is .500 with this offense. 

The Eagles are not as just right as they have been ultimate 12 months, but they’ve the most efficient file within the NFL. Jalen Hurts has been struggling with via a knee harm and has been placing up MVP passing numbers over the last few weeks. A.J. Brown is pointing out his case as the most efficient receiver in soccer and the “tush push” is the toughest play to prevent, due to Hurts and the elite offensive line. 

The protection provides up so much of passing yards because of a couple of accidents within the secondary, however the cross rush has countered with key sacks in a very powerful eventualities. Philadelphia is not profitable giant, however the Eagles are discovering techniques to win each week. 

For the second one immediately 12 months, the Eagles have the most efficient file within the NFL at the midway point. Credit to Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts. 

Somehow the Steelers are over. 500 in spite of being outgained in each sport. In truth, they are the one team to have a profitable file in spite of being outgained in each of the primary 8 video games. Pittsburgh is profitable in spite of the offense score thirtieth in issues in line with ownership and an offensive line that struggles to run block and give protection to Kenny Pickett (Steelers are twenty sixth in yards in line with lift and twenty fourth in power price allowed in line with dropback). 

The Steelers have a protection that is moment within the league in takeaways and a plus-eight turnover margin. Want to grasp why Pittsburgh is profitable video games? Those two elements are the rationale. As dangerous because the offense is, the unit does not beat itself steadily. 

Pittsburgh can have a had time protecting this up in the second one 1/2. If the offense does give a boost to, the Steelers might be very bad. 

The 49ers seemed like the team to overcome after dismantling the Cowboys a month in the past, then proceeded to lose 3 immediately. The glass slipper has fallen off Brock Purdy and the offense is overworking Christian McCaffrey, phase of the explanation why San Francisco has misplaced 3 immediately. 

This roster remains to be one of the most efficient within the league, and the cross rush added Chase Young to lend a hand out Nick Bosa much more. San Francisco has one of essentially the most balanced offenses in soccer and is just about not possible to overcome if the 49ers get off to a just right get started. 

The second-half agenda is daunting, making the three-game dropping streak much more essential. 

The blowout loss to the Ravens is a foul glance for a team this is meant to be a Super Bowl contender within the NFC, however Baltimore beats NFC teams like that at the common. There is a few worry relating to Geno Smith and his skill to steer the offense, one that are meant to be higher than 18th in issues in line with ownership.

The protection used to be coming round sooner than the blowout in Baltimore, however the go back of Leonard Williams must lend a hand a run protection that is twenty first in yards in line with lift allowed. Devon Witherspoon could also be rising as one of the most efficient cornerbacks within the league. 

The Seahawks proceed to draft neatly and get essentially the most out of younger avid gamers, which is why they’re within the hunt for the NFC West. The matchups with the 49ers might be fascinating. 

Blowing a overdue result in the Texans did not lend a hand Todd Bowles and his long term in Tampa Bay, which used to be murky getting into the season anyway. The protection has been a big unhappiness, score thirtieth in yards allowed in line with ownership and twenty first in issues allowed in line with ownership. 

The Buccaneers are on a four-game dropping streak and the season seems to be spiraling out of keep an eye on. Baker Mayfield has performed neatly, but the offense will get not anything out of the operating sport (thirty second in yards in line with lift).

The agenda permits Tampa Bay to show this season round, which is able to solution so much of questions in regards to the path of the franchise. 

The Titans did not business away Derrick Henry at the closing date, however are transferring ahead towards seeing what Will Levis can do at quarterback within the wake of Ryan Tannehill’s harm. The relaxation of the season is ready seeing what Levis can do, particularly with the Texans and Colts getting higher this season. 

If the Titans may just get extra takeaways (thirty second in NFL), it is most likely they might have a greater file. This is a difficult team to gauge since Tennessee is so with regards to a rebuild. Let’s see what this team does within the offseason. 

Just when Washington seems to be throwing the season, the Commanders get a tricky win at the street and stay within the NFC playoff image. Washington did the sensible factor buying and selling away Chase Young and Montez Sweat and getting Day 2 draft choices, particularly with a protection that is twenty ninth in issues allowed in line with ownership and twenty seventh in issues allowed in line with ownership. 

Washington would possibly if truth be told have one thing in Sam Howell, as Eric Bieniemy has the offense towards the end 1/2 of the league — with an offensive line that permits 11.1% of dropbacks to lead to a sack (thirty first in NFL). 

This team is not a misplaced reason, even supposing Ron Rivera’s long term is in jeopardy. Washington is aggressive, however a brand new proprietor will usher in adjustments.