NFL Midseason Grades: Last Monday night’s Chargers-Jets game – assuming you didn’t waste your time watching it – marked the end of Week 9 of the 2023 NFL season and, as the 136th game on the schedule, the end of the campaign’s first half.
This year, like any other, has been full of shocks, disappointments, important injuries, surprising breakouts, barnburners, and duds. All of this is considered when awarding midseason report cards, however these grades are usually awarded after examining each team against its particular set of circumstances, rather than just allowing the division leaders set the curve and failing the cellar dwellers. But no one knows that better than Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
“The numbers are there. It isn’t pretty. “It’s not going to be easy,” Buffalo’s star stated in the midst of his team’s unusual troubles. “But if there’s a locker room that can handle this, it’s this locker room right here.”
Arizona Cardinals (1-8): C-
They’ve effectively landed where many league observers expected them to – at the bottom of the league, with the worst record in the league. But not before battling multiple good teams while dealing with critical injuries, a severe talent deficit, a green coaching staff, the absence of injured QB1 Kyler Murray, and the trade of QB2 Joshua Dobbs. Furthermore, through no fault of his own, GM Monti Ossenfort’s first-round pick gained from the Texans earlier this year continues to lose value as Houston develops. Overall, kudos to a team that could have easily sent it in for not doing so.
Atlanta Falcons (4-5): C
They are a game out of first place in the NFC South and a game out of the conference’s last wild-card spot. Would it have been different if HC Arthur Smith’s (possibly admirable) commitment to second-year QB Desmond Ridder had not veered into stubbornness? Would things have been different if Atlanta had pursued a seasoned quarterback (read: Lamar Jackson) in the offseason? Who are we to judge? However, the defense has greatly improved. And the offense has the playmakers to take off if rookie quarterback Taylor Heinicke can get it going. The potential is there, with the league’s easiest remaining schedule (based on opponent winning percentages).
Baltimore Ravens (7-2):
It’s easy to get caught up in a sixth-ranked offense – and especially a 20th-ranked passing game – even though the advent of OC Todd Monken was intended to open up the airways for QB Lamar Jackson and company. And there have been increasing glimpses of what this attack has the potential to become, with Jackson even prolonging plays – to throw! So, while conceding that Baltimore is the toughest team in the league to score on, has been blowing out quality opponents recently, and still has the finest kicker on the world, let’s set aside any reservations about Monken’s charges still struggling to gel. Who is the league’s best team? Very possibly.
Buffalo Bills (5-4): C
When they win, there’s usually little doubt – but that hasn’t happened as frequently as it has during Allen’s rise to fame. And he’s had to contend with a sore wing at a time when the offense has become stagnant and predictable, and the defense has been destroyed by catastrophic injuries. There is still time for Buffalo to switch it on, but time is running out.
Carolina Panthers (1-7): F
They finally got a win two weeks ago, but that doesn’t cover up what has been a rather dismal season. No club has given up more points, despite the fact that Carolina’s defense has been frequently put in difficult positions by the offense. And therein lies the crux of the matter. RB Miles Sanders was signed during free agency but has yet to contribute. The offensive line has been abysmal from start to finish. And the net result has been negative for rookie quarterback Bryce Young, whose lack of protection has resulted in regular beatings, poor decisions, and increasingly awful reads. And now he has to listen to the second-guessers who, in retrospect, are criticizing the Panthers for not selecting C.J. Stroud first overall.
Chicago Bears (2-7): D
They appeared to have found something during a Week 5 thumping of the Washington Commanders on a Thursday night prime-time travel stage, after a terrible 0-4 start. DJ Moore also appeared to have resolved the long-standing issues at the wideout spot. But then quarterback Justin Fields hurt his throwing thumb, putting any progress on hold. It’s also worth questioning GM Ryan Poles’ decision to spend another high-end second-round draft pick at the trade deadline, this time for DL Montez Sweat – a player who won’t help Chicago in 2023 but could have been pursued, along with superior pass rushers, on next year’s free agent market. Poles most likely mitigated the possible harm by extending Sweat’s contract.
Cincinnati Bengals (5-3): B+
QB Joe Burrow deserves credit for playing through his early-season calf injury, which plainly hampered him and, by extension, the offense as a whole. You have to ask why a team with this much quality couldn’t find out a better method to work around the quarterback’s temporary restrictions. Regardless, Cincinnati prevailed, has now won five of six games, and is poised to reach a third consecutive AFC championship game. At the very least.
Cleveland Browns (5-3): B+
They have the greatest defense in the league. They have the league’s top defensive player in DE Myles Garrett. Despite losing Pro Bowl RB Nick Chubb to a horrific knee injury in Week 2, they’ve managed to keep the league’s third-ranked rushing game. And they’re now ranked sixth in the AFC playoff picture, despite the fact that quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) has only played in half of the games. If he can get into a groove, the Browns will be a very difficult opponent late in the season.
Dallas Cowboys (5-3): B-
Despite the loss of CB Trevon Diggs (ACL) and ugly losses at Arizona and San Francisco, the defense remains among the league’s best. However, under HC Mike McCarthy, the offense has typically declined – and before you refer to the Cowboys placing third in the league in points per game, keep in mind that five of their 23 touchdowns have come on defense or special teams, while rookie K Brandon Aubrey has been a record-setting sharpshooter. Otherwise? Dallas’ 43.8% TD conversion rate ranks fourth in the NFL. QB Dak Prescott and company are monsters between the 20-yard lines, but minnows in the red zone. And a once-feared offensive line is deteriorating. However, don’t rule out a second-half surge, as the Cowboys’ upcoming schedule is significantly more forgiving than that of first-place Philadelphia.
Denver Broncos (3-5): C-
The appointment of HC Sean Payton was rightfully lauded. However, the seasoned coach made a rookie error in bringing unnecessary scrutiny to his club over the summer, and he also made the incorrect decision at defensive coordinator given how Vance Joseph’s unit has “performed” – yielding 70 points in one game and the most yards per game in the league. Despite a 1-5 start, Payton (and general manager George Paton) resisted the impulse to restructure the squad before the trade deadline, and the Broncos have since won two straight, including their first victory against the Chiefs in eight years. And, while Russell Wilson hasn’t been great, he’s a lot closer to the quarterback the Broncos expected to get last year.
Detroit Lions (6-2): B+
They’re on their way to winning the NFC North for the first time. Youngsters like DE Aidt Hutchinson and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown are on the rise, and this year’s draft class is likely to be better than expected. Is there cause for concern? The entire lack of productivity from 2022 first-round WR Jameson Williams in a 38-6 Week 7 loss against Baltimore. Moving ahead, the Lions have an extremely advantageous schedule, and a team that has never hosted a playoff game at Ford Field is in excellent position to secure home-field advantage in the postseason.
Green Bay Packers (3-5): D+
A talented defense has improved since repeatedly failing former quarterback Aaron Rodgers during his final year at Wisconsin… but not nearly enough to compensate for an opposite-direction offense. QB Jordan Love has been constantly unreliable, failing to build a firm claim to the starting job like predecessors Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre. In his defense, Love has received insufficient support from his offensive line and playmakers. Brian Gutekunst faces another offseason fraught with uncertainty.
Frequently asked questions
Is the NFL schedule out for 2023?
Yes, the NFL schedule was revealed on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at 8 p.m. ET. Following the release of the schedule, regulated online sportsbooks in the United States began providing moneylines, spreads, and over/under totals for contests. NFL fans are zealous, and they frequently wager on individual games.
How long is the NFL season?
18-week
It consists of 272 games, with each of the NFL’s 32 teams playing 17 games over the course of 18 weeks, with one “bye” week in between. Since 2012, the NFL has regularly scheduled games in five weekday time windows. The opening game of the week takes place on Thursday night at 8:20 PM (ET).
How to get NFL tickets?
Ticketmaster is the finest site to acquire NFL tickets so you can see your favorite team live. As the NFL’s Official Ticket Marketplace, Ticketmaster offers the greatest tickets for every game, ensuring that you never miss a second of the action.
What are the NFL midseason grades?
- Arizona Cardinals (1-8): C- …
- Atlanta Falcons (4-5): C. …
- Buffalo Bills (5-4): C. …
- Carolina Panthers (1-7): F. …
- Chicago Bears (2-7): D. …
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-3): B+ …
- Dallas Cowboys (5-3): B- …
- Denver Broncos (3-5): C-
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