Every team has played 12 games and the byes are bygone for the 2019 season. The report card for all 32 teams after three-quarters of the season.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals will struggle to improve. And they have numerous challenges ahead as evidenced by getting slugged by the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13. They have lost five in a row and that can’t be ignored no matter how much love and praise is being thrown the way of Kyler Murray. Grade: C-minus
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons appeared to get things going with consecutive victories over the Saints and Panthers. When it appeared Dan Quinn might be safe, the Dirty Birds fell apart against the Bucs and Saints. Tough times in the ATL and a coaching change could be forthcoming. Grade: D-minus
Baltimore Ravens
The most exciting player in football in Lamar Jackson. One of, if not the, best free agent signings in Mark Ingram and a great defense. John Harbaugh has been magnificent in leading Baltimore to a 10-2 mark, with the last victory achieved over the super San Francisco 49ers. Grade: A-plus
Buffalo Bills
The Bills were looking for a victory that suggested they are more contender than pretender. They got it on Thanksgiving against the Dallas Cowboys in Texas. They are 9-3 and while they may not be a threat to go deep in the playoffs, they have shown huge improvement in 2019. Grade: B
Carolina Panthers
The Ron Rivera era appears to have be nearing an end. The final indignity in the third quarter was a fourth straight loss to Washington after the Panthers jumped to a 14-0 lead. You can’t allow 29 straight points to a team that is 2-9 and on the road and expect a return engagement, especially when you somehow wind up with a chance to tie on the one-yard and blow it on four consecutive plays. Grade: D
Chicago Bears
The Bears managed to finish the their first 12 games at 6-6. Not what was expected from a team that won 12 games in 2018. Disappointment all around. Matt Nagy has to hope Mitchell Trubisky has found his groove with a big game against Detroit. Then again, it was the Lions. Grade: C-minus
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals found their way into the win column, defeating the New York Jets in Week 13 after turning the quarterback job over to Andy Dalton. The good news is they won and they still are 1-11 and in control of their destiny when it comes to the first overall pick. Now, all Zac Taylor has to do is find ways to lose the remaining four games. Grade: D
Cleveland Browns
The Browns appeared to get it together in the third quarter, reeling off three wins in a row. However, they needed the game at Pittsburgh on Week 13 and they flubbed horribly after surging to a 10-0 lead. This against a Pittsburgh team that started Duck Hodges, and was without JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner. Back to looking forward to next year. Grade: C-minus
Dallas Cowboys
Talk about a sad season. The Cowboys wound up the turkeys on Thanksgiving as the Bills feasted on them. The 6-6 mark has Jason Garrett on a white-hot seat again. Jerry Jones seems to finally be running out of patience with his long-term coach. Grade: D
Denver Broncos
An optimistic beginning to Drew Lock’s time as Denver QB with the last-second victory over the Chargers. One has to wonder if Vic Fangio will be able to turn the Broncos’ offense up a notch to two in the future to turn many close losses in victories. The team keeps on playing hard and that’s a good sign for the rookie coach. Grade: C
Detroit Lions
Matt Patricia is on the hot seat as the Lions find ways to lose week after week despite being in the lead. The team can’t close anything except the book on another meek season. Can’t blame everything on the absence of Matt Stafford. It doesn’t appear as if he would have made a difference for this team. Grade: D-minus
Green Bay Packers
The warts on the third quarter of the season were big ones as the Packers were road kill for the Chargers and the 49ers. They did rebound with a solid performance against the Giants on the road, which is a good sign. Green Bay always has a chance with Aaron Rodgers in control. At 9-3, this is an impressive debut season for Matt Lafleur. Grade: B-plus
Houston Texans
The Texans finished the third quarter strong with a sharp win over the Patriots. Deshaun Watson was on his game and outplayed Tom Brady. Still, looking for week-to-week consistency from Houston. There are times Watson and his teammates can be simply flat. Grade: B
Indianapolis Colts
Inconsistency plagues the Colts. They lost three of four in the third quarter and four of five overall. The 6-6 mark mirrors a season that is mediocre and nothing more and when you are average you get an average grade. Grade: C
Jacksonville Jaguars
Four losses in a row for a team that once was 4-4. The Jags are free-fallin’ and there is no safety net in sight. Doesn’t look like Tom Coughlin is set in stone for the future and Doug Marrone simply has not gotten this team in the right direction. Nick Foles played poorly since he returned and there is so much invested in him what do you do with Gardner Minshew II? This team can’t afford a QB controversy. Grade: D-minus
Kansas City Chiefs
Andy Reid loves the byes. He gets his team recharged in a huge way. That happened again with Sunday’s romp over the Raiders. He also loves facing AFC West foes. Check these numbers: Reid improved to 25-3 against the AFC West dating to 2015. He also improved to 18-3 in games after a bye, including an 11-1 mark at home, dating to his days in Philadelphia. KC is 8-4 and winners of three of four heading into Week 14 and a meeting with Tom Brady and the Patriots. Grade: B-plus
Los Angeles Chargers
Eight losses by less than seven points after a 12-4 season. What has gone wrong for Anthony Lynn and the Chargers? Just about everything late in games. Philip Rivers has been great but the age is showing. One thing to wonder is if this is the kind of team that could turn the defeats into victories next year? Not this go-round, though. Grade: D
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have to be happy that they rebounded after the awful effort on MNF against the Ravens. That said, they are a far cry from last year and need to win out to have any prayer of a Wild-Card. The bottom line is this season has been disappointing for Jared Goff & Co. Grade: C
Miami Dolphins
For all the grief Brian Flores took as the Dolphins got off to one of the worst starts in NFL history, he deserves a nod for getting the team to play hard and find their way to victories. Look, there still are miles to go and many players to be added but Flores actually has a plan and it is starting to gel for the Dolphins. Grade: C-minus
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota has to hope Dalvin Cook isn’t too dinged-up after having to exit the MNF loss to Seattle. The Vikings stand at 8-4 and have to consider themselves fortunate because they could have lost their previous game when Denver raced to a huge halftime lead. They face three divisional foes over the last four weeks and have to finish strong to keep themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt. Grade: B
New England Patriots
The bar is so high in New England that 10-2 can leave Bill Belichick and Tom Brady wanting more. The defense has been superb. The offense has some issues. Don’t be foolish enough to think this team is vulnerable come playoff time. Still, the team to go through. Grade: A
New Orleans Saints
Sean Payton is one of the best coaches of this generation and by the time he is done of any generation. The Saints are formidable and likely will go deep into the playoffs again. They have an explosive offense and a ferocious defense. Wouldn’t be shocked to see this team advance to the NFC Champonship Game … and Super Bowl. Grade: A
New York Giants
The weather was miserable Sunday as the Giants lost their eighth straight game to drop to 2-10. There is always the hope Daniel Jones & Co. will finish 2-13 and somehow find their way into the No. 1 pick in the draft. Anything is possible … except thinking Big Blue will win another game in 2019. Grade: F
New York Jets
Just when you were ready to heap praise on the Jets. A three-game winning streak, convincing victory over the Raiders and the winless Bengals on the schedule. Delusional tabloid writers used the word “playoffs” this week. Guess what? Gang Green went to Cincy and was knocked on its collective butts. That drops the Jets to 4-8 and is a painful reminder of what to expect every time you get your hopes up if you are a Jets fan. Grade: C-minus
Oakland Raiders
The Raiders seem to mirror so many teams that are able to get it together for a couple or three games only to do the fade. This has been a monster fade as losses to the Jets and Chiefs by the combined score of 74-12 have to have the focus back on the future as opposed to the present, where it was two weeks ago. Grade: C
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles had every chance to catch the faltering Cowboys for the NFC East lead. They had the perfect setup, facing the Dolphins. And they went to Miami and took another “L.” Philly controls its destiny thanks to scheduling but there is no reason to believe this team can achieve. Grade: D
Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Tomlin won’t get Coach of the Year consideration. However, the job he has done getting the Steelers to 7-5 is nothing short of miracle worker stuff. This may be one of the best coaching jobs he has done and that says a ton given the success he has had in the Steel City. He knows what he has to work with and somehow finds a way to mold the team into one that win games. Pittsburgh had best not lose this coach. Grade: B
San Francisco 49ers
The Niners are 10-2 after going 2-2 in the third quarter of their schedule. However, before judging and taking away points on their grade, remember they are two last-second field goals away from being perfect. The caution flag is teams have to win those games to go forward in the playoffs. Still, an incredible defense and team that will be scary. Grade: A
Seattle Seahawks
Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson are simply an elite tag-team. They find different ways to win and know how to break opponents. The Seahawks are at 10-2 and hold the edge over SF thanks to the exciting win when the teams first met. Definitely have the look of a team that could play in February. Grade: A
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bruce Arians and Bucs won three of four in the third quarter of their schedule. That’s good stuff for a team that was 2-6 after right games. The one loss came against the lone tough team, the Saints. That said, there was no reason to believe the Bucs would have beaten the Cardinals, Falcons on the road and Jags on the road in a four-game stretch the way they were playing at the midpoint. Grade: C
Tennessee Titans
Have to give Mike Vrabel tons of credit. He did not like what he saw out of Marcus Mariota and benched the former No. 2 overall pick in favor of Ryan Tannehill. The Titans have won three straight and are 7-5 thanks to the former Miami Dolphin making the most of his opportunity. Vrabel was taking heat when the team was faltering. He deserves praise for what has turned out to be a wise move. Grade: B-minus
Washington Redskins
Bill Callahan and Washington have found their footing and are now 3-9 after victories over Detroit and Carolina. That doesn’t mean the interim coach will be around permanently in 2020. All it means is the team is playing for him. Dwayne Haskins as the future remains a question mark. And don’t expect a 7-9 finish, 4-12 could be pushing it. Grade: D
