NFL Power Rankings: Mid Term Grades

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

1. Green Bay Packers (7-0) A+ (Last Ranking: 1) - Right now it is the Packers and everyone else. It's tough to win back-to-back Bowls, but Aaron Rodgers is playing on another level and they have so many ways they can beat you.

2. New England Patriots (5-2) B (LR: 2) - The defense has been one of the worst in the NFL this season, but similar to the Packers Tom Brady can cover up some of their weakness with his strengths.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) B (LR: 9) - The Steelers are 3 just shows there aren't many powerhouses this season. Any team can beat any team, but do you want to see Big Ben and coach Mike Tomlin in December? I don't think so.

4. Baltimore Ravens (5-2) B- (LR: 3) - Thank fact that I keep them this high is generous after their performance against the Jaguars and Cardinals the last two weeks. However, defense win championships and they have the best one going.

5. San Francisco 49ers (6-1) A (LR: 20) - I'd like you meet coach of the year Jim Harbaugh and his unorthodox hand shaking ways. He has put some confidence into Alex Smith and the rest of the team has bought in that they are contenders.

6. Detroit Lions (6-2) A (LR: 7) - No one can shut down Calvin Johnson, but if they can contain Megatron the Lions can be beat. But that's why they are on their way to their first 10 plus win seasons since 1995. Calvin Johnson was 10 years old.

7. New Orleans Saints (5-3) B- (LR: 5) - The Saints have to get better on the road, because it does not look like the NFC will go through New Orleans. When they are clicking Drew Brees and company are fun to watch.

8. Buffalo Bills (5-2) A (LR: 11) - Both offense and defense had made big strides this season. Only the Saints and Packers are averaging more points per game and no team has forced more turnovers on defense.

9. New York Jets (4-3) C (LR: 4) - The Jets show flashes of what has made them a title contender, but the run defense and the run offense need to improve very quickly before they fall out of contention and Rex Ryan has plenty of time for snacks.

10. Atlanta Falcons (4-3) B- (LR: 10) - It has been an inconsistent year for the Falcons, but they are still a team that can play with anyone and not be a shock if they got hot here and win the NFC South.

11. New York Giants (5-2) B- (LR: 14) - Sitting in first place right now must feel nice, but I'm sure they get a little sick to their stomach looking at the schedule.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) C (LR: 17) - Things have looked much better over the last two games and some are already ready to put the Eagles in their top five times. I will wait to see how they fair on Monday Night against Chicago before I do so.

13. Dallas Cowboys (3-4) C (LR: 15) - They have some games they lost when should have won and vice versa. Tony Romo has become a split personality. Lovable and laughable.

14. Houston Texans (5-3) C (LR: 6) - People wonder why they have slipped over the last few weeks and its simple. Andre Johnson has been sidelined and Mario Williams is out for the year. That's there two best players on both sides of the ball. They still may win the AFC South, but Super Mario is a super costly loss.

15. Chicago Bears (4-3) B (LR: 16) - Pay that man his money. Matt Forte has been the Chiacgo Bears offense this season. He already has 1100 yards and without him they be without Jay Cutler because he would surely be hurt and out for season. Forte has given the Bears a chance.

16. San Diego Chargers (4-3) C- (LR: 8) - Ah yes, Norv Turner at his best. They even got off to a 3-1 start and cannot pull away from the Chiefs and Raiders. Phillip Rivers looks like a shell of his former self and it's starting to get ugly in So Cal.

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3) C (LR: 12) - We have reached the portion of my rankings of teams that are above .500, but I don't trust to win on a weekly basis. They have expanded the playbook in Tampa Bay and Josh Freeman has taken a step back this season, throwing too many interceptions

18. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) A (LR: 21) - What a story if rookie quarterback can lead his team to playoffs, but as good as the defense has played I just cannot see them hanging in there. I would not argue with someone putting them in their top 10, but I still hold judgement.

19. Tennessee Titans (4-3) B- (LR: 18) - Thank goodness Matt Hasslebeck has been respectable becuase Chris Johnson has not. A few more weeks and they are still lurking for a AFC South title, it might be time to just hand Javon Ringer the job and see if he can do better than former CJ2K.

20. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) C (LR: 31) - An impressive turnaround after the 3 worst possible weeks to start the year. They have plugged players in and the team has responded. What an insult to Andrew Luck.

21. Oakland Raiders (4-3) B (LR: 19) - I never thought Jason Campbell was the glue to the Raiders success this season, but then I saw Kyle Boller take the field. The Raiders only hope at salvaging this season is if Carson Palmer can knock some of that rust off.

22. Carolina Panthers (2-6) C (LR: 24) - The record has almost been looked over because Cam Newton has  been such a sensation, but wipe your eyes and they are still one of the worst teams in the league.

23. Cleveland Browns (3-4) C (LR: 23) - To be hones, and I know it will shock you, I have not seen that much Browns football this season. But from what I know, I am shocked they have three wins.

24. Minnesota Vikings (2-6) D (LR: 32) - Christian Ponder goes 13-for-32 in his debut as a starter and everyone breathes easy. That's how bad Donovan McNabb was. But in all seriousness, Ponder does look like he has a future.

25. Arizona Cardinals (1-6) F (LR: 22) - So about that 2nd round pick and a starting cornerback? Any chance there are backsies because Kevin Kolb has been brutal. It may be time to Suck for Luck.

26. Washington Redskins (3-4) F (LR: 13) - If only they had not won three games with Rex Grossman becuase now John Beck's the starter and no one needs a quarterback more than the Skins. Three games probably has you out of Andrew Luck sweepstakes. Start scouting Oklahoma's Landry Jones and USC's Matt Barkley coach Shanahan.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) C (LR: 25) - I give the Jaguars a lot of credit because they are still playing hard. The defense is solid and they understand Blaine Gabbert is the typical rookie quarterback, not the Newton or Dalton type. Too bad playing hard won't keep Jack Del Rio in town.

28. Seattle Seahawks (2-5) D (LR: 26) - If Peter Carroll really thought he could win with Tavares Jackson he deserves to be coaching Seattle high school teams, not the NFL team. It's not too late to get in the Luck race, but the defense and home game atmosphere will probably allow them to win 2-or-3 more this season.

29. Denver Broncos (2-5) D (LR: 29) - Tim Tebow playing quarterback is the worst publicity stunt of all-time. Honest to God. Maybe it's John Fox's sneaky way of making sure he is high in the draft order. Fox is too smart to really believe in Tebow Time.

30. St. Louis Rams (1-6) F (LR: 30) - A tough decision may have to be made. Is Sam Bradford going to get better or his this brutal sophomore performance ugly enough to have them cut ties and go after the Andrew Luck?

31. Indianapolis Colts (0-8) F (LR: 28) - I'm not the first to say this, but it is worth repeating. Peyton Manning does not play defense. Sure, they'd probably have a win if Peyton was the quarterback but I think Manning just knew he had no help this season and instead of having a 6-10 year on his resume he just had season ending surgery.

32. Miami Dolphins (0-7) F (LR: 27) - Dolphins are making no bones about it. They want Andrew Luck to be the first real quarterback in South Beach since Dan Marino. They are finally ways to lose games and it's kind of fun to watch. In a cruel and unusual punishment kind of way.