NFL NFC Conference Midseason Report Cards

Let the games begin as we’ve reached the midway point of your 2023 NFL season. It hasn’t disappointed by any means of the imagination; teams are separating themselves to be dubbed contenders. Whereas the pretenders are still dreaming of an elusive Lombardi Trophy to hoist in February 2024. It’s time to handout grades for the NFC.

1. Dallas Cowboys: As Jerry Jones tells Cowboys fans: “We like the guys we have on our team.” Well… Jerry likes them because they’re homegrown talent he drafted. As I stated after the Cowboys embarrassing loss to San
Francisco, this was a humbling moment. Two weeks later, Dallas is starting to take flight. Putting the big boy boots on and kicking them with stride. QB Dak Prescott arguably had one of his best games against the Chargers
before the bye. Despite bad clock management, he was able to mesh Mike McCarthy’s hiccups.

After the bye, they put on a masterful first half against the LA Rams. CeeDee Lamb has emerged out the shadows and commanding the ball; as any 88 should. Brandin Cooks is slowly gaining his niche in the offense. Defensively, DaRon Bland is a hidden gem and he’s making the most of his snaps. Micah Parsons displayed why he’s a great hybrid linebacker.

Run game could be more in the scheme, but this offensive line is still average to a fault. If the Cowboys can keep this pace up, it could easily be a lighter path to hosting a playoff game in January. Bigger picture: Philadelphia, (no malice needed) NY Giants, Carolina, Washington, Seattle. A stretch where Dallas can close the gap between them and Philly, along with San Francisco. December will be the lightest month, but it’s always dubbed “December to remember.” Grade: A

2. Philadelphia Eagles: Exposed defensively has been the tall tale of this team the last season and a half. What baffles me is how Philly manages to struggle in the first half and barely escape. QB Jalen Hurts has led the
league in interceptions through eight games. Same offense, new coordinator and still some wrinkles to iron out. Running back D’Andre Swift has been solid and will only get better as the season progresses. Wide receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith are easily the best 1-2 duo in football. Dallas Goddert can be a matchup nightmare in the middle of the field. Julio Jones gives Jalen Hurts another receiver he can trust in the red zone.

Defensively… Its almost a given any opposing offenses can score at will. Front four are pretty good led by Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, first round pick Jalen Carter, Nakobe Dean can get pressure. It’s the back end which is going to cost them when it gets playoff time. Darius Slay and James Bradberry are good but can’t go toe to toe with faster and bigger receivers. Slow starts tend to hurt them; but get rolling in the second half.

In the grand scheme of things: Dallas twice (it’s Philly’s homecoming game) travel to Kansas City and play the defending Super Bowl Champions, Buffalo, San Francisco, (NFC title game rematch) head to the Pacific Northwest with a matchup with Seattle. Nothing is given and Philadelphia will have a tougher schedule to play sixty minutes of football. Grade: B-

3. Seattle Seahawks: One thing we do know… Their game travels very well; no matter the time zone, they’ll be ready to play. Currently sitting in first place in the NFC West, Seattle has quietly been good. Geno Smith has found his niche and played well. Kenneth Walker is a running back who runs with authority, and you must stop him at the line of scrimmage. Good offensive line and receivers Tyler Lockett, reliable and dependable since entering the
league. DK Metcalf is a menace and matchup nightmare for smaller cornerbacks. Rookie Jaxson Smith-Njigba is developing and becoming a solid option for Geno.

Defensively… What’s not to like about this defense? Veteran Bobby Wagner looking like he never left and leading the young core. Rookie Devon Witherspoon is having a great start to his career and arguably has been the best cornerback in this draft class. Tariq Woolen, Quandre Diggs are two guys in the back end you need to know where they are. Jamal Adams is finally healthy after missing a couple seasons with injuries. Adding veteran defensive end Frank Clark, who returns to where he started his career bolsters the Seahawks front four. Now with the addition of interior tackle Leonard Williams from the New York Giants via trade; likely won’t make his debut for a couple of weeks.

If they can fly high without the wind straining their wings: Baltimore, LA Rams, San Francisco, (twice) Dallas, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Seattle could win the NFC West and host a playoff game for the first time since 2020. Grade: A-

4. Detroit Lions: It’s a new day in the Motor City; the hottest ticket in Motown has been the Lions. We all laughed and cringed when Dan Campbell was hired and “biting kneecaps” echoed. If you’re a Lions fan, this was going to end before starting. Let’s be honest: the mantra works and opposing teams have to prepare. Led by QB Jared Goff, who everyone thought was done; has played solid football since arriving via 2021 from the LA Rams. Head Coach Dan Campbell believes in Jared Goff and credit belongs to Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson. You can see a balance of run and pass; creativity to get guys open. David Montgomery was having a career year until an injury.

Jahmyr Gibbs will find his role with running the ball; strong offensive line led by Peni Sewell. Armon-Ra St. Brown is emerging as a true number one wide receiver. Second year receiver Jameson Williams has faced adversity off the field; rather it was injury or being suspended for gambling. Detroit can score points and it’s been fun to watch.

Defensively… Aidan Hutchinson is one of the young premiere edge rushers we have. He’s a menace and almost impossible to double team. Quinton Bohanna, Brodric Martin, can assist in getting to the opposing quarterback. Back end is a little shaky but serviceable to stay in games. Free agent signee C.J. Gardner-Johnson is out for the year with an injury. A very winnable schedule for the Lions awaits: LA Chargers, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, (Thanksgiving Day) New Orleans, Minnesota.

The only tough game in the final stretch: a trip to Arlington, Texas and play Dallas in what could be plenty on the line before the end of 2023. Buckle up and let the soulful sounds of Motown serenade for Lions fans. Grade: B+

5. San Francisco 49ers: As the classic jam from Soul II Soul: “Back to life, back to reality.” THEE best team in football started 5-0… Beat Dallas 42-10 on Sunday Night Football… Tight end George Kittle wore a t-shirt which said: “F Dallas.” Since week five, Niners have lost three straight games. Offensively, Brock Purdy has fell back to Earth, along with the Ferrari sports car that’s seemingly in need of a tune-up over the next two weeks. Deebo Samuel has been banged up, Trent Williams playing through injury, and Purdy having light concussion symptoms after the loss to Minnesota. The glaring issue: Niners have played from behind in the three losses. When they’re ahead, nothing to worry about. After Sunday’s blowout loss to Cincinnati, there’s A LOT to unpack. Defensively, Steve Wilks has went away from what works best. Applying pressure from the edge and interior tackles to make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. Second level can’t make plays and the back end gets torched. Kyle Shanahan has been the head coach, not one time sits in defensive meetings. It’ll change due to how bad they’ve
underperformed over the last three weeks. Old saying goes: “here’s the keys to the car. Don’t modify what we’ve already purchased it with.” That would be the overall message to Steve Wilks over the next two weeks. As they sit 5-3, it’s not an easy second half schedule: Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Seattle (Thanksgiving Night) Philadelphia, (NFC title rematch in Philly) Seattle, (home game) Baltimore (Christmas Day) and LA Rams. San Francisco can easily finish 10-7 or 9-8. There’s plenty of time to adjust to the adjustments; but it starts with getting back to their identity. If not…there won’t be digging for gold mines enroute to another NFC Championship Game. Grade: B-

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: In what’s been a solid season post Tom Brady, quarterback Baker Mayfield has been good. One could say he’s found a new home and not a lot of eyes on him. Not too much in asking the former
number one pick in 2018 to be on his best behavior. No pressure, cameras, drama swirling; Baker has been steady. Mike Evans, who couldn’t secure a new deal before week one has been typical, productive Mike. Chris Godwin
has been okay but not great. Offensive line is decent for the most part.

Defensively, led by Devin White and Lavonte David, Tampa’s defense has been typical. Bend don’t break and keep it close to give Baker a chance. Veteran linebacker Shaq Barrett is regaining form after his Achilles injury last season and personal tragedy to his daughter. For a team with a good roster, they should win the NFC South and host a playoff game. In what’ll be a brutal voyage: Houston, Tennessee, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, can the Bucs keep their pirate ship afloat and win some tough games? Long as Captain Baker Mayfield doesn’t get the ship off course, Tampa Bay could be hosting another playoff game in back to back seasons. Grade: C+

7. Minnesota Vikings: To quote the late great Prince: “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get thought this thing called life.” It’s pretty much life support for Minnesota right now. Quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered a
season ending Achilles injury in Green Bay. Already without Justin Jefferson due to a hamstring, Minnesota must stay afloat in the NFC.

Coming off their best win of 2023 defeating San Francisco, the waters of Lake Minnetonka
were calm. But now, heavier winds rushed in and it’s now or never. Offensive line is decent for the most part; considering they’ve played against some superior competition. Running backs Alexander Mattison and Cam Akers are impacting the offense, which allowed Kirk to be successful. Rookie Jordan Addison has shown potential; K.J. Osborn helps eliminate some of the attention on star wide receivers. TJ Hockenson is having a solid year as well.

Defensively, Minnesota has underachieved; but turned the corner against San Francisco. Led by veterans Harrison Smith and Danielle Hunter, Brian Flores has slowly implemented his scheme and guys are understanding it better. Currently sitting 2nd in the NFC North, their playoff hopes will be on the shoulders of QB Jaren Hall, who’ll be making his first start in Atlanta. Bigger picture: New Orleans, Denver, Chicago, Las Vegas, Cincinnati, Detroit (twice) and Green Bay. Underdogs in most of those remaining games. Can the Vikings stay afloat in Lake Minnetonka, or will it sink into the frigid waters and miss the postseason? They’ll need some help and win games their supposed to. Grade: C-

8. Los Angeles Rams: The bright lights, glitz and glamour of Hollywood still shine for the Rams. Despite what’s a rebuild, LA sure doesn’t look the part. The mantra of “eff them picks” paid a price to win the Super Bowl in 2021
and Los Angeles maximized their window. In what’s been an up and down season, you could tell this team is going to compete. The emergence of Puka Nacua has been the bright spot in 2023. Matthew Stafford has looked
average at best and that’s being nice. Cooper Cupp will need time to reinsert himself into the offense.

Defensively, Aaron Donald is near the end of his prime. Can still bring havoc against offensive lines and get to the
opposing quarterbacks. In what seemed like an eternity, Sean McVay is one of the best young head coaches in football. He may not have the personnel as he did in their Super Bowl run, but still effective enough to be decent. In
a very wide open NFC, playoffs are still within reach. Can LA make another playoff run in the second half of 2023? The route to accomplish it: Seattle, Cleveland, Baltimore, and San Francisco are games they need to compete. Really good defenses from each of their opponents. Will this be the prequel in what’s been a solid run since relocating to Los Angeles? Hollywood scripts will be written for the Rams; rather it’s good or bad. Grade: C+

9. Atlanta Falcons: “Never scared” would describe the young Falcons of 2023. In a bad NFC South division, Atlanta is sitting first place, and we know why. For starters, they brought quarterback instability on themselves. Desmond
Ritter has been all over the place and overwhelmed. This has been obvious for weeks and the change has been made. Journeyman QB Taylor Heinicke will start against Minnesota. In what could be a season saving move, it’s the right call for head coach Arthur Smith. Rookie running back Bijan Robinson has been good as advertised; receiver Drake London is a solid wide receiver number one. Tight end Kyle Pitts needs to be featured more in this offense as well.

Defensively, veteran Calais Campbell leads this very young core that features cornerback A.J. Terrell, Bud Dupree, Jesse Bates, and Jeff Okudah hasn’t quite had a dominant performance. Atlanta needs to soar higher and stay in the playoff picture. Can “Hotlanta” turn up the heat in their remaining schedule: Minnesota, New Orleans, New York Jets, Tampa Bay, Indianapolis, the Falcons will need to feast on weaker teams and spread their wings to take a very weak NFC South. Will the city of Atlanta host a playoff game since 2016? Grade: C-

10. New Orleans Saints: In what could’ve been a resurgence for the Saints has felt like it’s floating away in Gulf Shores. This team has underachieved and plenty of reasons why. QB Derek Carr hasn’t quite adapted to his new team as everyone initially pictured. Up and down season, but there’s plenty of time for New Orleans to get it right. Running back Alvin Kamara has returned like he never left. Wide receiver Michael Thomas is finding his niche after a couple of seasons away for injuries. Second year receiver Chris Olave is showing signs of a sophomore slump. All-purpose player Taysom Hill is still making highlights with his trick plays. Rashid Shaheed has been
the bright spot for this offense.

Defensively, led by veterans Cameron Jordan and Demario Davis, you can always expect this defense to keep it
close. Tyrann Mathieu and Marshon Lattimore are still very much top tier players in this secondary. Can the Saints rise out of the Bayou and make a playoff push? The NFC South is still very much wide open for taking in what’s been the worst division in football. The marching begins with a very winnable game against Chicago. Minnesota, Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay. Will the band play “When the Saints Go Marching In” as the playoff push begins? Hopefully, all notes are in tune to make the fans takeover Bourbon Street. Grade: C+

11. Washington Commanders: “Riverboat Ron” has looked more like “Tugboat Ron” to say the least. The misery of Commanders fans has been nothing short of humiliation. Even with new ownership with Josh Harris and Magic
Johnson, Washington can’t escape a loser’s mentality. 2-0 start and unraveled shortly thereafter. Two close losses to division rival Philadelphia; in which Washington could’ve won. Lack of awareness is an understatement with this team. In what was a strength by default with their defensive front in 2022, has regressed in a major way. Ron Rivera has been the biggest reason for failure through the midway point. New Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy has done a decent job with the personnel he’s had. Quarterback Sam Howell is going to give his all each week; Antonio Gibson, Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Logan Thomas, and a makeshift offensive line have done just as much possible to score points.

Defensively… This is the biggest red flag to the point of Montez Sweat and Chase Young were traded earlier in the week. Johnathan Allen and Daron Payne remain on the team to try turning this season around. The secondary
has been atrocious, and this boils down to coaching. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio’s tenure will likely end upon the conclusion of 2023. Along with Ron Rivera, who’s been clueless as to if he can see plays happen in real
time. DC stands for “Disastrous Chaos,” for the Commanders; nothing more to say about a team’s loser mentality. Don’t expect Washington to command wins and make a playoff push. The journey starts with traveling to New England, who have their own struggles. Seattle, New York Giants, Dallas, Miami, LA Rams, New York Jets and San Francisco… Let the final tanking session begin for Washington. Grade: F+

12. Green Bay Packers: No Love lost for Jordan… What’s “Love” got to with it? There’s a whole lot of uncertainty post Aaron Rodgers in the low-key city of Green Bay, Wisconsin. In what’s been little to be desirable, the Packers have underachieved. Inconsistencies on offense; mainly the passing game has proven Aaron Rodgers made head coach Matt LaFleur. Same offense and personnel, it’s the QB play which has failed to take the next step. Year
4 for Jordan and his first season as the starter. Running backs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon have been the bright spot. Offensive line has been below average with all-pro tackle David Bakhtiari out for the season with a knee injury. Christian Watson, Romeo Dobbs have been up and down to say the least.

Defensively, Green Bay has done all they could to be competitive. Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gray, who just signed a four year contract extension worth $107 million dollars. Not too much more to gain excitement for Green Bay. In what could be the worse season in recent memory for the Cheese heads, don’t expect a playoff push until 2024. With their playoff hopes freezing here soon, there’s no guarantee. Upcoming games: Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit (Annual Thanksgiving Day matchup) Kansas City, Tampa Bay. Green Bay isn’t going to finish the season on a high note. Grade: D+

13. New York Giants: Oh… the other New York team who dominated the headlines in 2022 by making the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Everyone was on cloud nine, eating green apples at Central Park. Daniel Jones was rewarded a new contract extension. But the biggest story: running back Saquon Barkley’s future in New York. A small agreement was made, and all looked good. In typical New York fashion, the Giants have been nothing short of watchable. Injuries, bad play calling, and inconsistencies sum up the 2023 Giants thus far. Darren Waller hasn’t played much due to a reoccurring hamstring injury; Jaylin Hyatt is a speedster but can’t get the ball thrown his way. Sterling Shepard is in and out the lineup with injuries. Offensive line is by far the worse in football.

Defense has been average, but not thrilling to study. Second year defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux is a young star in the making, but the losing will start to weigh on him like every other star player. Dexter Lawrence, Adoree’
Jackson, Xavier McKinney and whoever else is still on the roster can’t be found on Sundays. In what was supposed to be a step forward for Daniel Jones… Has disappointed Giants fans and they see why Jones’ play wasn’t going to carryover in 2023. In the grand scheme of things, head coach Brian Daboll has his work cut out to get New York back on track.

Big Blue faces a very uphill battle to attempt saving their season: Las Vegas Raiders, the return of an old friend in Antonio Pierce (new interim head coach); who was on the Giants 2007 Super Bowl team which defeated New England. Dallas, Washington (wear sunglasses), New England, (battle of two bad quarterbacks) Green Bay, New Orleans, Philadelphia (twice), and Los Angeles Rams. Don’t expect any big wins during that brutal stretch. Giants fans can close their eyes and possibly make a wish to draft one of the college quarterbacks in 2024. Grade: F

14. Chicago Bears: Windy city blues have riddled Chicago for the last few years. To say nobody should be shocked, lack of direction would best detail the Bears. Coaching changes, bad draft picks, no real leadership within the organization. For a team with very low expectations, it shows every week. QB Justin Fields has been under the microscope as to if he’s the franchise guy moving forward. For the sake of argument: he’s part of the blame, but not all the way his fault. Bad offensive line who can’t protect him and he’s running around trying to extend plays. DJ Moore has been solid, but even he can’t be at fault. This team had potential and it’s fell mighty short of being a mid-tier competitor. Head coach Matt Eberflus has dealt with coaches conduct away from the field, which resulted in two assistants being removed from the team.

Defensively, steady but not the “Monsters of the Midway” mantra Bears fans are accustomed to. Eddie Jackson has been a steady safety as he has a knack for interceptions. Tremaine Edmunds, their big free agent linebacker signing hasn’t lived up to the hype. Adding defensive end Montez Sweat via trade with Washington either will bolster this defensive line or be a small component to building the future. One way or another, Chicago is keeping all the Bears in wooded areas versus letting them roam against opposing offenses. It’ll only get windier in what’s going to be frigid cold off the waters of Lake Michigan: New Orleans, Carolina, Detroit (twice), Minnesota, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Green Bay. Prepare to bundle up for a frigid winter; as the Bears hibernate until 2024. Grade: F+

15. Arizona Cardinals: As new head coach Jonathon Gannon said: “Do you have guts?” Well, not the way to start your first season in “khaos.” Between the ongoing internal issues with Michael Bidwill, to keep or trade Kyler Murray, only the Arizona Cardinals can answer this. You can’t teach stupidity! There’s no way around it whatsoever and how this team plays competitive is mind boggling. No sense of direction, but they’re not letting this phase them. Only win thus far came against Dallas in week three; since then… Just keep playing and fighting for a top draft spot in 2024. Their offense lacks playmakers who are role players in Marquise Brown, Zach Pascal,
Rondale Moore, Geoff Swaim. Offensive line is below average by default in part of their QB play.

Defense is up and down; while all-pro safety Budda Baker is still waiting for a trade in 2024. Zaven Collins has underperformed and not much to see on either side. Arizona’s organized chaos stems from the Kliff Kingsbury tenure and GM Steve Keim. If you could write a book on how to be stupid, Arizona is it. The desert is beyond hot and will only get worse for the Cardinals: Cleveland, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Seattle. Look for the red birds to nest their eggs in hoping for drafting Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr in 2024. Grade: F+

16. Carolina Panthers: Are we sure Bryce Young is the franchise QB needed to lead this team? To trade D.J. Moore to Chicago and secure the number one pick was obvious. But to think Bryce was going to have an impact is yet to be seen. Frank Reich walked into a situation where this team was going in rebuild mode. To say this has been a flop is undercutting the reason as to why. C.J. Stroud, who was drafted by Houston has looked like the real
number one pick. In hindsight, we could see improvements but for now; Bryce has the worst offensive skilled players. Veteran receiver Adam Theilen was supposed to change life; not quite. Miles Sanders, all-pro running back signed in the off season has been a disappointment. Hayden Hurst has his moments, but it feels like he’s out of place. No true number one wide receiver to give Carolina a boost.

Defensively, Brian Burns was in trade talks but nothing came to fruition. This was supposed to be a kickstart for Carolina in clawing back to being a competitive team. The young guys haven’t earned their stripes yet. Still nursing and learning how to run with consistency. The bass drum can keep pounding, but don’t expect any growling from Carolina anytime soon: Indianapolis, Chicago, Dallas, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Atlanta, Green Bay,
Jacksonville. Maybe in 2024, but Panthers fans will have to be patient with Frank Reich. You can’t rule the jungle without having a strong roar to store order. Until then, let the baby kittens figure it out and grow up with battle
scars. Grade: F-

Those are my midseason report cards for the NFC. Be sure to check out my AFC Report Cards as well.

As always… Stai tuned…