Fansided

Here’s what every NFL team’s grade is at midseason

By Rucker Haringey

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 01: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates a touchdown against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 01: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates a touchdown against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 21: Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith (11) pitches the ball to Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson (26) during a match between the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys on October 21, 2018, at FedExField in Landover, MD. (Photo by Daniel Kucin Jr./Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 21: Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith (11) pitches the ball to Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson (26) during a match between the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys on October 21, 2018, at FedExField in Landover, MD. (Photo by Daniel Kucin Jr./Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Washington Redskins

If you expected the Redskins to begin the year with a 5-2 record we hope you made a sizable wager in Las Vegas. The rest of us are pretty surprised that Jay Gruden’s team leads the NFC East at the midway point.

Much of their offensive success can be attributed to Alex Smith being exactly the quarterback he’s always been. The veteran has completed over 63% of his passes this season and has only been intercepted twice. Protecting the football has allowed the Redskins defense to win the turnover battle most weeks.

The fact that Adrian Peterson has turned back the clock on his career has also been huge. He’s already rushed for 587 yards on the season with a 4.6 yards per carry average. No one expected him to experience this sort of success. Credit the Redskins’ front office for picking him up off the scrap heap.

We wouldn’t recommend Redskins fans purchase non-refundable playoff travel packages yet, but you have to like the lead they’ve built for themselves. Being in position for double-digit wins is a terrific accomplishment for Washington. Now we’ll have to see if they can finish the deal.

Grade: A

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