2020 NFL midseason report cards: Bills, Chiefs, Steelers earn top marks

Every NFL team has played at least eight games. How do they all grade out?

A total of 22 teams have played exactly half of their games and 10 clubs have taken the field nine times. So here’s a look at how the 32 NFL squads grade out based in part on performance and expectations. There’s still a lot of football to be played, which means a lot of room for improvement for some while others look to up their games as well.

Arizona Cardinals: B+

The season prior to Kliff Kingsbury’s arrival in the desert, the Cardinals owned the NFL’s worst offense and were dead last in the league in both rushing and passing yards. After nine weeks, the club is first in total yards per game and second in rushing. Quarterback Kyler Murray has thrown more than twice as many TD passes (16) as picks (7) and has run for 543 yards and eight scores. But the Arizona defense must continue to make strides this year.

Atlanta Falcons: C-

The team was hoping to pick up where it left off in 2019 when the club won six of its final eight games (after a 1-7 start). Instead, the Falcons dropped their first five games and head coach Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff were fired (via ESPN). The team has rebounded to win three of its last four contests and quarterback Matt Ryan is putting up big numbers but regardless of who’s been the coaching, closing out games has been a major problem.

Baltimore Ravens: A-

The team actually has the same record as it did last season after eight games but there seems to be more questions surrounding the defending AFC North champions at the moment. Quarterback Lamar Jackson had his issues in the team’s two losses this season, sacked a combined eight times and guilty of five turnovers in the setbacks to the Chiefs and Steelers. The defense has been somewhat spotty but this is a very resourceful squad.

Buffalo Bills: A

It’s been a coming-out-party type of year for third-year quarterback Josh Allen, who has had some lulls but has put up sensational numbers so far this season. He’s thrown for a briks 2,587 yards and 19 scores and also run for five touchdowns. But he also has almost as many lost fumbles (4) as interceptions (5). The Buffalo defense has been a bit of a disappointment after two seasons of making strides. But this is a team that can now win in numerous ways.