Overall Grade
B
Can make a playoff push if the offense improves.
Most Valuable
Defensive line
Led by Marcell Dareus, this is a dominant group.
Most Disappointing
EJ Manuel
Former first-rounder was benched after four games.
Overall Grade
BCan make a playoff push if the offense improves.
Most Valuable
Defensive line
Led by Marcell Dareus, this is a dominant group.
Most Disappointing
EJ Manuel
Former first-rounder was benched after four games.
Overall Grade
B
On a roll with three-game winning streak.
Most Valuable
Mike Wallace
Veteran wideout is on pace for double-digit TD catches.
Most Disappointing
Knowshon Moreno
Had one big game. Then injuries took over.
Overall Grade
BOn a roll with three-game winning streak.
Most Valuable
Mike Wallace
Veteran wideout is on pace for double-digit TD catches.
Most Disappointing
Knowshon Moreno
Had one big game. Then injuries took over.
Overall Grade
A-
Atop the AFC at 7-2 entering bye week.
Most Valuable
Rob Gronkowski
Regained Pro Bowl form during five-game winning streak.
Most Disappointing
Aaron Dobson
Former second-round pick has spent six games on inactive list.
Overall Grade
A-Atop the AFC at 7-2 entering bye week.
Most Valuable
Rob Gronkowski
Regained Pro Bowl form during five-game winning streak.
Most Disappointing
Aaron Dobson
Former second-round pick has spent six games on inactive list.
Overall Grade
F
No one expected a title, but 1-8? Embarrassing.
Most Valuable
Muhammad Wilkerson
Versatile defensive end leads a solid pass rush.
Most Disappointing
Geno Smith
Couldn't kick turnover habit and was benched.
Overall Grade
FNo one expected a title, but 1-8? Embarrassing.
Most Valuable
Muhammad Wilkerson
Versatile defensive end leads a solid pass rush.
Most Disappointing
Geno Smith
Couldn't kick turnover habit and was benched.
Overall Grade
A-
Super Bowl aspirations are still intact.
Most Valuable
Peyton Manning
Record-setting QB delivering another epic season at age 38.
Most Disappointing
Offensive line
Potent offense has no star in the trenches.
Overall Grade
A-Super Bowl aspirations are still intact.
Most Valuable
Peyton Manning
Record-setting QB delivering another epic season at age 38.
Most Disappointing
Offensive line
Potent offense has no star in the trenches.
Overall Grade
B+
In playoff race again, despite 0-2 start.
Most Valuable
Justin Houston
Has an NFL-leading 12 sacks for stellar defense.
Most Disappointing
Loss to Titans
Season-opening defeat could haunt Alex Smith and Chiefs.
Overall Grade
B+In playoff race again, despite 0-2 start.
Most Valuable
Justin Houston
Has an NFL-leading 12 sacks for stellar defense.
Most Disappointing
Loss to Titans
Season-opening defeat could haunt Alex Smith and Chiefs.
Overall Grade
F
NFL's only winless team eyes future -- again.
Most Valuable
Derek Carr
Rookie has proven the NFL stage isn't too big for him.
Most Disappointing
State of franchise
Team is 8-32 since GM Reggie McKenzie took over.
Overall Grade
FNFL's only winless team eyes future -- again.
Most Valuable
Derek Carr
Rookie has proven the NFL stage isn't too big for him.
Most Disappointing
State of franchise
Team is 8-32 since GM Reggie McKenzie took over.
Overall Grade
C
That five-game win streak is ancient history.
Most Valuable
Philip Rivers
QB has had to carry the offense at times.
Most Disappointing
Running game
Injury-depleted backfield among NFL's worst.
Overall Grade
CThat five-game win streak is ancient history.
Most Valuable
Philip Rivers
QB has had to carry the offense at times.
Most Disappointing
Running game
Injury-depleted backfield among NFL's worst.
Overall Grade
C+
Losses to AFC North rivals revealed deficiencies.
Most Valuable
Gary Kubiak
Coordinator is big reason offense ranks in top 10.
Most Disappointing
Defensive secondary
Lapses have cost the Ravens at critical times.
Overall Grade
C+Losses to AFC North rivals revealed deficiencies.
Most Valuable
Gary Kubiak
Coordinator is big reason offense ranks in top 10.
Most Disappointing
Defensive secondary
Lapses have cost the Ravens at critical times.
Overall Grade
B
Bengals haven't allowed injuries to stop them.
Most Valuable
Mohamed Sanu
Versatile wideout filled in superbly for A.J. Green.
Most Disappointing
Andre Smith
Penalties have defined the lineman's play of late.
Overall Grade
BBengals haven't allowed injuries to stop them.
Most Valuable
Mohamed Sanu
Versatile wideout filled in superbly for A.J. Green.
Most Disappointing
Andre Smith
Penalties have defined the lineman's play of late.
Overall Grade
B
Impressive turnaround for long-suffering team.
Most Valuable
Andrew Hawkins
Team's top receiver in Josh Gordon's absence.
Most Disappointing
Alex Mack's injury
Pro Bowl center broke his left leg in Week 6 game.
Overall Grade
BImpressive turnaround for long-suffering team.
Most Valuable
Andrew Hawkins
Team's top receiver in Josh Gordon's absence.
Most Disappointing
Alex Mack's injury
Pro Bowl center broke his left leg in Week 6 game.
Overall Grade
B+
Back among AFC elite, with ton of momentum.
Most Valuable
Antonio Brown
NFL's leading receiver has been dynamic.
Most Disappointing
Cortez Allen
High-priced corner has been demoted twice.
Overall Grade
B+Back among AFC elite, with ton of momentum.
Most Valuable
Antonio Brown
NFL's leading receiver has been dynamic.
Most Disappointing
Cortez Allen
High-priced corner has been demoted twice.
Overall Grade
C
Team capable of more than mediocre record.
Most Valuable
J.J. Watt
He's held and double-teamed, and yet he still dominates.
Most Disappointing
Tight ends
C.J. Fiedorowicz & Co. rarely get a look in this offense.
Overall Grade
CTeam capable of more than mediocre record.
Most Valuable
J.J. Watt
He's held and double-teamed, and yet he still dominates.
Most Disappointing
Tight ends
C.J. Fiedorowicz & Co. rarely get a look in this offense.
Overall Grade
A-
Colts winning games they're expected to win.
Most Valuable
Andrew Luck
Leads league in passing yards and TD passes.
Most Disappointing
LaRon Landry
Poor in coverage. Was suspended four games.
Overall Grade
A-Colts winning games they're expected to win.
Most Valuable
Andrew Luck
Leads league in passing yards and TD passes.
Most Disappointing
LaRon Landry
Poor in coverage. Was suspended four games.
Overall Grade
D
Close calls don't obscure awful 1-8 record.
Most Valuable
Blake Bortles
Rookie QB gives hope to a struggling offense.
Most Disappointing
Toby Gerhart
Banged-up veteran no longer featured back.
Overall Grade
DClose calls don't obscure awful 1-8 record.
Most Valuable
Blake Bortles
Rookie QB gives hope to struggling offense.
Most Disappointing
Toby Gerhart
Banged-up veteran no longer featured back.
Overall Grade
D
Already looking toward future more than present.
Most Valuable
Delanie Walker
Veteran tight end is rare bright spot for Titans.
Most Disappointing
Offensive line
Newcomer Michael Oher hasn't done much to help.
Overall Grade
DAlready looking toward future more than present.
Most Valuable
Delanie Walker
Veteran tight end is rare bright spot for Titans.
Most Disappointing
Offensive line
Newcomer Michael Oher hasn't done much to help.
Overall Grade
B+
Exceeding expectations despite recent skid.
Most Valuable
DeMarco Murray
He's running away with the rushing title.
Most Disappointing
Morris Claiborne
Time running out on former first-rounder.
Overall Grade
B+Exceeding expectations despite recent skid.
Most Valuable
DeMarco Murray
He's running away with the rushing title.
Most Disappointing
Morris Claiborne
Time running out on former first-rounder.
Overall Grade
C-
Good enough to win -- when opposition is weak.
Most Valuable
Eli Manning
Settled into new offense and is steadying force.
Most Disappointing
Victor Cruz's injury
Season ended for franchise mainstay in Week 6.
Overall Grade
C-Good enough to win -- when opposition is weak.
Most Valuable
Eli Manning
Settled into new offense and is steadying force.
Most Disappointing
Victor Cruz's injury
Season ended for franchise mainstay in Week 6.
Overall Grade
B
Eagles can make a run if offense picks up.
Most Valuable
Darren Sproles
Veteran can break open a game with one play.
Most Disappointing
Injuries to line
Offensive line hasn't been intact; Jason Kelce missed four weeks.
Overall Grade
BEagles can make a run if offense picks up.
Most Valuable
Darren Sproles
Veteran can break open a game with one play.
Most Disappointing
Injuries to line
Offensive line hasn't been intact; Jason Kelce missed four weeks.
Overall Grade
D+
There's no consistency from this 3-6 team.
Most Valuable
DeSean Jackson
Averages league-best 21.8 yards per catch.
Most Disappointing
Running game
Big gains tough to come by for Alfred Morris.
Overall Grade
D+There's no consistency from this 3-6 team.
Most Valuable
DeSean Jackson
Averages league-best 21.8 yards per catch.
Most Disappointing
Running game
Big gains tough to come by for Alfred Morris.
Overall Grade
B+
Defense is terrific. Work to be done on offense.
Most Valuable
Todd Bowles
Coordinator has defense thriving despite injuries.
Most Disappointing
Michael Floyd
Fourth on team in catches after breakout 2013.
Overall Grade
B+Defense is terrific. Work to be done on offense.
Most Valuable
Todd Bowles
Coordinator has defense thriving despite injuries.
Most Disappointing
Michael Floyd
Fourth on team in catches after breakout 2013.
Overall Grade
C-
Niners aren't meeting high expectations.
Most Valuable
Justin Smith
Provides leadership and disrupts offenses.
Most Disappointing
Offensive line
Unit plagued by injuries and ineffectiveness.
Overall Grade
C-Niners aren't meeting high expectations.
Most Valuable
Justin Smith
Provides leadership and disrupts offenses.
Most Disappointing
Offensive line
Unit plagued by injuries and ineffectiveness.
Overall Grade
B-
They have rarely looked like the team that won Super Bowl.
Most Valuable
Russell Wilson
That 5-3 mark would be worse if not for Wilson.
Most Disappointing
Russell Okung
Getting healthy is key for the left tackle.
Overall Grade
B-They have rarely looked like the team that won Super Bowl.
Most Valuable
Russell Wilson
That 5-3 mark would be worse if not for Wilson.
Most Disappointing
Russell Okung
Getting healthy is key for the left tackle.
Overall Grade
D+
They look like the 2013 Rams. And the '12 Rams.
Most Valuable
Austin Davis
Has done enough to keep Rams in many games.
Most Disappointing
The defense
Alec Ogletree & Co. need to show progress.
Overall Grade
D+They look like the 2013 Rams. And the '12 Rams.
Most Valuable
Austin Davis
Has done enough to keep Rams in many games.
Most Disappointing
The defense
Alec Ogletree & Co. need to show progress.
Overall Grade
D
They're losing with talented, highly paid players.
Most Valuable
Willie Young
Free-agent pickup is putting up big numbers.
Most Disappointing
Jay Cutler
QB continues to make game-changing mistakes.
Overall Grade
DThey're losing with talented, highly paid players.
Most Valuable
Willie Young
Free-agent pickup is putting up big numbers.
Most Disappointing
Jay Cutler
QB continues to make game-changing mistakes.
Overall Grade
B+
Lions contending despite average offense.
Most Valuable
Defensive line
Led by Ndamukong Suh, this group is the heart of NFL's top defense.
Most Disappointing
Kickers
Alex Henery missed three field goals in one loss.
Overall Grade
B+Lions contending despite average offense.
Most Valuable
Defensive line
Led by Ndamukong Suh, this group is the heart of NFL's top defense.
Most Disappointing
Kickers
Alex Henery missed three field goals in one loss.
Overall Grade
B
Team recovered nicely from slow start.
Most Valuable
Aaron Rodgers
QB's command of the offense might be at an all-time high.
Most Disappointing
Run defense
Losing B.J. Raji to injury set the stage for current struggles.
Overall Grade
BTeam recovered nicely from slow start.
Most Valuable
Aaron Rodgers
QB's command of the offense might be at an all-time high.
Most Disappointing
Run defense
Losing B.J. Raji to injury set the stage for current struggles.
Overall Grade
C+
Overcame adversity on way to 4-5 start.
Most Valuable
Harrison Smith
Blossomed into one of NFL's best safeties.
Most Disappointing
Matt Kalil
Left tackle has given up 10 sacks.
Overall Grade
C+Overcame adversity on way to 4-5 start.
Most Valuable
Harrison Smith
Blossomed into one of NFL's best safeties.
Most Disappointing
Matt Kalil
Left tackle has given up 10 sacks.
Overall Grade
F
Injuries are no excuse for five-game skid.
Most Valuable
Antone Smith
Big-play TDs infuse energy into dismal season.
Most Disappointing
Pass rush
Atlanta has league-low seven sacks, including none from Kroy Biermann.
Overall Grade
FInjuries are no excuse for five-game skid.
Most Valuable
Antone Smith
Big-play TDs infuse energy into dismal season.
Most Disappointing
Pass rush
League-low seven sacks, including none from Kroy Biermann.
Overall Grade
D+
Reigning division champs inconsistent in all phases.
Most Valuable
Greg Olsen
Veteran tight end has been the most dependable Panther.
Most Disappointing
The defense
Group is in steep decline without Greg Hardy.
Overall Grade
D+Reigning division champs inconsistent in all phases.
Most Valuable
Greg Olsen
Veteran tight end has been the most dependable Panther.
Most Disappointing
The defense
Group is in steep decline without Greg Hardy.
Overall Grade
B-
Starting to peak after two huge wins.
Most Valuable
Running backs
Mark Ingram leads rushing attack that ranks seventh in yards per game.
Most Disappointing
The defense
Signing and losing Jairus Byrd didn't help.
Overall Grade
B-Starting to peak after two huge wins.
Most Valuable
Running backs
Mark Ingram leads rushing attack that's seventh in yards per game.
Most Disappointing
The defense
Signing and then losing Jairus Byrd didn't help.
Overall Grade
F
The Lovie Smith era is off to a 1-7 start.
Most Valuable
Gerald McCoy
Disruptive force in middle of defensive line.
Most Disappointing
The defense
Pass-rusher Michael Johnson hasn't been a factor.
Overall Grade
FThe Lovie Smith era is off to a 1-7 start.
Most Valuable
Gerald McCoy
Disruptive force in middle of defensive line.
Most Disappointing
The defense
Pass-rusher Michael Johnson hasn't been a factor.
