NFL Grade Cards

After 5 weeks its time to publish the NFL 1st quarter grade cards, since everyone has pplayed at least 1/4 of their schedule.
From top of the class to the bottom. Keep in mind these grades are not final and can go in either direction.

Head of the Class

New England 5-0
Is there anything the Pats have done wrong, other than Tape-Gate? Brady has the offense humming. Moss and Stallworth are a gamebreaking WR duo and Laurence Maroney is hitting his stride. The defense already ruthless, got even more so with the return of Rodney Harrison. They look almost bored.
Grade: A

Indianapolis 5-0
The Colts can score and score and score. But the injury bug might get 'em. As it stands now, no one has given them a serious challenge. But if they come across a good running team, they're in trouble.
Grade A-

Dallas 5-0
The Pokes are scoring points at a furious clip, but a shaky pass defense might come back to haunt. As it stands now, Tony Romo is firing darts and TO is a happy camper...so good so far.
Grade A-

Honor Roll

Green Bay 4-1
Favre has shaken off the old washed up moniker and is now the veteran leader of a hardy bunch of young bucks. The problem is that the lack of a running game will sooner or later get them. (See sunday's meltdown against the Bears) That in itself will keep them from going far.
Grade B

Pittsburgh 4-1
Mike Tomlin has made it look rather easy. Good running game and a devastating defense makes for a solid combo. But one cant really trust Ben Roethlisberger to win games.
Grade B

Tennessee 3-1
Another team with a solid defense. If they can win games with so-so showing by Vince Young they will be frightening to deal with when he plays top notch. This team has that tendency to wander off in games though.
Grade B

Seattle 3-2
More of these type of bad losses will get a grade reduction. Matt Hasselbeck has yet to prove to me that he is an elite quarterback and Shaun Alexander cant keep trying to carry this team
Grade B-

Jacksonville 3-1
The most anonymous team in the AFC, they have quietly gotten the job done and won big games. Their defense after getting pounded in week 1 have played well. But the question remains can David Garrard really be the answer at QB?
Grade B-

Tampa Bay 3-2
Had they not lost Cadillac Williams they would have still had a solid B, but this grade may be falling fast as the Colts exposed them for a not ready for primetime team
Grade B-

Washington 3-1
About as much of a Jekyll and Hyde team as you are gonna find. Jason Campbell plays well one week and you think hes ready to step up and the next he plays lost and scared. Actually a dumb decision not to use Clinton Portis late in the Giants game from being unbeaten
Grade B

Middle of the Road

Baltimore 3-2
The Ravens are their usual boring self: great defense, no offense. That might get them by teams like the Niners but in the rugged AFC. It won't get far.
Grade C

Detroit 3-2
This is a team with a grade that is hard to quantify. They play good in spurts, Jon Kitna was sure that this team will win ten. Their inconsistent play says seven or eight.
Grade C

Arizona 3-2
With Matt Leinart out indefinitely, Kurt Warner lends an experience to the Cards that will bode well. As long as he doesn't think the job is his permanently the Cards wont bust apart. Their back to back wins show that they might be turning the corner.
Grade C

Houston 3-2
You're reading this right, the Texans are fast shedding a pushover status and are quickly growing into a cohesive and dangerous squad, they aren't quite ready for a playoff run, but they are contenders for a spot or at least to be playing meaningful games past October.
Grade C

NY Giants 3-2
I'll leave Tom Coughlin alone for now. The G-Men's big play ballhawking defense is cooling his seat off in a hurry. Eli Manning will never be the gamebreaker that his brother is, but as long as he manages games in the manner that he has been. The Giants are a decent team.
Grade C

San Diego 2-3
A team that you cant figure out, they look pathetic against the Chiefs then go to Mile High and destroy the Broncos. I dont get this team, but Norv Turner took a 14 win team and made them mediocre.
Grade C

Carolina 3-2
No Jake Delhomme? The Panthers have no chance in the NFC South if they are counting on David Carr to win games. The Panthers solid running game and defense may have to carry them. The grade is in the middle...for now
Grade C

Chicago 2-3
Da Bears need to find some semblence of an offense. Brian Griese is not the answer, but he will do better than a Wreck...Except for a 4th quarter meltdown versus the Lions the Bears defense has played great but has been left hung out to dry by a sorry offense.
Grade C

Oakland 2-2
The Raid-uhs are better than most would have thought they would be. Daunte Culpepper gives this team a swagger and their solid defense will keep them in games. 8-8 is not unrealistic here
Grade C

Philadelphia 1-4
Maddeningly inconsistent, and in the tough NFC East that is a prescription for disaster. Donovan McNabb is playing his way out of town and Andy Reid might follow
Grade C-


Cincinnati 1-3
So much promise and so much disappointment. Carson Palmer's stellar play is the only thing keeping this team from being further back in the class.
Grade C-


Buffalo 1-4
JP Losman has lost his job to Trent Edwards, but MarShawn Lynch has capably replaced Willis McGahee and the defense has played decent. But the AFC East is too rugged for a young team like this,
Grade C-

Kansas City 2-2
The Chiefs did some serious work to improve their grade, but this is a team that lacks an idenitity and a decent defense cannot continue to support a weak offense. The offenses that they will face in the coming weeks may bear that paninful fact out.
Grade C-

NY Jets 1-4
Man genius is turning into a Man dunce. Chad Pennington has gone back to inconsistent land. They might steal some games here and there but their grade so far is poor.
Grade C-

Cleveland 2-3
The feel good game of Derek Anderson's shootout win over the Bengals is fading fast, though the rout of the Ravens did turn heads. An inconsistent team with an inconsistent grade
Grade C-


On Academic Watch

Atlanta 1-4
Joey Harrington is not the answer at QB, neither is Byron Leftwich. This team is just a shell of the team full of promise just last year
Grade D

Denver 2-3
I can never remember the Broncos being this bad, they are realistically a couple of plays from being winless. Jay Cutler is not getting the job done and if Travis Henry takes an exteneded leave due to suspension. It could get real ugly
Grade D

San Francisco 2-3
A team with a rapidly falling grade, they won nicely to start the season and have gotten their heads kicked in after that. With Alex Smith out, they will struggle and wins will be increasingly hard to come by.
Grade D

Minnesota 1-3
A good defense and a good rookie running back is all they have. And thats not nearly enough. They have some promise at WR, but with no real answer at QB. The Vikes will struggle.
Grade D


New Orleans 0-4
Sad to see such a great team fall so far so fast. Games that the Saints would win last year they are finding ways to lose. Losing Deuce McAllister will hurt more than one will realize.
Grade D-

Flunking Out

St. Louis 0-5
To be fair, they have been hit by a plethora of injuries, but when you trust your offense to Gus Frerotte, you are in trouble.
Grade F

Miami 0-5
I cant blame Fins fan for hating Nick Saban. He took one look at this team and bolted back to the college ranks. He left Cam Cameron with barely a running game and the defense got old in a hurry.
Grade F