Sportsnaut
All 32 NFL teams have played either seven or eight games, meaning they’re nearly halfway through the regular season. So we thought it was fitting to assess the performance of each team as is. Some have earned an A+, while others are flunking their way to an F. How does your team’s NFL report card look ahead of Week 9?
The good news is the Cardinals were on a bye this week, so they didn’t have to worry about extending their five-game losing streak. However, they’re now almost a full three games behind every other team in the NFC West, meaning the Cardinals have a lot of ground to make up in the second half of their season. Strangely enough, the biggest thing holding the Cards back is their passing offense, and one might argue that Jacoby Brissett performed better in his two starts than Kyler Murray did in five. That trend can’t continue after their bye. But Murray also leads the team in rushing, which both showcases his playmaking ability and highlights the team’s lack of RB depth.
Anyone interested in seeing if a veteran QB could get more out of this Falcons offense got their chance in Week 8, but Kirk Cousins let his teammates down. He also didn’t do anything to improve his trade value. If anything, the Falcons saw why teams haven’t blown them away with a strong trade offer. Once Michael Penix gets back to 100%, he’ll have to find a way to get the ball in the hands of his playmakers, because this group is far too talented to rank 28th in scoring.
Suddenly, the Ravens might be back in this thing. We’ll see what comes of the whole Lamar Jackson injury designation fiasco, but Baltimore is only two games behind the leaders of the AFC North. If Jackson can return to health, Derrick Henry stops fumbling, and most importantly, the defense can start playing better (and getting healthier), then the Ravens might still have a fighting chance to sneak into the postseason yet.
Related: NFL Power Rankings 2025: Week-by-Week NFL Evaluations of All 32 Teams
They’re not atop the division, but the Bills are scratching and clawing their way back toward the top of the standings. This week, we saw them demolish what was a red-hot Panthers team that came in feeling confident after three consecutive wins. Plus, seeing James Cook establish himself as one of the NFL’s best running backs takes a lot of pressure off Josh Allen, which could pay off once the playoffs arrive.
Carolina will have to head back to the drawing board after facing a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the Bills and losing by 31 points. Still, we’re finally seeing strong signs of progress in Carolina, so even a 4-4 start should be appreciated by Panthers fans. Plus, Rico Dowdle looks like one of the biggest steals...
