The halfway point of the season has concluded, which means it’s time to take a look at each team’s first half and see if they have lived up to expectations. As always, when grading teams, it’s best to do it on a curve. Expectations provide needed context, which helps shape our mid-season grades. Please note that these grades reflect no moves made on Tuesday before the deadline. With that in mind, let’s dive into our WCG Week 10 NFL Power Rankings!
1. San Francisco 49ers (7-1)
Mid-season Report Card
Grade: A+
Injuries have continued to be an issue, but the 49ers have somehow persevered. So far, San Francisco has consistently been the best team in the league, and with better health, they’ll be very hard to beat down the stretch. Overall, it’s hard to ask for much more than what we’ve seen from them so far this season, but don’t sleep on the other two teams in this division to make things interesting over the final two months of the season.
2. Buffalo Bills (7-1)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: A
If you were asleep all offseason and didn’t know the Bills made a change at head coach, you’d probably think this was just business as usual for Buffalo. In many ways, it has been, but it’s been pretty impressive to see them pick up as nothing changed with the coaching staff. Quarterback Josh Allen is awesome, but the defense will once again define how their season ends. Right now, it hasn’t been good enough, but they’ve kept winning anyway. Will a deadline move (or two) get that unit heading in the right direction? We shall see.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: A
What’s not to like about the Jaguars right now? They have three wins by 23 points or more, Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-tier quarterback, and the defense continues to dominate, especially in the run game. This is an extremely well-rounded team that shouldn’t be discounted because of the division they are in. This is a Super Bowl contender with a very good roster and coaching staff.
4. Chicago Bears (7-2)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: A
Coming into Sunday night, the Bears were off to their best start since 2012. All of that while missing quarterback Caleb Williams for three games and figuring out the defense along the way. The addition of Jeffery Simmons is huge, but it’ll come down to whether they can start winning divisional games. They should be a Super Bowl favorite, but if they have one weakness, that is it. We’ll see how things go coming out of the bye, because starting Thanksgiving, the road to finishing the regular season is a gauntlet.
5. Detroit Lions (6-2)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: A
The Lions are playing their best football in two seasons, and knock on wood, their defense is finally improving. Losing All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell was scary and a big blow to this team, but getting back both high-level safeties should help. The offense will ultimately dictate how far this group can go, but they are well-coached and have plenty of talent. Don’t sleep on the Lions over the second half of the season.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (6-2)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: A
The Bengals have been hard to figure out so far this year, mainly because of their slow starts. The talent is there, and the defense is better, but can they improve enough to chase down the Steelers for the AFC North title? A lot will come down to how much the defense improves over the last two months of the season. It’s all in front of them, and with the Ravens fading fast, the road gets a little easier.
7. Green Bay Packers (6-3)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: A-
This season started as a disaster for Green Bay, but they’ve found a way to push through adversity and come out looking like a much better team on the other side. Quarterback Jordan Love is playing at a high level, and the defense has rounded into form, despite missing star pass rusher Micah Parsons. Existing in the NFC North is tough, and like the other three teams, there’s going to be little margin for error down the stretch. The good news is, the Packers have plenty of experience pushing through to the postseason.
8. Denver Broncos (7-2)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: B+
Despite a slow start, mostly due to the offense, this is still a very good team that might have its best football ahead of it. The biggest issue has been Bo Nix’s play. Without a step up, it’s hard to imagine they’ll be able to win the AFC. That said, with a step in the right direction, they are as dangerous as any team in the conference. Finding another playmaker on the offensive side of the ball should be a priority, so we’ll see how it all plays out.
9. Kansas City Chiefs (6-2)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: A
Their 5-0 start felt like a dream, but reality has hit over the last few weeks. The good news is that this is clearly a good team. The question remains whether or not they can ultimately win the division. This team desperately needs at least another pass catcher, but if they get into the playoffs, which they should, they’ll be dangerous with the high-level experience of winning the big game.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: A
Color me surprised that the Steelers have somehow been better under Mike McCarthy than they were in Mike Tomlin’s final seasons. In many ways, their defense has carried the momentum. Still, credit goes to this offense, and especially 43-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers, for continuing to play at a high enough level. I’m still not sold that they can maintain this all season, but the last month they have looked like a very good team. We’ll see if it lasts.
11. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: B+
The defense is playing at a 1985 Chicago Bears level, but the offense is bottom three in most key statistical categories. Maybe a change at quarterback (although head coach Kevin O’Connell hasn’t made it permanent) will make the difference, but the schedule ahead will be the ultimate test to show how good this team is as a whole. Adding a high-level running back will help, but without better quarterback play, their ceiling is limited.
12. Los Angeles Rams (5-4)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: D+
In many ways, it’s been a disastrous start to the season for the Rams, yet they come out of Week 9 above .500. Getting back Myles Garrett will be big, but the injuries they’ve suffered on the defensive side of the ball can’t be ignored. If all goes well, the Rams and Seahawks will be fighting for a playoff spot, but this team has a long way to go to find enough consistency to live up to being heavy Super Bowl favorites. If they make the playoffs, it will likely be from a Wild Card spot, which is a tough ask for any team.
13. Seattle Seahawks (5-4)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: D
Are the Seahawks a good team? I believe they are. They have too much talent and too much already established for them to fall off completely. That said, they are in a tough division and conference, and so far this year, it’s shown. The defense is still elite, but without better quarterback play, they are severely capped. All in all, it’s been a disappointing start, but I expect to see them in the playoffs come January.
14. New York Giants (5-2-1)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: A+
Count me as one of the people who didn’t quite believe that John Harbaugh’s presence would automatically make the Giants a good team. I was wrong, and I’m totally OK admitting that. Not only are they leading the NFC East, but they’ve done it starting three quarterbacks. Once Jaxson Dart was lost, it would have been easy to write them off, yet they’ve kept their pace and have played solid football along the way. The Giants aren’t likely to be a big threat in the playoffs, but count this as a “one year ahead of schedule” kind of team, with plenty of upside moving forward.
15. New England Patriots (5-4)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: B
Coming into the season, the Patriots were a favorite regression candidate. Despite a slow start, namely from quarterback Drake Maye, they’ve figured things out and look primed to at least push for a top Wild Card spot. The defense isn’t quite as dominant as last year, but there’s still plenty of time to get hot before the start of the playoffs. All in all, this is still a good team that should get better.
16. Cleveland Browns (5-4)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: A+
Raise your hand if you had the Browns as one of the worst teams in the league coming into the regular season. Most of us did, so it’s OK. That’s why they are one of three teams that earned an A+ in our Mid-season Report Cards. Quarterback is still a long-term question, but the fact that they are in the running for a playoff spot, despite trading Myles Garret,t speaks to the job that first-year head coach Todd Monken has done. Even better, they’ll have a pair of first-round picks in next April’s draft. No matter how the season ends, it’s been a successful first half for the Browns.
17. Las Vegas Raiders (4-5)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: B+
Squandering away a 3-0 start would be hard to swallow for most teams, and although it’s fair for anyone to be disappointed with the results since then, it’s important to remember that the Raiders are a work in progress. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has been much better than expected, and their No. 1 overall pick hasn’t even seen the field yet. They should possess enough cap flexibility to once again swing big next March, but the future should be bright as long as Fernando Mendoza is as good as his draft slot expects him to be.
18. Dallas Cowboys (4-5)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: D-
Despite Jerry Jones’ best efforts, his team simply hasn’t been very good. After trading away Micah Parsons, they should have retool and committed to a new direction. Instead, they made multiple trades to replace him and still fielded one of the league’s worst defenses. Even with their early-season struggles, they still have a fighter’s chance to win a weakened NFC East. Even if they do, what’s the overall ceiling for this season and beyond? This rudderless ship keeps acting out of desperation while ignoring reality.
19. Houston Texans (3-5)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: D-
It’s been a nightmare start to the season for the Texans, and even if things have gotten better in recent weeks, there are still a lot of questions about this club’s ability to make the playoffs. The good news is that C.J. Stroud has returned to his rookie form, but everything else around him has been an extreme disappointment. They’ll have to go on an impressive run to get themselves back in the playoff race, which will likely be a Wild Card appearance.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: D
Most teams would have been sunk after a 0-4 start, especially when that included losing your starting quarterback for multiple weeks. Instead, they’ve fought back, and because of the division they are in, they’re right in the race. That said, the passing offense has been a big concern, and against better teams, they won’t average over 200 yards per game. The continued question about this group is: what’s the end goal? None of that has been answered through nine games.
21. Carolina Panthers (3-5)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: D+
After a big offseason, expectations were that the Panthers would take the next step after winning the NFC South with a below-.500 record. After an impressive start, the offense has taken a step back. The defense has been a disaster, and while some of that can be credited to injuries, something is still missing. They might still be the favorites for the division, but they have a long way to go before they are considered true contenders.
22. New Orleans Saints (3-5)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: D-
For complete transparency, I had the Saints as my NFC South winners heading into the season. Although that’s still possible, a disappointing start was far from what I was expecting. Quarterback Tyler Shough continues to show he’s the guy, but there’s a lot around him that has been less than ideal. Owner Gale Benson has already said the leash will not be long for this regime if they can’t win, so they need to start showing progress soon.
23. Atlanta Falcons (3-6)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: C
All things considered, the Falcons are having a better season than most expected, especially after bringing in a brand-new regime and making some changes. Quarterback Michael Penix has been up-and-down, but overall, I’d say the good has outweighed the bad with the offense. Luckily, they are right in the mix for the division, and you could make a good argument that they might have the best roster of any of the four teams in the division.
24. Baltimore Ravens (4-5)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: D
With Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley done for the year, the season has quickly gone from promising to a complete disaster. There was plenty of optimism for Jesse Minter’s first year and for good reason. More concerning than an offense on their third- and fourth-quarterback is how poorly the defense continues to play. There’s a lot to be determined this offseason with some of their core pieces, but this season is quickly slipping away.
25. Arizona Cardinals (3-6)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: C+
All things considered, the Cardinals have been a thorn in the side of a few teams so far this season. Even in Year 1 of Mike LaFleur, they’ve shown signs of progress, which is about all you can ask for considering where they were heading into the season. Quarterback is the big question here, especially after trading Jacoby Brissett to the Ravens. How they finish out the season might directly impact how effectively they can fill that void in the draft. Either way, they’ve been better than expected through nine weeks.
26. Washington Commanders (2-5-1)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: D-
Injuries have played their part in a disappointing start to the season. Still, this franchise’s inability to surround its franchise quarterback with a good offensive line and proper weapons remains a big issue. Hey, I get it. Dan Quinn is a defensive-minded guy, but c’mon now. Quarterback Jayden Daniels has durability issues, but when he’s played, he’s looked pretty good. The issue in his development is that they’ve completely abandoned the under-center option. Washington’s falloff last year was unfortunate, but so far, it’s showing who they are compared to their impressive 2024 breakout campaign. That’s just not an acceptable outcome.
27. Indianapolis Colts (2-7)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: F
Not cutting bait with Chris Ballard and/or Shane Steichen this past offseason proved to be a predictable mistake early in the season. Ownership changes can be tricky, but it’s clear that Carlie Irsay-Gordon has her own vision for this team, and middling will no longer be tolerated. Instead of delaying the inevitable, they sold off veteran pieces and could ship more off before Tuesday’s deadline. It’s going to be a long rebuild for Indianapolis, but it’s long overdue. It’s just a shame they could have forecasted better before handing out big contracts to Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce.
28. New York Jets (2-7)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: D+
Despite a similar record to last season, the Jets are clearly a better team than they were this time last season. That said, there’s still a lot of close and end-game situations where they simply aren’t finding a way to make it. General manager Darren Mougey has done an outstanding job of accumulating high first-round picks heading into next year’s draft. Still, this coaching staff needs a thorough evaluation, especially if they decide to draft a quarterback with one of those picks.
29. Philadelphia Eagles (2-7)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: F
Losing quarterback Jalen Hurts might have been the final nail in the coffin for the Eagles’ season in 2026, but there have been plenty of issues with this group going back to last year. Similar to the end of the Doug Pederson era, the bottom has completely fallen out of this regime. We’ll see what changes they make this offseason, but the good news is Philadelphia is built to fix this quickly. For now, 2026 is just an unmitigated disaster.
30. Tennessee Titans (1-7)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: F
Hiring Robert Saleh with a struggling No. 1 overall pick at quarterback was always a gamble, and so far, that has not paid off. They’ve been close to winning a few games they’ve ultimately lost, but in general, this team is far behind where they should be. After trading their face of the franchise, Jeffery Simmons, to the Bears, there are serious questions about whether they’ll need to tear it down again, and that will start at quarterback. No matter how you cut it, 2026 has been yet another disaster.
31. Miami Dolphins (1-7)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: C
Heading into the season, everyone knew the Dolphins were in the beginning stages of an extensive rebuild. Even with a bad record, there’s been some good in what Miami has done this season. It’ll take a few offseasons for the plan to take shape, but frankly, they’ve had moments of looking better than some of the other teams on this list that are above them.
32. Los Angeles Chargers (0-8)
Mid-season Report Card Grade: F-
When the Chargers hired Jim Harbaugh in 2024, nobody could have expected that three seasons later they’d be the NFL’s lone winless team. Unfortunately, that’s where things stood for them at the beginning of November. We’ll see if they move on from their refusal to sell, but they have a ton of issues to address this offseason. First, what the hell happened to quarterback Justin Herbert?
