Hard Count’s NFL mid-season report card: Every team graded, Aussies in action, Super Bowl contenders, MVP tips
AT the halfway mark of the season, Melanie Dinjaski and Laurie Horesh, hosts of Fox Sports Australia’s NFL podcast Hard Count grade every team, give their early Super Bowl 51 picks, MVP candidates, break down how the Aussies performed and more.
SUPER BOWL CONTENDERS
MD: Let’s get right into it with our early Super Bowl 51 contender picks. After nine weeks of football, I’m looking at four teams with a great shot at being in Houston come February — the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, and Atlanta Falcons.
LH: Once we get past Belichick’s Evil Empire, it’s hard to look past Atlanta’s versatile offense, Oakland’s ‘risk it to get the biscuit’ style and the rumbling Cowboys and their quality quarterbacking, whoever that may be. Beyond those four, beware Kansas City and their quality across the roster.
HARD COUNT NFL PODCAST! Laurie Horesh, Melanie Dinjaski and Patrick Stack whip around the action from Week 9 as Oakland and San Diego make a statement, kickers get tricky, Detroit leave it late, and players get ejected!
VIDEO: KICKER’S EMBARRASSING RABONA FAIL
VIDEO: NFL PLAYER EJECTED FOR TOWEL THROWING
BIGGEST SURPRISE
MD: Washington wide receiver Jamison Crowder (4 TDS, 500 YDS, 1PRTD). In just his second year in the league, Crowder is the top receiving target for Washington. In his rookie year he had two touchdowns and 604 yards for the entire year and he’s already on track to easily surpass that halfway through this season. He’s obviously found a great connection with quarterback Kirk Cousins, but few expected Crowder to be so productive this season. He’s done a brilliant job though, especially in picking up the slack left by Jordan Reed’s absence in Week 6 and 7.
LH: San Diego’s Melvin Gordon 2.0. A year after failing to visit the end zone, the Wisconsin product has kept the scoreboard turning and the chains moving with ridiculous ease, tallying over 1000 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns already. Running with authority, explosion and determination, you’d never know he was coming off off-season microfracture surgery. It’s been a pleasure to watch this thoroughbred tailback in full flight.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
MD: Jared Goff. From being the no.1 draft pick and the name on everybody’s lips as the Rams arrived in LA, the University of California product is still yet to have a regular season snap in the NFL. Rams coach Jeff Fisher still opting to keep him under wraps and develop, but Case Keenum isn’t exactly lighting it up...
LH: Arizona’s offensive woes. Quarterback Carson Palmer isn’t as accurate as he was in a near-MVP 2015 campaign, Michael Floyd forgot how to play wide receiver and the line has disintegrated in front of our eyes. Even a coach of Bruce Arians’ calibre faces a tall order throwing his way out of this decline.
BEST ROOKIE
MD: There are a handful of really good rookies this year, but for the difficulty of the position and the responsibility and hype he was carrying coming into his first year, my pick for the best rookie through nine weeks is with Philadelphia quarterback Carson Wentz (9TDs, 3 INT, 1526 YDS). The Eagles clearly saw a lot of promise in Wentz when they traded away Sam Bradford to get the North Dakota State product at second overall in the draft. No-one had great expectations for Philly this season though. It was thought to be a rebuilding year. Yet they stunned the league with a 3-0 start, and Wentz was at the heart of it. Their fierce defence helped him of course, but Wentz proved to be a reliable starter. He managed to do pretty well with limited receiving options, and his play calling at the line of scrimmage showed maturity beyond his years. Still could improve with his deep throws and ball security, but overall, he’s given Eagles fans hope to make playoffs for the first time since 2013.
LH: I have to disagree on this. If there’s a quarterback to pick here it’s Dallas’ Dak Prescott and it’s not particularly close, but that’s still not the choice. No rookie is performing at the elite level of their position like Ezekiel Elliott, who leads the league in rushing with 891 yards through 8 games. The rampaging rusher out of Ohio State has been as good as advertised, capitalising on a dominant Cowboys line to set the tone for the Dallas offense. Despite no shortage of self-confidence, Elliott has little hesitancy launching into the dirty work as well, providing continuous blitz pick-ups to help the hog-mollies up front and give precious extra time for roommate Prescott. Honourable mention to his college teammate Joey Bosa, who may be Zeke’s biggest threat hitting the ground running off the edge in San Diego.
BEST COACH
MD: Can’t look past ‘Black’ Jack Del Rio in Oakland. Knows when to hold ‘em, knows when to fold ‘em. Behind a young quarterback he trusts and a team that adore him, Del Rio has led the Raiders to a strong start in the first half of the season. Just hope he has a word to his players about discipline because 23 flags in a single game in Week 8? That’s just embarrassing.
LH: A few weeks ago Mike Zimmer would’ve walked onto stage for this award, but as the Vikings sink that Raiders ride high, and I agree with my cohort that Jack Del Rio is the choice. Embracing the gambler within, the former Jaguars head coach is enjoying the benefit of having a young franchise quarterback at his disposal for the first time. With Oakland adding a little defensive stoutness to the mix over the past two weeks, a more complete team is set to emerge from the dramatic, last-minute winners that graced our screens in the opening weeks.
MVP CANDIDATES
MD: Matt Ryan and Tom Brady top my picks. What Brady has been able to accomplish in four games is incredible. Few quarterbacks are able to come in mid-season like that and find their rhythm at all, let alone find it so quickly as Brady has. With the four-game suspension served for the ‘Deflategate scandal’ I can understand the argument that he should be ineligible for the MVP nod, but his production is hard to ignore (12 TDs, 0 INT, 1,319 YDS, 133.9 RTG). And the scary thing is there’s no sign of slowing down, only gaining momentum. Ryan is equally deserving of being in MVP talk. He’s been key to the Falcons’ unstoppable offense so far this season. Ryan leads the league in touchdowns (23) and passing yards (2,980) with a passer rating of 119. Enough said.
LH: Tom Brady’s chances take a hit with just how successful New England quarterbacks were in his absence, so for me, this one falls between Atlanta’s Matt Ryan — who has excelled to career best form — and Andrew Luck, who is the sole reason the Colts have a fair chance of topping the AFC South. His accuracy, anticipation and toughness in the pocket are back to the form we saw a couple years ago, while Ryan is growing within Kyle Shanahan’s offense, utilising a variety of match-up weapons beyond Julio Jones to take the Falcons into Super Bowl reckoning. This season could see a new face named the league’s most valuable, with a wide open playoff race giving us narratives aplenty.
AUSSIES IN THE NFL GRADED
Jordan Berry — Pittsburgh Steelers, Punter
Berry is doing pretty well in his second year in the league, and is set to beat last year’s stats in average, total yards, and inside 20s. He ranks 11th in the NFL in net punting average (41.1 yards) and is in the top 10 for most punts downed inside 20 (15). Strong leg, backed up by a decent coverage unit. Grade: A
Brad Wing — New York Giants, Punter
Wing is having a great season with the Giants. He’s currently got a career-high gross punting average of 47.7 yards and is on track for more punting yards in a single season than he’s ever had in his three-year NFL career. His performance was rewarded in July this year with a handy three-year contract extension worth $US6.45 million. Grade: A-
Adam Gotsis — Denver Broncos, Defensive Tackle
The rookie hasn’t gotten much of a chance to showcase his skills, and of course, he’s still learning and adjusting to the 5-tech position in the pros. From 59 snaps, he’s had 5 assisted tackles. Could get more game time in coming weeks with Derek Wolfe out injured though. Grade: C+
Lachlan Edwards — New York Jets, Punter
It’s been a mixed season for the rookie punter. Had a muffed punt that resulted in an opposition touchdown, that was the low point, but there’s been promising signs too. Less than half of his punts have been returned, and 13 of his 40 punts have been downed inside the 20 yard line. He’ll want to see his net average improve (currently 37.7 yards) in the second half of the season. Grade: B-
HARD COUNT NFL PODCAST! Mid-Season Extravaganza, featuring a chat with former San Francisco 49er Jarryd Hayne!
EVERY NFL TEAM GRADED
AFC EAST
New England Patriots (7-1)
LH: They weathered the early season quarterback turbulence as well as could be expected and now have an offense able to cause match-up nightmares for almost any opponent. One question mark remains — how does this defence stand up in a shootout? Grade: A-
MD: Tom Brady helped his backups limp to a 3-1 start without him during his four-game Deflategate suspension, but since he’s returned, the quarterback has taken this team to the next level and put them in prime position for another deep playoff run. The addition of Chris Hogan and Martellus Bennett has increased the passing corps in New England from the regular stable of Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and pass-catching backs James White and Dion Lewis, causing quite the headache for opposing teams. Grade: A
Buffalo Bills (4-5)
MD: Young quarterback Tyrod Taylor has been excellent with limited weapons at his disposal, and the Bills defence has been much-improved through half the season. I don’t think they’ll be much of a contender at the point end of the season, but there could be something cooking for next season. Grade: B-
LH: Rallied from a poor start in typical Rex Ryan fashion — with plenty of noise and bravado. If receiver Sammy Watkins can return healthy soon to aid the offense, the Bills are balanced enough to pack the wagons for the playoffs.Extra points for resilience. Grade: B
Miami Dolphins (4-4)
LH: Speaking of writing teams off too early, we found out why running back Jay Ajayi was pouting on the sidelines through the preseason. He knew he was sitting on 200-yard game talent. Credit to first-year coach Adam Gase for recognising his offense’s strengths and moulding the game plan to them. Grade: B
MD: Getting the offensive line in order has done wonders for the Dolphins in recent weeks. Ajayi has been a revelation for the team, and quarterback Ryan Tannehill has had the pressure taken off him allowing him to manage games better. Would like to see their defence do a bit more considering how much they’ve spent on players. Grade: B-
New York Jets (3-6)
LH: Utter disappointment. What should have been one of the league’s most entertaining offenses, stagnated amid injuries and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s return to mediocrity. Now with an offensive line falling apart and a secondary gone missing, a top five pick could be headed to Gang Green. Grade: D-
MD: There was potential for this team to be decent this year. But once again, the Jets have failed to meet expectations and are on track for a losing season. Fitzpatrick’s form on the field and in front of the media have been worrying, and not a sign of a team that is operating as one. Running back Matt Forte the rare bright spark. Grade: D
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos (6-3)
LH: With their running game and run defence struggling, there’s too much pressure on the shoulders of first-year starter Trevor Siemian to put up points. They have the quality to shut down any passing game and will need to if they’re to emerge from the west. Grade: B
MD: They were always going to struggle a little bit, having lost Peyton Manning and their back-up Brock Osweiler. It thrust Siemian into the starting role and though he began the season in good nick, he quickly learned how tough it is to sustain that week in, week out. Running back The loss of C.J. Anderson is a big blow and puts more pressure on their high-calibre defence to stand tall. Grade: B+
Oakland Raiders (7-2)
LH: While some of their wins have been jammy to say the best, much can be said for their ability to find a way to just win. That doesn’t change the performance but it does change the culture in Oakland. Behind quarterback Derek Carr and defensive unit Khalil Mack they could meet the Patriots in the AFC title game. Grade: B+
MD: For the first time since 2002 it looks like the Raiders will be in the playoffs. If they can continue on this trajectory, playing gritty, ballsy, don’t-matter-how-you-win-just-win type of football, I’ve no doubt they’ll be there. Some questions arise about their ability to stop teams with potent offenses, but still, exciting times ahead for the silver and black. Grade: A-
Kansas City Chiefs (6-2)
LH: You won’t hear them talked about on TV, but coach Andy Reid has his conservative offense and aggressive defence rolling towards the playoffs. No team will receive a boost like defensive stud Justin Houston for the run home, a true game changer. Grade: B+
MD: They’ve definitely snuck under the radar a little bit this season. Have the run game (when healthy) and the defensive unit is solid, but want to see quarterback Alex Smith air it out a little more, use some of his receivers a bit more, including tight end, Travis Kelce. Grade: B
San Diego Chargers (4-5)
MD: One of the best losing record teams in the league.Quarterback Philip Rivers is in scary good form, and has been supported by Melvin Gordon churning out rushing yards like he’s the iguana being chased by a horde of snakes in that viral video. You know the one?
LH: Yeh, it’s incredible.
MD: That’s Melvin Gordon. Still sometimes prone to fumble, but for the most part, had a brilliant second season in the NFL. San Diego as a whole are super fun this year. Grade: B
LH: If you can’t enjoy San Diego football, I can’t help you, friend. Somehow overcoming numerous injuries to their defence, the Chargers have managed to limit points let in while Rivers has made a star out of Tyrell Williams and Gordon has exploded. Grade: B
AFC NORTH
Pittsburgh Steelers (4-4)
MD: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is a little banged up at the halfway point of the season, which is nothing new for Big Ben. He’s back now though and with him healthy, the one-two running back punch of LeVeon Bell and DeAngelo Williams, and future Hall of Fame receiver Antonio Brown in tow, this team is an intimidating offensive force. Regardless of their sometimes questionable defence, they’ll hit their straps in the latter half of the season and should be in the playoff frame. Grade: B+
LH: Big Ben clearly came back too early from his knee injury and it may be several weeks before this offense is back to it’s explosive best. The return of several defensive stars should prime the Steelers for a second half sprint. Grade: B-
Cincinnati Bengals (3-4-1)
MD: Easy losses to the Patriots, Cowboys, Broncos, and Steelers tells you everything you need to know. Are they one of the more quality teams in the league? Absolutely. Their offense is stacked and should be far more productive than they are. Can they challenge against the Super Bowl calibre teams in the league this season? Can they grind out the tough contests and find a way to win with a killer instinct? Sadly, no. Grade: B-
LH: The loss of offensive co-ordinator Hue Jackson has weighed heavily on their production with some of quarterback Andy Dalton’s better play hampered by a line on the decline. This team does have the talent to catch fire and reclaim the north. Grade: C+
Baltimore Ravens (4-4)
MD: Average team. A solid defence is all that’s keeping their heads above water. Grade: C+
LH: Somehow general manager Ozzie Newsome has crafted together a tough veteran defence while quarterback Joe Flacco and his offensive unit have taken steps back each week. It won’t be pretty, but it could be enough to land the Ravens back in the playoff mix. Grade: B
Cleveland Browns (0-9)
MD: A team with a depressingly constant revolving door of quarterbacks. They haven’t yet won a game, but honestly, for much of the season the Browns haven’t been far off getting it right. Closer than some other teams with a better record than them. They’ll get a few wins in the latter half of the season, and can only hope to build some momentum into next season. Grade: D+
LH: Early friskiness has made way for gross incompetence on defence, and a conservative misuse of young talent at offensive skill positions. Quarterback (one of them) Cody Kessler has been better than advertised but is too safe and green to keep this team competitive. 0-16 are a real chance. Grade: F
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans (5-3)
LH: This team is tied to the anchor-like contract of quarterback Brock Osweiler. Despite boasting explosive weapons on offense, he continues to fail in carrying the Texans to competitive scores with their defence hurt by the loss of defensive end, J.J. Watt. The season and future years look dark. Grade: C
MD: Losing Watt early on really hurt. He is such an inspirational member of that team. The Texans threw a lot of cash at former Broncos quarterback Osweiler, though that investment hasn’t looked like it’ll pay dividends. Even with DeAndre Hopkins and talented rookie receiver Will Fuller, Houston are hardly showing much to prove they’re deserving of topping the AFC South. Grade: C+
Tennessee Titans (4-5)
LH: Rebuilding the offensive line has been a significant success and paved the way for the renaissance of running back DeMarco Murray. Unfortunately that’s come in an offense ill-suited to quarterback Marcus Mariota, who has made an art of looking unstoppable and unsalvageable in the same game. Defence has been frisky. Grade: C+
MD: The Titans haven’t made the playoffs since 2008 and I highly doubt that will change this season. Some good pieces there on offense capable of piling on some points, but still not considered genuine threats when up against top opposition. Grade: C-
Indianapolis Colts (4-5)
LH: If not for the stellar play of quarterback Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton, the Colts would have graded near the league’s worst. Mass incompetence in the front office has left the roster horribly lopsided, but it may have strength enough under centre to snatch a woeful AFC South. Grade: B-
MD: Woeful start however the Colts showed improvement by the halfway point of the season. Luck has been able to operate better with the offensive line shaping up, the return of receivers Hilton and Donte Moncrief from injury, and the ever-reliable Frank Gore running up the guts, all puts them in a good position to punish teams on the scoreboard. Defence desperately needs a boost though, as they rank second-last in pass defence, and fifth-last in rush defence. Grade: C+
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)
LH: I’m not sure what’s more disappointing — Blake Bortles’ regression or the wanton waste of talent on defence. As faith in coach Gus Bradley wanes, it’s high time for new hands at the helm to harness the potential on the Jaguars roster. Grade: F+
MD: Another mediocre year for Jacksonville. Promising defensive unit, but their offense isn’t offering anything until garbage time which counts for very little. Time for a total coaching shake-up, maybe even a new quarterback. Grade: D-
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys (7-1)
LH: Few could’ve seen the composed play from fourth-round rookie Dak Prescott coming, but along with a dominant running game the Cowboys have largely shocked the NFC. If they can manage injuries to an over-achieving defence, a deep playoff run could finally be on the cards for Dallas. Looming large is the return of Tony Romo. Grade: A-
MD: When Romo went down in pre-season it must’ve felt like another doomed year for the Cowboys. Then Dak happened. And hasn’t the rookie quarterback been awesome! Combined with Ezekiel Elliott timing his runs and quickly getting a feel for this whole NFL schtick, it looks like Dallas may actually be a Super Bowl contender this year. Romo will come back very soon, pushing Prescott back to the bench, but they should be able to continue their form. Grade: A-
New York Giants (5-3)
MD: An exciting team to watch, but a total coin toss trying to predict a win or loss. They have a great quarterback (Eli Manning) and one of the best receivers (Odell Beckham Jr), but also a really inconsistent defence. They could scrape into playoffs, but it’s hard to see them going far.
Grade: C+
LH: Whether this team is lying dormant or is just plain average is the big question here. Manning and his big-name weapons flashed against the Eagles but consistency is key if they’re to make a run at the much-hated Cowboys. Big money on the defensive line has so far has failed to rekindle the Giants pass-rush of old. Grade: B-
Philadelphia Eagles (4-4)
MD: Started the season in dominant form, but after the Week 4 bye have been on a bit of a slide. However their four losses have been by a margin of a touchdown or less, so they’re not far off. They’ll be competitive in the second half of the season, but some tough match-ups ahead will truly test their resurgent defence and young quarterback, Carson Wentz. Grade: B-
LH: It’s been a half season of two halves. Bennie Logan’s injury sapped the stoutness of their defensive front while Wentz has struggled with decision-making as the rest of the league gets more tape on the early firing rookie. Grade: C+
Washington (4-3-1)
MD: Pretty fair season so far for Washington. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has been leading his men well, their defence has been adequate, and they have a nice emerging top receiver in Jamison Crowder. Some very narrow wins, one loss they could’ve claimed as a W, as well as a tie, all make for an intriguing season, but don’t really think they’ll be much of a threat in the playoffs (if they get there). Grade: B-
LH: Their record may be above .500 but this team has been far from convincing on the defensive side. With injuries and age taking their toll on the offense, Cousins and co. could be in for a second half slide, despite the rise of the slippery Crowder.Grade: C+
NFC WEST
Seattle Seahawks (5-2)
LH: Quarterback Russell Wilson is a shell of himself carrying multiple injuries with Seattle’s offense unable to get out of first gear until he’s healthy. Thankfully the ‘Legion of Boom’ are setting the tone to keep them in the hunt. Grade: B
MD: If Wilson can get healthy, Seattle can develop some serious momentum I think. The pieces are there on both sides of the ball, they’re just a little banged up right now. But a positive is Jimmy Graham, who looks to have finally come good for Seattle, reaching a career high in average yards per reception (14.7). Grade: B+
Arizona Cardinals (3-4)
LH: A capitulating offensive line has turned one of the best offenses in the league into a spluttering mess...
MD: Reminiscent of a crime scene in CSI?
LH: No. Reminiscent of a spluttering Datsun engine. Luckily Chandler Jones and Markus Golden have sparked the defence to a near .500 record and give them faint hope. Grade: C-
MD: Fair. Sad to see quarterback Carson Palmer not quite with it this season. Has the weapons, but just not producing like last year. Grade: C-
Los Angeles Rams (3-5)
LH: Criminal misuse of talent (like running back Todd Gurley) behind an offensive line that couldn’t block a Twitter troll. Please send in rookie quarterback Jared Goff, because the Case Keenum era needs to end. Grade: C
MD: Their win-loss record makes them look a lot better than they actually are. Expect them to fall away big time in the second half of the season. Grade: D+
San Francisco 49ers (1-7)
LH: No, Jarryd Hayne is not the answer. Neither is a talent-poor roster, questionable head coach, nor an uninspired front office. Look elsewhere for good football. Grade: F-
MD: It doesn’t matter if it’s Colin Kaepernick or Blaine Gabbert at quarterback. Across the board there’s problems, but more significantly, there aren’t areas where the 49ers can confidently say they have standout strengths in match-ups. I do not envy head coach Chip Kelly. Grade: F
NFC NORTH
Minnesota Vikings (5-3)
MD: Started with a bang despite the early loss of young quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, but have fizzled of late with their offensive line making Sam Bradford’s life a whole lot tougher. With no great run game to speak of since Adrian Peterson’s injury in Week 2, the Vikings may cop a few more nasty losses if they can’t get their passing offense rolling again. AP’s reported December return will be a boost going forward. Grade: A-
LH: Briefly wrestled away the title for best defence but injuries on both sides of the ball could spell a serious slide in the second half of the season. Grade: B+
MD: That’s a lot of alliteration.
LH: Sibilance, to be specific.
Green Bay Packers (4-4)
MD: Hard to tell what Aaron Rodgers will turn up each week. When he’s hot, Green Bay are en fuego, when he’s not, they are terrible. Some really disappointing performances this year. Can still turn it around, though their running back situation since Eddie Lacy’s injury is a worry. Grade: B-
LH: Oy. Infuriatingly inefficient until Week 8. If Rodgers has indeed found a spark for this offense it’ll need to catch with Green Bay’s pass defence, ravaged by injury. Grade: C
Detroit Lions (5-4)
MD: I still don’t know what to make of this team. They’ve pulled off some clutch wins this season and had also had a few Ws slip away. It’d be uncomfortable to be a Lions fan with a win or loss each week about as predictable as a coin toss. They have a good stretch of winnable games coming up (Vikes, Jags, Vikes, Saints, Bears, Giants) which might put them in the playoffs frame. Grade: C+
LH: So fun right? Matthew Stafford and his merry band of receivers have excelled under offensive guru Jim Bob Cooter — the best name in NFL. They’ll need to perform week in, week out however with the Lions defence lacking any teeth. Grade: B-
Chicago Bears (2-6)
MD: Where to start with Da Bears? We’ve seen more of them than we probably wanted to with four prime time games so far this season, and for the most part it hasn’t been pretty. But there are some bright spots. Their win over Minnesota in Week 8 showed a bit of what they can do when they actually play smart, organised football and each player does their job. Rookie back Jordan Howard has been a fantastic addition with his up-the-guts running combined with solid pass-catching ability a great asset since the departure of Matt Forte. Grade: C-
LH: Best thing that can be said about the Bears’ season is that it puts them in a clear position to move on from quarterback Jay Cutler at the end of the year. Howard should allow the team to build an offensive identity going forward with plenty of questions to come in the off-season. Grade: C-
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons (6-3)
MD: An MVP award could be coming quarterback Matt Ryan’s way after the way he’s led Atlanta this season. Tough losses could’ve gone either way too. Defence questions, but genuine contenders. To quote Kath, I like what I see. Grade: A
LH: A few young pieces are just carrying this defence across the line, which may be enough with Matt Ryan exceeding all expectations under Kyle Shanahan. Grade: B+
New Orleans Saints (4-4)
MD: Quarterback Drew Brees has had a productive season, averaging 338 yards per game (and 18 TDs), through finding up to 10 passing targets a game. The leaky Saints D made the team a laughing stock early in the season, but if they can sure that up, playoffs aren’t out of the question. Grade: C+
LH: An evergreen Drew Brees and his loaded wide receiving corps have a lopsided Saints team still with a shot. If you like defence, just look away. Grade: C
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5)
MD: Wide receiver Mike Evans and quarterback Jamies Winston have been the highlight for the Buccs so far this season. Thing is, that’s about it. Grade: C-
LH: With four running backs out injured, the once potent offense is now one-dimensial. For further reference, watch Backstreet Boys’ ‘Incomplete’ on YouTube. Grade: C-
Carolina Panthers (3-5)
MD: A few stumbling blocks early kept offense plays missing games (Jonathan Stewart, Cam Newton), but even with Newton back and their offense rolling, their questionable defence will not take them to the playoffs this year. Grade: D
LH: Utterly disappointing. What was a championship defence has fallen to the ranks of the league’s worst. Can’t shake the dark feelings from a bitter Cam Newton. Grade: D-
MD: I would’ve gone with ‘Can’t shake, can’t bake’ there, but whatever.
Laurie Horesh and Melanie Dinjaski cover NFL and host Hard Count, Fox Sports Australia’s NFL podcast. Follow them on Twitter: @LaurieHoresh and @MelanieDinjaski