Season halfway over, and lets have some fun:
Patriots
Record: 8-0 Home 5-0 Road 3-0 276-143 (points)
How can a team coming off a Super Bowl get an A? Easy, win everything thrown your way. After an off-season full of turmoil for one reason or another; free agents leaving, and the constant reminder that Tom is getting older, the Patriots are undefeated.
The season started like a Revenge Tour for Tom Brady, and it has not stopped yet.
Offensively they are as good as any team in the league. The loss of Lewis will hurt, but this team has found replacements at the drop of a hat, and I fully expect a White or similar to step up.
Defensively, this team is opportunistic, and that makes up for some of the lack of talent. Belichick is a master at scheming for the opponent.
The Patriots are the league’s best and have to get an A+
Jets
Record: 5-3 Home 3-1 Road 2-2 200-162 (points)
The Jets had a horrible season a year ago, and as a result they cleaned up the house.
Offensively they are light years ahead of last season. The additions of Brandon Marshall and Ryan Fitzpatrick have given life to the likes of Decker. Ivory has slowed as of late, but the overall year has looked rather good.
Defensively the team is among the best in the NFL. The additions of Revis, Cromartie, Skrine and Williams have improved a unit that looked slow and aging last season. For the second half I expect Lorenzo Mauldin to become a mainstay and a star.
The grade is not going to be an A, because of blemishes at home against the Eagles and a road game against the Raiders. B+
Bills
Record: 4-4 Home 2-3 Road 2-1 209-190 (points)
The Bills, after the best season in years, parted ways with HC Marrone. In comes old nemesis, Rex Ryan.
Offensively the Bills are better than a year ago. The additions of McCoy and QB Tyrod Taylor have given this unit a whole new life. Watkins seems poised to become the stud WR they expected him to be. Taylor has not only added more accuracy to the passing game, but his legs are also a weapon to reckon with.
Defensively they have taken a step backwards. Kind of strange, considering this unit was among the best in the league a year ago, and the new regime is very defensive oriented. Not sure who to blame, but the Bills are giving up way too many points.
This team should be 6-2 right now, or at worst 5-3. The lousy home record at the Ralph is inexcusable. They have underachieved during this first half, as result a C+
Dolphins
Record: 3-5 Home 1-2 Road 2-3 171-206 (points)
The Dolphins entered the season with lots of expectations
Offensively, the matured Tannehill was expected to lead them to that much awaited winning season and playoff birth. The additions of Stills, first round pick Parker were supposed to let us forget Hartline and Wallace. Lamar Miller was going to have his breakout year. None really happened.
Defensively is where the biggest disappointments come from. After giving Suh a boat load of money, this unit was supposed to be among the best. They have regressed even at CB, where Grimes is a shadow of his old self.
Firing Philbin ended up being a good thing, as Dan Campbell injected some life. Just not enough, but without Dan I would have said F, my grade is a D
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