New Orleans Saints — C+
An 0-2 start has given way to improved performances, including a very solid win on the road against the Carolina Panthers. Their defense has actually held their own, and while Drew Brees is not the same quarterback he was a few years ago, he’s still plenty good enough to win the Saints their fair share of games. A loss to the Patriots is forgivable, but their next two games against Detroit and Green Bay will tell us a lot about how serious this team can be about contending.
New York Giants — F
Probably the easiest failing grade in the entire league. New York’s playoff hopes are almost dead and buried already barring a remarkable turnaround in the weeks to come. Their offense simply has not been able to put up points on a consistent basis. The Giants have come close in virtually every game aside from their opener in Dallas, but this team has too much talent to be 0-4. That’s where they are, though, and they’ve probably been the biggest disappointment in the NFL to date.
New York Jets — B+
If we’re grading the Jets on a curve, this might be even higher — this is, after all, a team whose owner has had to clarify that they are not intentionally tanking this season. The results back him up — nobody had the Jets at 2-2 at this point. Some did not have them winning two games all season. Given how bad the Dolphins are right now and how inconsistent the Jaguars have been, their wins won’t make anyone sit up and take notice — but wins are wins. That is more than New York might have expected — they certainly weren’t supposed to be better than the Giants this season, but through four games, they have been.
Oakland Raiders — C
Things looked rosy early on for the Raiders, who jumped out to a 2-0 start with wins over the Titans and Jets. They’ve lost two straight since, though, and will be without quarterback Derek Carr for at least a few weeks. Their schedule gets easier — the Ravens and Chargers, their next two opponents, aren’t playing particularly well. However, this is a team that was expected to contend for a division title this year, and they’re off to a pretty middling start.
Philadelphia Eagles — A
They’re 3-1, and their one loss, to the high-flying Kansas City Chiefs, is certainly a forgivable one. Their offense has been particularly impressive, as Carson Wentz continues to mature and running back LeGarrette Blount has provided a valuable shot in the arm as well. In a division that many expected to be ruled by the Giants or Cowboys with even the Redskins in the mix, it’s the Eagles who look like a legitimate contender going forward.
The Steelers should probably be 4-0, but they were tripped up in a surprise loss to the Chicago Bears. Pittsburgh sits firmly in first place in the AFC North anyway, powered by the receiving theatrics of Antonio Brown and the return of running back Le’Veon Bell. The defense has allowed 14.8 points per game, good for the second-best mark in the entire league. Pittsburgh looks like they’ll be contending for a playoff spot once again.
San Francisco 49ers — F
When their defense plays well, the 49ers don’t score points. When their offense scores points, their defense does not play well. That’s pretty much the story for first-year coach Kyle Shanahan, who has yet to win his first game with the Niners. This is a team that doesn’t really display competence in any department, but then, they weren’t supposed to — this is a transparent rebuilding job. You don’t start Brian Hoyer at quarterback if it isn’t. The Niners are armed with plenty of draft picks for next year, and they should secure a high pick again after this season.
Seattle Seahawks — C
The talent from those Super Bowl teams remains intact, though they’ve never quite recovered from the loss of Marshawn Lynch. The Seahawks have yet to replicate the formula that made them such an elite team, though. Their two wins have come over bad teams in San Francisco and Indianapolis. They’ve been decidedly average — and they still need to prove that they can beat quality teams if they want to be taken seriously as contenders again. At least they showed signs of the dominant team we have come to know during the second half of their win over Indy.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — B
Jameis Winston looks like he’s going to be a quality NFL quarterback for a long time. He’s producing without hooking up much with his imported top receiver, DeSean Jackson. Tampa Bay is another team that has yet to notch a quality win — they’ve beaten the Bears and Giants so far — but they have looked solid in their wins and have shown the ability to come back against the Giants. A matchup against Tom Brady and the Patriots will allow their defense to show us just where they’re at.
Tennessee Titans — C-
It’s hard to overstate how bad the Titans’ loss to the Houston Texans was. They gave up 57 points and lost Marcus Mariota, though the injury does not sound severe. They sit at 2-2 with a decent win over the Seattle Seahawks, but they’re one of those teams that hasn’t really shown any outstanding qualities to separate themselves from the rest of the league yet. Their next three games — at Miami, vs. Indianapolis, and at Cleveland — could allow them them to rack up some wins and position themselves for the postseason.
Washington Redskins — B-
Washington’s early season schedule has proven tough — the Eagles, Rams, Raiders, and Chiefs have all flashed quality early on. Washington came out with wins in two of those games, and their 27-20 win at Los Angeles looks more and more impressive as time goes on. Things get easier with the San Francisco 49ers coming up. So far, Washington’s rushing game looks particularly dangerous. The Redskins look like a better than average team that could at least hang in there in the NFC East.
