Each Team's 2023-24 Grade

 

     As we put a bow on the 2023-24 season, let's give each team a letter grade. These grades are based on a combination of preseason expectations and actual performance. I'm more of a bell-curve grader, meaning a "C" is considered average. But the actual distribution can be found below:

A- 7

B- 5

C- 12

D- 5

F- 3

+'s and -'s are used but for the list above we are grouping altogether. 

Arizona Cardinals: C

The team entered the year with low expectations in a transition year with a new GM and new head coach and it's starting QB still recovering from an ACL tear until mid-season. But it found some positive momentum late in the season once they got Kyler Murray back from the aforementioned injury. They should be better next year.

Atlanta Falcons: D-

Some thought they may be able to push for the division title but they never solved their QB situation and never properly utilized their other offensive weapons. That resulted in a losing record and the firing of head coach Arthur Smith.

Baltimore Ravens: A-

It can't be an A, given the team had a complete dud in it's final game which caused their season to end just short of the Super Bowl. But they still finished with the best record in football and were the league's most complete and dominant team for the majority of the season.

Buffalo Bills: B

After a slow start, they did really well to rally down the stretch and make the playoffs. But to have another season end in the Divisional Round and at the hands of the Chiefs on their home turf is a disappointment for a team with a "Super Bowl or bust" mentality. 

Carolina Panthers: F

Absolute mess of a season, finishing as the worst team in football, firing their coach mid season, and their owner spilling drinks on opposing fans. To make matters worse, this team doesn't even have its first round pick (which would have been #1 overall) because it traded it away to Chicago last season to trade up for rookie QB Bryce Young.

Chicago Bears: C+

Dug itself a hole early that ultimately it could not get out of, but they did finish much stronger than they started and have two high first round picks, including the #1 overall pick.

Cincinnati Bengals: B-

The fact that they still finished with a winning record despite a bad start and losing Joe Burrow mid season is a victory in itself and speaks to the talent of the team. They'll have Super Bowl aspirations next year with Burrow back healthy.

Cleveland Browns: B+

To go through as many injuries as they did, especially to quarterbacks, and still win 11 games and make playoffs is an incredible feat and testament to how good the defense and coaching is. Unfortunately they laid an egg once they got their though.

Dallas Cowboys: C-

Because of it's perennial high expectations, this team was always going to be judged by how it's season ended. Unfortunately for them, it was another epic playoff collapse to a team they should have beaten.

Denver Broncos: C-

They had a nice little win streak mid season to play themselves back into the mix, but finished with a losing record and no playoffs. QB Russell Wilson has been a massive disappointment after the team paid a premium for him acquiring him from Seattle and signing him to an extremely lucrative contract and will likely get released or traded.

Detroit Lions: A

The way it ended will haunt them for awhile, but that shouldn't take away from the fact that this was their best season in most of our lifetimes and that things are moving in the right direction.

Green Bay Packers: A-

Uncertainty loomed for them after parting ways with Aaron Rodgers but the second half of the season proved that they're in good hands with Jordan Love. Beat the brakes off of the 2nd best team in the conference in the playoffs (Dallas) and nearly took out San Fran on the road. 

Houston Texans: A

Maybe the brightest future of any team on the list. CJ Stroud had one of the best rookie seasons we have ever seen from a QB, and Linebacker Will Anderson won defensive rookie of the year as well, and first year coach DeMeco Ryans led this team to the second round of the playoffs. They will only get better with experience.

Indianapolis Colts: B-

The season could have unraveled on them early when rookie QB and 4th overall pick Anthony Richardson suffered a season ending injury in mid October and all-pro running back Jonathan Taylor missing the first 5 weeks, but first year head coach Shane Steichen found a way to keep the team afloat until the final week.

Jacksonville Jaguars: D

 Absolute choke down the stretch from a team that had Super Bowl aspirations to lose 5 of it's final 6 games and miss the playoffs altogether. The reason it's not an F is because I believe Trevor Lawrence was never truly healthy but continually tried playing through pain all year long. They could have a bounce back 2024-25 season with him healthy.

Kansas City Chiefs: A+

Even in a down year, found a way to tap into their Championship DNA and win the games when it mattered most and became the league's first repeat champions since the '05 Patriots.

Las Vegas Raiders: C+

The team started poorly and fired Josh McDaniels midseason, but then played significantly better when Antonio Pierce took over as the interim head coach. Will be interesting to see how the team performs with Pierce leading the way for a full season.

Los Angeles Chargers: F

Justin Herbert is too talented of a QB for the team to lose this many games, which resulted in Brandon Staley being fired mid-season. With Jim Harbaugh leaving Michigan after winning a National Title to return to the NFL and coach LA, this is an interesting team to follow next season.

Los Angeles Rams: B+

Many people thought the competitive window was closing for them with the aging core, but the team still made the playoffs and took the Lions to the wire on the road. 

Miami Dolphins: C+

A tough one to grade because they had a red hot start to the season before floundering down the stretch. Some of that was injuries piling up, but the questions remain if the Dolphins have the toughness to compete with the league's elite teams.

Minnesota Vikings: C

Not giving them a failing grade because they had horrendous luck with injuries, specifically to Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson. It wasn't the season they hoped for but no team could have gone far with the amount of significant injuries Minnesota suffered.

New England Patriots: F

Things have been slowly declining there since Tom Brady's departure and this was the rock bottom year. It's time for the organization to start fresh with a new coaching staff, QB, and roster changes.

New Orleans Saints: C+

Entered the season as the favorites to win the NFC South but ultimately couldn't dethrone Tampa. But still finished with a winning record and were in the playoff race until the final week.

New York Giants: C-

Another lenient grade due to injuries but couldn't build off of last year's surprise playoff appearance. Getting healthy again along with a high draft pick should do them some good.

New York Jets: C-

The season was over before it barely started when Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles on just his 4th ever snap as a New York Jet. The team managed to hang around for half a season but could never overcome the poor QB play and fell out of the race in the second half.

 Philadelphia Eagles: D-

  I won't give an F to a playoff/double digit win team, but this team collapsed so badly that it has to be close. It remains a mystery how a team that started 10-1 fell off a cliff down the stretch and they'll spend the offseason reflecting on what happened and how to fix moving forward.

Pittsburgh Steelers: C

Found a way to make the playoffs despite rotating through a few different QBs but that felt like their ceiling and they never really felt like a threat to go any further.

San Francisco 49ers: A

Being so close will sting for awhile but still won the NFC and reached the big game and nearly won it.

Seattle Seahawks: C+

Similar to the Giants, many thought they would build off of last year's surprise trip to the playoffs, but the team fell just short of getting back there.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A-

Much doubt was cast on this group with many experts predicting them to be a bottom 5 team, but the Bucs proved that even without Tom Brady they still run the division and can be an annual playoff team. Baker Mayfield and Tampa proved to be a good marriage for both sides and gives reason for optimism moving forward.

Tennessee Titans: D

Many thought this would be a bounce back year for them with key players healthy again and the expectation was they would be a top 2 team in the AFC South, but the Titans finished last in their division and fired their head coach and will probably begin a rebuild this offseason.

Washington Commanders: D+

They gave up halfway through the season and moved talented players right before the trade deadline to receive draft capital but at least they were self-aware of their flaws and positioned themselves better for the future while other bad teams remained in denial and kept trying to compete with what they had.