2023 first-quarter report cards for all 32 NFL teams
Making the grade
What teams have earned good grades for the first quarter of the 2023 season and which ones are flops? There have been surprises and those who are already thinking about the 2024 NFL draft.
Arizona Cardinals (1-4)
The Cardinals were expected to be the worst team in the league. They aren’t close to awful but are still 1-4. The win over Dallas shows they can compete, but likely will come up short of any playoff push. Grade: D+
Atlanta Falcons (3-2)
Have to give Arthur Smith and Atlanta some credit. The Falcons are 3-0 at home and have beaten the teams they were supposed to beat. That’s the sign of a team that has hope. No telling where Atlanta will end up because there still seem to be flaws, but this was a good opening run. Grade: C+
Baltimore Ravens (3-2)
The Ravens were so close to winning all their division road games in 2023. Then they fell apart late at Pittsburgh. The receivers and Lamar Jackson lack chemistry. Injuries are still an issue. The Ravens are 3-2 and could have easily been 5-0. Could have, should have, would have means nothing. Grade: B-
Buffalo Bills (3-2)
Does it seem like most of the league is 3-2 or 2-3? Wondering aloud. The Bills sandwiched three powerful wins inside losses in Week 1 and Week 5. The loss to Jacksonville is concerning as it was a game that would have been nice to have. Now, Matt Milano is hurt. Sean McDermott will be tested throughout the rest of the regular season. Grade: B-
Carolina Panthers (0-5)
Frank Reich has gone from having over-the-hill quarterbacks in Indy to a first-overall pick who doesn’t look ready for the NFL. The Panthers have several problems, and the question becomes when is Bryce Young considered one of them? Grade: F
Chicago Bears (1-4)
The Bears were horrendous in their first four games. They seemed ready to hibernate for 2023 but delivered a huge performance against Washington in Week 4. Matt Eberflus is still on a slippery slope. Grade: D+
Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)
One big game for Ja’Marr Chase will not erase the bad memories of the first quarter. How this team went 1-3 is hard to believe — and it managed to fall behind the Cardinals, too. Something is off and needs to be fixed pronto because the AFC North is no joke. Grade: C-
Cleveland Browns (2-2)
The good news is the Browns have found their way to .500 when they lost Nick Chubb and saw their QB miss a game. The bad news is there is a long way to go in 2023 and the elite running back is gone and Deshaun Watson has yet to prove he is the player who starred in Houston. Grade: C
Dallas Cowboys (3-2)
The Cowboys lost at Arizona and were destroyed by San Francisco, leaving plenty of questions about a team that was allegedly a Super Bowl contender at the beginning of the year. Grade: C
Denver Broncos (1-4)
The Broncos have been touched up for 181 points in five games. The defense is toxic. In fact, the whole team is toxic. The Russell Wilson trade will likely go down as one of the worst in NFL history. And head coach Sean Payton? It’s still early but big-time/big-talking coaches shouldn’t get too much leeway. Grade: F
Detroit Lions (4-1)
The Lions have lived up to the preseason hype and headlines. They are one of the most fun teams in the league and Dan Campbell has worked wonders with a franchise that finally has shed its losing tag. Grade: A-
Green Bay Packers (2-3)
The jury remains out on Jordan Love. Green Bay pulled out a wild win over New Orleans with an unlikely rally in the fourth quarter. The Packers are iffy and we don’t mean in a good way. This is a dicey situation. They look like a team that is in a rebuilding year by the way they lost to the Las Vegas Raiders. Grade: C-
Houston Texans (2-3)
Hard to believe that a team winning two of its first five games deserves a strong grade but Houston has earned it. The selection of C.J. Stroud looks brilliant and the loss to Atlanta came after a strong drive to take the lead. This team will feel growing pains but it continues to grow. Grade: B-
Indianapolis Colts (3-2)
The Colts got along without Jonathan Taylor and appear to have found a franchise QB in Anthony Richardson—if he can stay on the field. Classic how Zach Moss has a career game after Taylor gets the big contract. Three wins in the first five games are a nice start. Grade: B-
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2)
More was expected from Jacksonville, and just when the Jaguars were ready to get dinged for their first-quarter performance, they went out and knocked off the Bills in London. The team needs to be consistent and take care of opponents the way a defending division champion should. This is a year to prove last year was a stepping stone, not a fluke. Grade: C+
Kansas City Chiefs (4-1)
People can complain all they want about the supposed breaks this team gets. In a league where it is tough to remain dominant and strong, the Chiefs always find their way. That should merit praise, not scorn. Grade: A
Las Vegas Raiders (2-3)
Maxx Crosby is the best thing Las Vegas has going for it. Too bad the rest of the team doesn’t bring the intensity the great defensive lineman has. They snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Green Bay but this wasn’t a statement victory by any means. Grade: C-
Los Angeles Chargers (2-2)
Simply not buying into the Bolts as a contender. They simply make too many mistakes and are so injury-prone. Austin Ekeler has missed time and the great Mike Williams is done for the year. Hard to believe in Brendon Staley as he continues to use analytics for baffling decisions. Grade: C-
Los Angeles Rams (2-3)
The Rams are not as bad as their record appears. They put up a good effort against teams no matter how strong. Matthew Stafford appears to be more like himself. With the return of Cooper Kupp, the wide receivers are some of the best in the league. Grade: C
Miami Dolphins (4-1)
The Fish are in first place in the AFC East. They have a powerhouse offense. However, the one loss was a bad one … at Buffalo. Miami was crushed and it should add some concern about what will happen against other tough foes. The Dolphins will be a lot of fun to watch, though. Grade: B+
Minnesota Vikings (1-4)
The Vikings have as many losses now as they had all last regular season. They are the Giants of the NFC North, and that isn’t a compliment. Grade: D
New England Patriots (1-4)
One has to wonder if this is going to be the time for Bill Belichick to decide to step away. Will he continue to try and fight the fight with a team that is nowhere near what it used to be? Mac Jones is a liability. Something is so sour in Foxboro — and none of this should in any way reflect on the great coach’s legacy. It just may be time. Grade: F
New Orleans Saints (3-2)
New Orleans can be somewhat of a mixed message. It can look powerful and it can also lose games one would expect it to win. Would love to see the team that clobbered the Patriots show up week in and week out for Dennis Allen. The Saints still appear to be the team to fear in the NFC South. Grade: B
New York Giants (1-4)
Last year is long forgotten. It appears more of a fluke than the truth. Daniel Jones is being abused. Saquon Barkley being out isn’t a sliver of an excuse. Big Blue has a major case of the blues and is headed toward a total failure. Grade: F
New York Jets (2-3)
After losing Aaron Rodgers and having Zach Wilson become a national sports punch line, the Jets are somehow not in last place in the AFC East. That’s one way of looking at the glass as half full. It isn’t, though. Grade: D
Philadelphia Eagles (5-0)
The Eagles let teams hang around and then squeeze the last breaths out of them. A powerful offense and a defense that is staunch. The game against the 49ers later in the season could determine the home-field for the NFC Championship Game. Grade: A
Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)
Despite not having an offense, the Steelers are 3-2. Another way to show how fantastic a coach Mike Tomlin is. That said, you can only get away with a poor offense for so long. Grade: C+
San Francisco 49ers (5-0)
Solid offense. Solid defense. Solid coaching. There’s little microscopic-level dissection of the 49ers that would result in anything other than a a near-perfect mark so far. Grade: A+
Seattle Seahawks (3-1)
The only team to defeat the Detroit Lions. The Seahawks seemed off their game in losing the opener to the Rams but found their stride in the next three games. A probable wild-card run for Pete Carroll. Grade: B
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)
Baker Mayfield has replaced Tom Brady in wonderful style. Did anyone expect that? The Bucs have won three of their four games and are one of the surprises of 2023. Grade: B+
Tennessee Titans (2-3)
At this point, maybe the Titans and Patriots should trade coaches. Not sure Bill Belichick wants to have to rely on Ryan Tannehill, though. Grade: D
Washington Commanders (2-3)
The Commanders are inconsistent, which is never a great formula for success in the NFL. They were embarrassed by the Bears in an inexplicable Thursday night effort, creating even more concerns for the team. Grade: D+
