The following are my midseason grades for the AFC:
Baltimore Ravens (6-3)
The Ravens won three consecutive fourth-quarter games to put them a game ahead of last year's Super Bowl pace at 6-3. Despite facing more spread offenses of three- and four-receivers and empty backfields, the Ravens' defense has responded with toughness in key situations to win. Elvis Grbac is still struggling to get his persona affixed with the offense. The Terry Allen-Jason Brookins combo in the backfield has salvaged some of the running game. Road victories over the Titans and Steelers has put the AFC Central in the Ravens' hands.
Grade: B-plus.
Buffalo Bills (1-7)
As many as five rookies are being played on defense. The run defense is porous. Quarterback Rob Johnson finally couldn't avoid the sack that fractured his clavicle and sidelined him until December. Still, Gregg Williams is getting good effort out of the players. They are playing hard, particularly on defense. Maybe having Alex Van Pelt at quarterback will manage a more steady passing game. Rookie cornerback Nate Clements has all the looks of being a star. Still, the coaching turnover and the salary cap has caused a three-game drop to 1-7.
Grade: D-minus.
Cincinnati Bengals (4-4)
Defenses have done a great job of containing Corey Dillon even though he's still on pace for a 1,300-plus-yard season. Quarterback Jon Kitna has been a steady hand in managing the offense and improving the team's record two games over the mid-point last season. Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski has developed more consistency in the passing game. Overall, the Bengals are more competitive under Dick LeBeau's steady hand. Their defense ranks 14th even though they need to be better against the run. The next two weeks at home are critical because four of their last six games are on the road and if they don't watch out, their record could fall to 6-10.
Grade: B-minus.
Cleveland Browns (4-4)
Butch Davis has established a toughness on the team that makes them a tough assignment for any team every Sunday. Foge Fazio's defensive schemes have made the Browns an opportunistic defense that gives them a plus-10 in the take-away-give-away ratio. Still, some scary trends are starting to resurface. They're falling back into the pattern of past seasons. The defense is on the field for 72 plays a game, 15 more than the offense. That can't continue. The offense is worst in the AFC on third-down conversion, converting only 31 percent. Further injuries may drain the Browns resources for the second half but they have a decent shot at getting to seven wins, two more than the first two seasons.
Grade: B.
Denver Broncos (5-4)
Those wanting to write off the Broncos are mistaken even though their first half was average. They lost three AFC West road games and can still look forward to home games against the Raiders and Chiefs. In fact, upcoming games against the Redskins and Cowboys should send the Broncos into a Dec. 2 game against Miami with a 7-4 record plus give them a 10-day breather because of playing on Thanksgiving. Their concerns are finding another receiver to take the pressure off of Rod Smith, who leads the NFL with 72 catches. Ed McCaffrey's presence is missing in possession situations. The running game isn't the same without offensive line coach Alex Gibbs on the sidelines, but Mike Shanahan still has Mike Anderson and will have Terrell Davis back by the Miami game.
Grade: C.
Indianapolis Colts (4-4)
The Colts tried to patch up the defense but the holes are too wide. They are giving up 28 points a game, which counters all of their accomplishments on offense. Now, they go into the second half of the season without halfback Edgerrin James and having Peyton Manning playing with a cracked jaw. Jim Mora has the defense playing hard, but effort isn't fixing deficiencies in coverage. Facing seven playoff contenders in the final eight weeks leaves the Colts hard pressed to make up two games on the Dolphins in the AFC East race. Plus, with more falling upon Manning, it may be tough for him to survive the final eight weeks.
Grade: C-minus.
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-5)
The clock has struck midnight on the Jaguars days as a legitimate playoff contender. With four home games in their first five games and most of their key stars healthy, the Jaguars had to make a quick start to be a factor. They went off on a five-game losing streak after a 2-0 start and have five road games in the second half of the season. The Jags are still dangerous with Mark Brunell throwing to Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell, and Fred Taylor should resurface down the stretch. But even owner Wayne Weaver complained about the team's soft defense. With $94 million tied up in 28 players contracts next year, the Jags are about to rebuild. Will Tom Coughlin get that second chance to do it?
Grade: D.
Kansas City Chiefs (2-7)
Dick Vermeil came out of retirement for this, a 2-7 start with an offense that is either big play or bust? Trent Green, who cost the Chiefs a first-round choice, hasn't been able to compensate for inexperience or lack of talent at the receiver position. He's thrown 16 interceptions and has only completed 53.4 percent of his passes. Vermeil was right, though, in believing in halfback Priest Holmes, who is third in the AFC with 782 yards and a great 5-yard average. The defense, which was supposed to be solid, isn't getting the sacks or making the plays as expected. They have only 15 sacks and have forced 14 turnovers, which have led to second-half collapses that have had the Chiefs outscored, 130-90.
Grade: D.
Miami Dolphins (6-2)
Thanks to one of their best drafts in a few years, the Dolphins look recharged. Rookie Chris Chambers and veterans James McKnight and Dedric Ward have improved the speed and big play ability of the passing offense. Travis Minor has offered a big-play threat to a struggling running game. The defense remains Top Five and still should be able to improve by getting more interceptions. Efforts in the second half will be breaking Lamar Smith out of a running slump that has him down to 2.9 yards a carry. As long as they can beat the Jets Sunday, the AFC East is the Dolphins' division to lose.
Grade: B.
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THINGS TO WATCH IN 2ND HALF
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1. How Bill Belichick handles the return of Drew Bledsoe. The Patriots are 5-2 under Tom Brady, but the Pats face tough home game against the Rams and Saints in the next two weeks. If the Patriots win both with Brady, it might be hard to give Bledsoe back the starting job regardless of his $103 million contract. The Pats would be 7-4 and 7-2 under Brady. If Brady losses against the Rams, it may be easier to put in Bledsoe in the next two weeks. It's Bledsoe's team, but Brady is making it hard for him to be benched.
2. How Mike Holmgren handles the return of Ricky Watters in the next two weeks. Despite only five starts, Shaun Alexander is fourth in the AFC with 758 yards and has potential star written all over him. Watters is in the final year of his contract and may not be satisfied if Holmgren offers him the third-down job and lets Alexander continue starting. Watters want to be ready by the end of November or the first of December.
3. Whether halfback Lamar Smith can get the running offense going. He's under a lot of pressure with his 2.9 yard average. The Dolphins over commit to the run on first down because it sets up play-action plays in the third and fourth quarters. Smith knows that, at best, those are 3-yard opportunities. Still, Smith needs to get a few good games to prevent the fans from voicing their call for rookie Travis Minor.
4. How Mike Shanahan gets his running game together. Once Terrell Davis recovers from knee surgery, Shanahan has to figure out whether to stay with Mike Anderson or go back to Davis. If Anderson is hot, which he certainly can be against run-poor defenses such as the Redskins and Cowboys, Davis may have to return to be the inactive running back because he doesn't play special teams. Plus, the Broncos have lot a lot of their personality on the ground.
5. How well the Chargers finish in order for Mike Riley to stay on as coach next year. The Chargers should easily get to eight or nine wins, but is that going to be enough to satisfy general manager John Butler.
— John Clayton
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New England Patriots (5-4)
Talk about doing things with mirrors. Bill Belichick is quietly having a Coach of the Year season by bringing together 16 unwanted free agents, a second-year quarterback and a bunch of unwanted receivers for a 5-4 start. The next two weeks are critical because the Patriots can't afford to lose back-to-back home games against the Rams and Saints. At some point, Drew Bledsoe will take the starting job away from Tom Brady, who is an impressive 5-2. Antowain Smith has rubbed it in the face of the Bills for releasing him as he heads toward a possible 1,000-yard season. Offensive Charlie Weis has done a great job of spreading the field with receivers and calling creative plays. The Patriots have a three-game improvement.
Grade: A.
New York Jets (6-3)
It's got to be more than Curtis Martin, who is one of the top three candidates for AFC MVP. The Jets have a plus-17 rating in turnovers. Herm Edwards has fixed up the run defense in the past three weeks with more aggressive blitzing schemes. It's still hard to believe they are 6-3 even though their defense is on the field 60 plays, almost seven a game more than their defense. Edwards is running an efficient ship that has won five of the past six games and may be able to sneak away with a wild-card playoff spot.
Grade: A.
Oakland Raiders (6-2)
Despite their poor showing against the Seahawks last Sunday night, the Raiders are the most complete team in the AFC. Jon Gruden has revamped his offensive philosophy to better exploit the passing game. He's getting possession time with short passes instead of short runs. The amazing part is how well the team has done despite a banged-up offensive line. The defense is hurting, too, and the turf toe injury of cornerback Charles Woodson could be a problem for the second half of the season. Still, the Raiders are on pace for a 12-win season and homefield advantage in the playoffs.
Grade: A.
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
Heinz Field has made a difference because it's given the Steelers the financial clout to keep some of their top free agents. Bill Cowher drafted well for his defensive needs, getting Casey Hampton and Kendrell Bell into the front seven. Bell is the leading candidate for defensive rookie of the year. Jerome Bettis is having a monster season now that his knees feel good. Mike Mularkey's offensive schemes have improved quarterback Kordell Stewart into a 60-percent thrower; he's also thrown just four interceptions. The team must improve in the redzone where they've scored six touchdowns in 23 chances.
Grade: A-minus.
San Diego Chargers (5-4)
It's hard to knock a team that has improved from 0-9 to 5-4, but their schedule was so easy that you expected more. Clearly, the Chargers are the most improved team of the season, but their wild-card playoff hopes are fading. They've blown three games in the fourth quarter in which they've had leads. Close losses to New England, Cleveland and Kansas City hurt. Doug Flutie's still magical but the passing offense is losing a little zip. Rookie LaDainian Tomlinson is getting slowed by injuries and eight-man fronts, but he's still having a great year with 726 yards.
Grade: B.
Seattle Seahawks (4-4)
Mike Holmgren dodged a bullet when Matt Hasselbeck mixed enough passes with Shaun Alexander runs to win his second game as a start. Had he been 1-5 instead of 2-4, the season would have been all but over. The Seahawks face winnable games against Buffalo, Kansas City and San Diego the next three weeks and could go into a trip to Denver Dec. 9 at 7-4. The defense has improved dramatically against the run. Receivers Darrell Jackson and Koren Robinson are coming on. But the Seahawks can't afford a poor showing as they did against the Redskins if they want to make the playoffs.
Grade: C.
Tennessee Titans (3-5)
One yard seems to mean a lot to the Titans. They lost a Super Bowl because Kevin Dyson was stopped one yard shy of a touchdown. Their playoff bid may have died because Steve McNair couldn't get a one-yard sneak against the Ravens Monday night. At 3-5 and one of football's most banged up teams, it just seems that the Titans will finish a game or two short of the playoffs. Eddie George isn't the same back as he was the past four seasons because of injuries. The defense hasn't gotten the bang out of Kevin Carter's big bucks.
Grade C-minus.
John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
