2019 NFL midseason report — Second-half goals, MVPs for all 32 teams

Every NFL team has played at least eight games, so it is time to pause and take stock of the results.

How do we describe the first half? Who is the MVP? What will make the season a success? NFL Nation answers the questions for all 32 teams.

Jump to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN | NE
NO | NYG | NYJ | OAK | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

AFC EAST

First half in two words: As expected. The Bills’ 6-2 start isn’t a surprise given their strength of schedule. The defense’s performance through eight games has also been strong. Even quarterback Josh Allen, who set a career high with 89 consecutive passes without an interception, has stifled his hero-ball instincts within the Bills’ newly implemented intermediate passing game.

First-half MVP: Wide receiver John Brown might be one of the league’s best offseason signings. Brown is on pace for a career-high 1,206 receiving yards — which would be the most by a Bills player since Lee Evans’ 1,292 in 2006. Brown is Buffalo’s unquestioned No. 1 receiver with 267 more yards than any of his teammates. If the Bills’ vertical passing game gets going, the speedster Brown could explode.

The second half will be a success if: The offense plays complementary football. The Bills’ defense was directly responsible for five of the team’s six wins — an unsustainable model, as the Eagles proved in Week 8. This team needs its offense to hold up its end of the bargain, sustain drives and score points, which would allow its defense to stay fresh instead of wear down. Buffalo’s defense should keep every game within reach, but its offense must be able to take over when necessary. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

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First half in two words: Painful process. This was the Dolphins’ long-term plan — undergo one bad season featuring an extreme talent purge in order to collect draft picks and clean up their salary cap — but that hasn’t made it easier to swallow. The “tanking” label and embarrassing losses have worn on players and coaches, but Miami’s win over the New York Jets gave the Dolphins some joy in a painful process.

First-half MVP: Ryan Fitzpatrick. There aren’t a lot of strong choices here, but the Dolphins have looked like a completely different team since Fitzpatrick became the quarterback during the fourth quarter of their Week 6 game vs. Washington. Since then, the Fitzpatrick-led Dolphins have scored 10 touchdowns in 13 quarters. They scored just two touchdowns in their first 19 quarters. Fitzpatrick is completing 65% of his passes, has seven touchdowns, three interceptions and a 95.3 passer rating since reentering the starting lineup. That’s the FitzMagic factor on the field, and his off-the-field leadership has helped a young team continue to fight.

The second half will be a success if: The Dolphins continue to develop young players who will be a part of their long-term future. There has been positive progress in the first half for Preston Williams, Vince Biegel, Mike Gesicki and Raekwon McMillan. If coach Brian Flores continues to earn his players’ trust and fight through this adversity, he’ll be in great shape headed into Year 2 with more talent. — Cameron Wolfe

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First half in two words: Building cushion. In posting the AFC’s best record (8-1), the Patriots beat up on mostly inferior competition and put themselves in good position big picture. They are now in the midst of the toughest portion of their schedule, so this stretch should provide a better barometer of how they measure up.

First-half MVP: Stephon Gilmore. The All-Pro cornerback has been arguably the best player on the Patriots’ best unit through the first half of the season. Gilmore’s ability to match up with a wide variety of pass-catchers provides valuable flexibility to the coaching staff, which has preferred more man coverage. He has three interceptions and a team-high 10 passes defended this season.

The second half will be a success if: The offensive line becomes a strength. When the Patriots made their run to Super Bowl LIII, quarterback Tom Brady noted how the offensive line played together for most of the year and was the backbone of the attack. This year, a string of injuries has hurt the line, especially left tackle, which is why the return of 2018 first-round draft pick Isaiah Wynn (toe injury, eligible to play Nov. 24 vs. Dallas) from IR might be the most important development of the second half. Getting the line back up to speed, to the point where the running game can become more of a factor, is critical. — Mike Reiss

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First half in two words: Unmitigated disaster. Everything has gone wrong, from quarterback Sam Darnold‘s mononucleosis, to linebacker C.J. Mosley’s injury, to running back Le’Veon Bell’s lack of production, to safety Jamal Adams‘ feud with management. The Jets have been a mess, on and off the field.

First-half MVP: GM Joe Douglas. Obviously, this is a reach, but the plain truth is that no one — no player, no coach — deserves this kind of recognition. Douglas has been on the job for only four months, hardly enough time to make an imprint, but he’s valuable to the franchise because he has the daunting task of rebuilding this talent-starved roster. The Jets are counting on his football savvy to lead them through this dark time. This is his first time in the big chair, so there are no guarantees, but Douglas represents hope for better days.

The second half will be a success if: Darnold regains his confidence and finishes on the upswing. He’s mired in a three-game funk, rattled by the lack of pass protection. Coach Adam Gase is supposed to be the quarterback whisperer, so it’s on him to fix the franchise’s most valuable commodity. A strong finish by Darnold wouldn’t make everything better, but it would validate the organization’s faith in him. It also would give ownership a tangible reason for keeping Gase around in 2020. — Rich Cimini

AFC NORTH

First half in two words: Shattering expectations. When the season began, the Ravens repeatedly heard how they were the third-best team in the AFC North and Lamar Jackson faced questions about whether he was a legitimate NFL quarterback. Midway through the season, Baltimore (6-2) has the AFC’s second-best record and Jackson has established himself as an NFL MVP candidate. After upsets of the Seahawks and Patriots, no one is overlooking the Ravens.

First-half MVP: Lamar Jackson. The bigger question is whether Jackson is the MVP of the entire league. He’s the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to total more than 1,800 yards passing and 600 yards rushing in the first eight games of a season. He has outplayed Russell Wilson and Tom Brady in head-to-head matchups. Jackson has been an effective passer, ranking 13th with a 95.4 rating. He has been nearly unstoppable in the open field, juking out defenders for the NFL’s 10th-most rushing yards (637) this season. What can’t be measured is how Jackson has become the emotional leader for one of the NFL’s most dangerous teams.

The second half will be a success if: The Ravens capture one of the top two seeds in the AFC and earn a first-round bye in the playoffs. How rare of an accomplishment would that be? The Ravens have had a first-round bye only twice (2006 and 2011) in their first 23 years of existence. Baltimore currently sits in the No. 2 spot in the AFC but it will be challenging to hold onto it. After playing at the winless Bengals, the Ravens have a grueling four-game stretch against the Texans, Rams, 49ers and Bills — who’ve combined for a 25-8 record (.757). Baltimore, though, has proved it can beat the best teams in the NFL. — Jamison Hensley

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First half in two words: Historically awful. The Bengals are the only winless team in the NFL at the midseason mark. If Cincinnati loses its Week 10 game against Ravens, it will be the franchise’s worst start since the Bengals opened the season with 10 consecutive losses in 1993.

First-half MVP: Special teams coach Darrin Simmons. He has been one of the few bright spots. Entering Week 8, Kevin Huber was second in the NFL in punts inside the opponent’s 10-yard line (23.1%). Safety Brandon Wilson is one of four players with a kickoff return touchdown, is second in the league in yards per return (37.44) and first in average distance to goal following a kickoff return (61.4). And after facing some preseason competition, kicker Randy Bullock has made 11 of 13 field goals, including eight straight. Simmons deserves a ton of credit for the unit’s success.

The second half will be a success if: Cincinnati can identify some key pieces to build around. Starting this week, everything is geared toward 2020 and beyond. The Bengals are going to see what rookie quarterback Ryan Finley brings to the offense. By the end of this season, first-year coach Zac Taylor and the Cincinnati front office will know if Finley has the potential to be the franchise’s quarterback of the future. If not, the Bengals could use their first-round pick in the 2020 draft on one of the top quarterbacks. Developing young players and establishing a winning culture will be the two most important things for Taylor. — Ben Baby

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First half in two words: Discipline debacle. The Browns are first in penalties and tied for third in turnovers, which has prevented this team from generating any rhythm or momentum.

First-half MVP: Nick Chubb. The second-year running back out of Georgia is second in the league with 100.4 rushing yards per game, and third among running backs, averaging 5.21 yards per carry. Save for a brief fumbling spell, in which he turned the ball over on back-to-back plays two weeks ago against the New England Patriots, Chubb has been the driving force behind an otherwise underwhelming offense. It will be interesting to see how the Browns divide carries now that 2017 rushing champ Kareem Hunt returns from his suspension. Regardless, Chubb figures to remain the backbone of the Cleveland offense.

The second half will be a success if: The Browns miraculously rally to make the playoffs and end the NFL’s longest playoff drought, which will probably require Cleveland winning its first division title in 30 years. Despite owning the second-easiest remaining schedule, that figures to be a long shot. Only one team in the Super Bowl era — the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals — has come back to make the playoffs after starting a season 2-6 or worse. — Jake Trotter

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First half in two words: Rebound, reshape. The Steelers have been dealt a healthy dose of challenges: Ben Roethlisberger‘s elbow injury, Mason Rudolph‘s concussion, James Conner‘s shoulder injury. After an 0-3 start, they’re 4-4 thanks to their ability to adapt to the injuries. A big part of that is standout performance by the defense, which linebacker Bud Dupree said has focused on making up for Roethlisberger’s absence by fueling the offense with momentum-changing plays.

First-half MVP: Kevin Colbert. The Week 3 move to trade a 2020 first-round pick for Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was met with skepticism given the Steelers’ uncertain future at quarterback. But general manager Colbert’s big swing is paying off early: Fitzpatrick has four interceptions, including a 96-yard pick-six against the Colts. The former first-round pick has been a game-changer, and Colbert’s move to trade for him on an inexpensive rookie contract will likely continue to pay off.

The second half will be a success if: Rudolph can find a consistent rhythm. In his first season guiding the offense, the quarterback has struggled to start fast. He’s thrown interceptions on each of the first two drives after coming back from his Week 5 concussion. For the second half to be a success, Rudolph needs to build on his earlier performances and eliminate early mistakes. — Brooke Pryor

AFC SOUTH

First half in two words: Consistently inconsistent. Offensively, the Texans have been hot and cold, and struggled against the Jaguars in Week 2 (scoring 13 points) and Panthers in Week 4 (10 points), but then it put up 53 in Week 5 against the Falcons. Houston has an excellent offense on paper — even though wide receiver Will Fuller is out because of a hamstring injury — but the Texans need to figure out how to be more consistent in the second half.

First-half MVP: Deshaun Watson. Without a doubt, the Texans quarterback is the most important player on this team. On Sunday against the Jaguars, Watson showed again how plays are never over, even when he is facing pressure. After the game, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was asked what case he would make for Watson to be the NFL MVP. “Deshaun can make the case for himself from his play,” Hopkins said. “I can’t. I can get up here and say a thousand words but if you watch him play … his play speaks for himself and what he can do. Not just run the football, but throwing the football, getting out of the pocket, and helping his team win.”

The second half will be a success if: The Texans figure out how to replace the production of injured defensive end J.J. Watt, who tore his pectoral muscle in Week 8 and will miss the rest of the season. Although he had only four sacks, he led the NFL in quarterback hits and pressures, all while being double-teamed on 29.8% of his pass rushes as an edge rusher, the second-highest rate in the NFL when he got hurt. Two years ago, when Watt missed more than half the season on injured reserve, Houston had Jadeveon Clowney. Now, Houston’s only proven pass-rusher is Whitney Mercilus, who is going to get a lot more attention moving forward. — Sarah Barshop

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First half in two words: If only. The Colts could be sitting with a 7-1 record halfway through the season if only Adam Vinatieri could be a consistent kicker. The 46-year-old Vinatieri was responsible for the Colts’ Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers when he missed two field goals and an extra point. On Sunday, he missed a game-winning field goal against Pittsburgh. He’s already missed 10 kicks — five extra points and five field goals — and the season is at the midway point. Vinatieri has made a career-low 70.6% of his field goal attempts. The clock is ticking on the career of the NFL’s all-time leading scorer.

First-half MVP: Coach Frank Reich. He lost franchise quarterback Andrew Luck two weeks prior to the start of the regular season, is dealing with Vinatieri’s kicking problems and they were still in first place in the division up until squandering the Pittsburgh game in Week 9. Reich’s calming personality and belief in quarterback Jacoby Brissett helped the Colts weather losing Luck. Reich hasn’t put too much on Brissett, instead relying on the offensive line to become more of a running team this season. The Colts are 11th in the NFL in rushing attempts.

The second half will be a success if: The Colts can take advantage of their schedule to get back to the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The division race appears to be between the Colts and Texans. Five of the Colts’ final eight games are against teams that currently have losing records. The month of December of will be key for the Colts, as they play three of their final five games on the road, including games at New Orleans and Jacksonville, a team they haven’t beaten on the road since 2014. — Mike Wells

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First half in two words: Gardner Minshew. When quarterback Nick Foles went down in the first half of the season opener with a broken collarbone, the general thought was the Jaguars were in trouble. Minshew, a rookie drafted in the sixth round, did not play well in the preseason (zero points on 30 drives). The Jaguars were going to have to bring in a veteran and hope to be around .500 when Foles returned. Except … Minshew turned out to be solid. He has 13 TD passes and four interceptions, but more importantly, has a 4-4 record as a starter, including Sunday’s 26-3 loss to Houston. The Jaguars are 4-5 and still in the AFC South and playoff race.

First-half MVP: Leonard Fournette. He had a terrible 2018 — injuries cost him eight games, a fight and suspension, the loss of guaranteed money, weight gain, questions about his maturity and work ethic, and the scolding from Tom Coughlin — but he’s been very good this season. He leads the AFC in rushing (831 yards) and he’s playing 89% of the Jaguars’ offensive snaps. Imagine how much the offense would have struggled without him. We might be talking about the Jaguars being in the running for the first overall pick, which is why he’s the MVP.

The second half will be a success if: The Jaguars stay in the playoff race. Only one of the remaining six teams they play has a winning record (they play Indianapolis twice) and other than New England and Kansas City when Patrick Mahomes returns, the rest of the AFC is pretty wide-open. Owner Shad Khan wanted significant improvement from last season and competing for a playoff spot in December instead of being out of the race by Halloween (which has pretty much been the case for much of the last decade) definitely qualifies. — Mike DiRocco

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First half in two words: Consistently inconsistent. The Titans are one of the most inconsistent teams in the league. Every time it seems like they’re on track, they turn in a subpar performance. Even after a quarterback switch, the offense is up and down, which has helped contribute to their 4-5 record.

First-half MVP: Logan Ryan. After finishing without an interception in his first two seasons with the Titans, Ryan is tied with Kevin Byard for the team lead with three picks. He has the task of covering slot receivers every week but holds his own. Defensive coordinator Dean Pees likes to send Ryan on the blitz out of their nickel package, which has led to his 3.5 sacks. No defensive back has more sacks than Ryan dating back to the start of the 2018 season. The Titans secondary is the most reliable unit on the team, and Ryan is one of their best defensive backs.

The second half will be a success if: The Titans can rely more on running back Derrick Henry, who has 164 carries for 644 yards through nine games. Henry’s season-low 13 carries came in a Week 9 loss to the Panthers. Getting Henry the ball and using play-action is the key for the Titans’ offense.— Turron Davenport

AFC WEST

First half in two words: Growing pains. The Broncos have lost two games on the final play and another with 22 seconds remaining. The makeover is well underway as proven by Denver’s starting offense in Week 9, which averaged 25 years old. The quarterback question is nowhere close to being answered. There are plenty of times when the talent deficit shows, but first-year coach Vic Fangio has kept the Broncos competitive. Other than the dismal loss to the Chiefs, the Broncos have played with backbone.

First-half MVP: Chris Harris Jr. Certainly Courtland Sutton, Phillip Lindsay, Justin Simmons, Derek Wolfe and Von Miller are in consideration, but Fangio has often put Harris on the opponents’ best receiver. While the Keenan Allen, Tyreek Hill, T.Y. Hilton and Odell Beckham Jr. have each had a moment or two — Hill’s touchdown and Hilton’s third-down catch late in the Colts’ win — none of the group has topped 90 yards and Hill has the only score.

The second half will be a success if: The Broncos can simply get their bearings on offense. The quarterback question will not be answered in the final seven weeks, no matter how much rookie Drew Lock does or doesn’t practice or play. But the Broncos can continue to groom Lindsay, Sutton, Noah Fant, Dalton Risner and Royce Freeman into a core to build around. First-year coordinator Rich Scangarello’s task will be to continue to tailor the offense to its players. — Jeff Legwold

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First half in two words: First place. Being atop the AFC West at 6-3 is an accomplishment given a larger-than-usual number of injuries, including one that kept quarterback Patrick Mahomes from playing the past two weeks. The Chiefs have bigger goals, but given what they’ve faced this season, they’ll happily accept their current standing.

First-half MVP: Mahomes. He got off to a great start before slumping (by his high standards) and then being knocked out by a dislocated kneecap. The Chiefs were able to split the two games he missed but his absence has left little doubt the Chiefs are legitimate Super Bowl contenders with him in the lineup.

The second half will be a success if: The Chiefs win the AFC West. That didn’t seem like much of a goal when the season started or even five weeks ago. But a rash of injuries left the Chiefs in a weakened state and unable to emerge from a difficult five-week stretch of schedule with more than two victories. The Chiefs could still be a tough out in the playoffs if they get Mahomes and most of their other injured players back by the end of the season. So holding off the Raiders and winning their division would still leave a lot in play for the Chiefs. — Adam Teicher

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First half in two words: Disappointing performance. The Chargers could point to any number of reasons for the rough start, from running back Melvin Gordon‘s holdout to injuries or the intense pressure of finding their way entering their third year in the ultra-competitive market of L.A. But the bottom line is the Chargers have not met preseason expectations and performed like a Super Bowl contender. Those struggles led to the dismissal of offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt last week.

First-half MVP: Joey Bosa. In his fourth NFL season, the edge rusher is tied for fourth in the NFL with 8.5 sacks in nine games. Even more impressive, Bosa is second on the Chargers with 46 combined tackles, showing he can do more than get after quarterbacks, including defend against the run.

The second half will be a success if: The Chargers continue to play like they have of late. They got their offense on track in a big win over the Green Bay Packers, finishing with a season-high 159 rushing yards. The defense and special teams performed well too. If the Chargers continue to play well in all three phases, they have a chance to compete for a playoff spot. — Eric D. Williams

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First half in two words: Almost there. The Raiders survived their grueling six-week roadie through Minnesota, Indianapolis, London, Green Bay and Houston and emerged with a white-knuckle 31-24 victory over the Lions to improve to 4-4. Two winnable home games are next, against the suddenly awake Chargers and still-sleeping Bengals. If the Raiders truly fashion themselves playoff contenders, they have to handle their business.

First-half MVP: Josh Jacobs. All the rookie running back has done is carry the Raiders’ offense while allowing quarterback Derek Carr to settle into his role in his second year in coach Jon Gruden’s offense. Jacobs, who has topped the century mark rushing in three of his past four games, has rushed for 740 yards, eclipsing Marcus Allen’s franchise rookie rushing record of 697 yards in the nine-game, strike-shortened 1982 season, and six touchdowns while averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Jacobs could use some work on catching the ball out of the backfield but, hey, nobody’s perfect, right?

The second half will be a success if: This is twofold because while Carr holds the keys to the offense, the defense has to be more of a bend-but-don’t-break outfit going forward. Carr, as noted, is settling into his role of a, gasp, pseudo-game-manager in Gruden’s offense. And Jacobs’ productivity behind a reimagined offensive line has been a revelation that sets up Carr nicely in the play-action pass game. Carr has the tools to outscore a lot of the teams in the NFL but he needs the defense to keep things manageable, as it did in the defeat of the Lions. — Paul Gutierrez

NFC EAST

First half in two words: Too inconsistent. The Cowboys looked like Super Bowl contenders in their 3-0 start and then lost three consecutive games, including one to the winless New York Jets. They followed that with back-to-back wins to stay atop the NFC East at 5-3 over Philadelphia at the midway point. “It’s important not to be kind of playing from behind like we did last year,” Ezekiel Elliott said. “We got it done, but it’s definitely a lot different feeling in this locker room. We’ve just got to keep getting better. We’ve got to keep putting four quarters together every Sunday and I think we’re going to be good.”

First-half MVP: Dak Prescott. He entered the season under pressure to perform because he opted not to accept the Cowboys’ offer on a long-term deal. The bet on himself could pay off in a big way, with him being on pace for career highs in passing yards and touchdowns. He’s showed improvement as a passer while also continuing to be dangerous as a runner. He still has room to grow but he has been their most valuable and important player through the first half and that will need to continue the second half.

The second half will be a success if: The Cowboys win the division. Gaining home-field advantage or the second seed will be difficult with so many teams ahead of them at the moment, and earning a wild card will be hard because of losses to Green Bay and New Orleans. Winning the NFC East is their best path to the playoffs and they are undefeated in the division so far. They don’t have much wiggle room and a difficult schedule awaits, especially the next four weeks against Minnesota, Detroit, New England and Buffalo. — Todd Archer

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First half in two words: Bad. Again. The Giants were 2-7 through nine games last year and are 2-7 again. Enough with the idea of trying to compete while rebuilding. The Giants came into this season with a 38-year-old starting quarterback (Eli Manning) and signed a 30-plus wide receiver (Golden Tate) as their key free-agent acquisition. They intended to be in the running for the playoffs before quickly recalibrating expectations (for the third straight year) and turning to rookie quarterback Daniel Jones. No team has more losses than the Giants (31) since the start of 2017.

First-half MVP: Markus Golden. This isn’t supposed to be so difficult. Maybe that is why they’re 2-7, though. Golden gets the nod because he’s been their most productive player in all nine games. He has a team-leading 5.5 sacks and 14 pressures this season. Injuries have helped his cause, with offensive stars Saquon Barkley, Evan Engram, Jones, Sterling Shepard and Tate missing time this season.

The second half will be a success if: Jones continues to improve. If he can improve his ball security and decision-making while simultaneously continuing to make splash plays, it gives the Giants real hope for the future. It’s not so much about wins and losses the final seven games as much as it is about how Jones plays and takes care of his turnover problem. Even if he takes baby steps, it can be viewed as a positive. — Jordan Raanan

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First half in two words: Roller-coaster ride. There have been blowout losses and dominant wins, and signs of dysfunction and displays of character. Players like to use the word resilient to describe this team, though mercurial fits, too.

First-half MVP: Running back Jordan Howard. Traded from Chicago to Philadelphia for a conditional sixth-round pick this offseason, Howard has proven to be a stabilizing force for the Eagles. He is far and away the leader in rushing yards (525) and touchdowns (six). Injuries at receiver have made the passing game an adventure, but when coach Doug Pederson turns to the run, he knows he has a physical, reliable back in Howard, who is going to choose the right hole and crash through it. Howard’s snaps and carries continue to increase as his value is realized.

The second half will be a success if: The Eagles commit to an identity. The offense has to run through tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert and running backs Howard and Miles Sanders. Quarterback Carson Wentz needs to challenge defenses with his legs (without running recklessly into traffic) to create opportunities downfield and maintain drives. The offensive line is strong and there is enough talent on the team to overcome issues at receiver, but the Eagles have to stick to the right recipe. — Tim McManus

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First half in two words: Complete disaster. The Redskins fired coach Jay Gruden after an 0-5 start. They failed to trade holdout tackle Trent Williams, leading to harsh words by the Pro Bowler after he reported. They lost key players to injuries (tight end Jordan Reed and running back Chris Thompson) and, at 1-8, are off to their worst start in 21 years. They wanted rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins to sit and learn all year, but those plans were derailed and he’s endured growing pains. Meanwhile, their stadium has become a home away from home for visiting teams.

First-half MVP: Running back Adrian Peterson. He did little in the first five games, largely a coaching decision, but has been the main reason Washington has had a chance in any game. He has eight carries of 15-plus yards in the past four games; a younger Peterson would have ripped off some long touchdown runs. He’s past that point, but his passion and toughness haven’t waned. In the past four games, he’s rushed for 383 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry — without the benefit of a passing attack.

The second half will be a success if: Haskins develops. The rookie has no touchdown passes in eight-and-a-half quarters and 44 throws. Haskins is not in an optimal spot considering the dearth of offensive talent, but he must show how he handles protection calls or how well he’s making his reads and avoiding turnovers. He needs to show the veterans — and any prospective coaches — he can handle the job. But he also must make a big play or two with his arm. He has attempted two passes of 20 yards or longer; completing neither. — John Keim

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Marcus Spears wants Matt Nagy to take ownership of the Bears’ struggles this season.

NFC NORTH

First half in two words: Very disappointing. The Bears were supposed to be a Super Bowl contender. Instead, Chicago is 3-5 and falling further out of the NFC playoff picture with each passing week. The offense is a disaster. Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has not improved. This is not what the Bears expected.

First-half MVP: Allen Robinson. The veteran wide receiver is the only bright spot on offense. Robinson caught one pass in the Week 9 loss to Philadelphia, but he still leads the team with 47 receptions for 532 yards and three touchdowns. Where would the Bears be without him?

The second half will be a success if: Trubisky begins to string together good performances. Both are highly unlikely. The Bears are in serious trouble and the schedule is unforgiving. Chicago has road games against the Packers, Rams and Vikings, and a home game against the Chiefs in Week 16. That spells trouble. — Jeff Dickerson

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First half in two words: Perfectly mediocre. It’s probably not what the Lions want to hear, but it is their identity. Flashes of brilliance, particularly on offense, coupled with turnovers at inopportune times and a defense that can’t stop the run or pass, and it leaves the Lions right in the middle of the NFL — a place where they’ve lived for many, many years.