Grading every NFL team at the quarter mark of the season

It shouldn't surprise anyone that the Cardinals have struggled early in the year with a rookie quarterback and without two starting cornerbacks. Their Week 1 tie vs. Detroit looks better given the Lions resurgence, but the offense has remained a relative disappointment with only 18.5 points per game, while the defense has been among the league's worst in nearly every category. As usual, Larry Fitzgerald has been a bright spot with 23 receptions for 300 yards and two scores through four games.

Dan Quinn probably needs to make the playoffs to keep his job, and the early signs aren't good. After replacing all three of his coordinators, the team is 1-3 and suffered an embarrassing 24-10 defeat to Tennessee in Week 4. The offense has way too much talent for the inconsistency it has shown, averaging only 17.5 points and getting dominated twice. The defense remains a weakness with a continued inability to get to the passer and the second season-ending injury in two years for star safety Keanu Neal.

After a quick start out of the gate on both sides of the ball, Baltimore has crashed and burned over the last two games. The Ravens allowed a combined 73 points to Kansas City and Cleveland, with the offseason personnel issues coming back to bite them. On the bright side, Lamar Jackson has played like an MVP candidate in his sophomore season with 8.3 yards per pass attempt and 10/2 TD/INT as a passer, along with 238 yards rushing. It's unclear what this team is after wins against Miami and Arizona, two teams that will likely pick early in the 2020 draft, but the AFC North is especially winnable this year.

Sean McDermott seems to have this team on the right track after a busy offseason, starting the year 3-0 and falling just short of knocking off the Patriots at home in Week 4 after Josh Allen was injured. The offense still hasn't shown many symptoms of the personnel additions, but the defense looks elite after allowing 15.8 points per game and holding the Patriots to only nine points on offense. A Week 5 visit to Tennessee will be a major test and one the Bills almost certainly need Allen to compete in after suffering a concussion.

Carolina looked like a disaster after starting the year 0-2 with the way Cam Newton was playing through a foot injury, but replacement Kyle Allen has given the Panthers new life. He's completed nearly 72 percent of his passes and is averaging 8.2 yards per attempt while doing a great job of dispersing the ball to the team's playmakers. After allowing 30 points to the Rams in Week 1, the defense has also gotten its act together. Newton is expected to miss more time, but Allen is certainly keeping the ship running.

It's been a tough go for Chicago's offense, including a 10-3 home loss to the Packers in Week 1, but the defense continues to hold serve. Mitchell Trubisky did get his act together at Washington Week 3, and backup Chase Daniel did a nice job replacing him after a shoulder injury against Minnesota. The defending NFC North champs are allowing only 11.2 points per game despite the departure of coordinator Vic Fangio, but the offense needs to play better for this team to attain its goals in what looks like a brutal division.

We have to put Cincinnati's early schedule in perspective, with three road games in hostile environments. That said, the team is 0-4 and has made little progress since last year's disaster. After a promising Week 1 showing at Seattle, the team has scored a total of 37 points over the last three games, and the injury-plagued offensive line has been overmatched. It seems like only a matter of time before the Bengals move on from Andy Dalton and add a new signal-caller in 2020.

Cleveland was expected to improve as much as any team in football this year, but its results are incomplete through four games. The Browns were embarrassed, 43-13, by Tennessee in Week 1 and then lost a close game, 20-13, to the Rams two weeks later but did manage blowout wins against the Jets and Ravens. The win over Baltimore, in particular, gives Cleveland hope that the hype will come to fruition with Baker Mayfield getting on track. We'll know a lot more about the Browns soon with their next three games at San Francisco, vs. Seattle and at New England.

Dallas won its first three games of the season easily but that was for good reason against three lackluster teams. The Cowboys failed in their one difficult test, a 12-10 loss to a Drew Brees-less Saints team. As expected, the Cowboys defense has been excellent, allowing only 14 points per game, but the offense and Dak Prescott were held in check at New Orleans and now must operate without star left tackle Tyron Smith for at least one game, vs. Green Bay.

The Broncos could easily be 2-2, losing two home games late vs. Chicago and Jacksonville. However, the fact is that they lost those games and also took tough road losses at Oakland and Green Bay. The defense has been a huge disappointment under new head coach Vic Fangio, failing to get a sack until Week 4 and now set to be without second-year pass rusher Bradley Chubb for the rest of the year. The running attack hasn't been as consistent as it was last season, and Joe Flacco continues to be the same mediocre quarterback he was in Baltimore. Denver's season could implode even more with a brutal upcoming schedule with games against the Chargers, Titans, Chiefs, Colts and Browns before their Week 10 bye.

Given their early schedule, a 2-1-1 start to the year for the Lions is hardly a failure. The team got big wins against the Chargers and at Philadelphia and then gave Kansas City all it could handle in Week 4 without star cornerback Darius Slay. The only disappointing result so far was a Week 1 tie at Arizona, especially after getting off to an early lead. Matthew Stafford has made himself a dark horse MVP candidate after four games, and the defense is taking to Matt Patricia's system. The Lions are headed into a bye week before critical division games at Green Bay and vs. Minnesota.

It's difficult to complain about a 3-1 start, with two wins against NFC North rivals. However, the expected offensive boost from new head coach Matt LaFleur hasn't arrived yet, with the team averaging only 21.2 points per game and struggling to get anything going on the ground. Aaron Rodgers has been far from elite, averaging only 7.3 yards per pass attempt. The defense looked terrific through three weeks and has been getting to the quarterback after some big offseason additions but allowed 34 points at Lambeau Field to the Eagles in Week 4.

Houston was all in for this season after spending significant draft capital to add Duke Johnson, Laremy Tunsil, and Kenny Stills via preseason trades. Yet the offense has been mediocre, at best, with 19.5 points per game. Deshaun Watson continues to hold onto the ball too long, taking 18 sacks in four games, but the running game has been surprisingly strong with 5.1 yards per carry. Despite a 2-2 record, Houston controls its own destiny in a muddled AFC South division.

The Colts had earned an A grade until their shocking 31-24 home loss to Oakland in Week 4. The team has suffered significant personnel losses, led by quarterback Andrew Luck, but more recently has been without T.Y. Hilton, Darius Leonard and Malik Hooker. Indy is likely to go into its bye week (Week 6) at 2-3 with a visit to Arrowhead Stadium on the docket, but it's hard to be discouraged given the circumstances, especially with how efficient quarterback Jacoby Brissett has been thus far (102.1 passer rating).

If we knew hyped new starter Nick Foles would suffer a fractured collarbone in his first quarter as a Jaguar, the expectations for the first four games would be far worse than 2-2. Yet, sixth-round rookie Gardner Minshew has led the team to a .500 record, with tough wins vs. Tennessee and at Denver. Jacksonville also gave Houston all it could handle on the road. The team deserves credit for keeping the Jalen Ramsey trade demand saga from being a major distraction, and the defense has rebounded well after allowing 40 points to the Chiefs in Week 1. The fact that the team remains in the AFC South hunt is all you can ask for at this point.

Through four games, Patrick Mahomes is the likely back-to-back league MVP, and the Chiefs offense hasn't missed a beat since last season. That's even more impressive, considering they've been without arguably their best weapon in Tyreek Hill, along with left tackle Eric Fisher and running back Damien Williams, for most of the season. The Chiefs moved to 4-0 after facing an unexpected challenge at Detroit and now have home games in four of the next five weeks. Even after cleaning house in the offseason, the defense remains a huge concern, especially with its continued inability to stop the run (5.9 yards per carry allowed). Like last year, that side of the ball is likely what would prevent Kansas City from getting to the Super Bowl.

One of the favorites to win the AFC entering the year, the Chargers are fortunate to be 2-2. They needed overtime to beat the Colts in Week 1 before losses at Detroit and vs. Houston. The second win against Miami was almost a formality. Injuries have ravaged Los Angeles, with star safety Derwin James and tight end Hunter Henry absent, but this seems to be a yearly occurrence for the organization. The team simply hasn't played well and has a rough schedule ahead.

The defending NFC champs got out of the gate 3-0 before a shocking 55-40 loss at home to the Bucs. The hope is that the loss was just a bad day for the defense, but there's certainly reason to be concerned. The offense also hasn't been at last year's level, particularly Jared Goff, with six picks in four games and only 7.2 yards per pass attempt.

It's clear to even the most casual sports fan that the Dolphins are intentionally tanking, yet the organization refuses to admit it. They traded three starters, including star left tackle Laremy Tunsil, for draft picks just before the start of the season and later moved safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to Pittsburgh for a first-round draft choice. Through four games, the team has comically been outscored 163-26 and ranks dead last in both points scored and points allowed. There are few positives to draw from the first four games, but we have to feel bad for quarterback Josh Rosen, going from a bad situation in Arizona last year to a much worse one in Miami.

So far the 2019 season seems like deja vu after last year's disappointing 8-7-1 finish. The team has shown great flashes but didn't get nearly enough out of Kirk Cousins in two road losses, against Green Bay and Chicago. The defense has been better than last year, allowing only 15.8 points per game, and running back Dalvin Cook looks like a legitimate MVP candidate with 524 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. Ultimately, the success of this season will likely come down to Cousins.

The defending Super Bowl Champs haven't faced a notable offense yet, but the fact they didn't allow a touchdown on defense until Week 4 is still staggering. It's the offense that has struggled, as Sony Michel has done almost nothing on the ground and Tom Brady has a pedestrian 7.3 yards per pass attempt. The ceiling of the offense might not be high without Rob Gronkowski or Antonio Brown, and the offensive line has clearly been impacted by injuries. Fortunately, an incredibly easy schedule gives New England time to get things right on offense. A Week 14 matchup vs. the Chiefs couldn't come soon enough for NFL fans.

No Drew Brees, no problem for the Saints, who are 2-0 with Teddy Bridgewater starting under center. The teams he's started against haven't been cakewalks either, as the Saints won at Seattle and vs. Dallas. The New Orleans defense has picked up the slack with Brees injured, though Alvin Kamara also deserves credit with 479 yards from scrimmage. If the Saints can continue to be competitive until Brees returns from his thumb injury, they should emerge as the favorites to win the NFC.

After starting the year 0-2, the Giants benched Eli Manning and turned to rookie Daniel Jones. The results have been better than expected, with New York winning back-to-back games at Tampa Bay and vs. Washington, while Jones has added a clear spark with an 82.4 QBR and 8.1 yards per pass attempt. Star running back Saquon Barkley suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3, but Wayne Gallman proved capable as the starter against Washington. The team hopes the defense can also keep its improved play from Week 4 after struggling in the first three games.

The Jets had one of the busiest offseasons in the NFL but have an 0-3 record to show for it. Injuries and illnesses have been a big reason, led by Sam Darnold's mono, but Le'Veon Bell's 2.9 yards per carry through three games is disturbing. New York is down to third-string quarterback Luke Falk and probably doesn't have a fighting chance until Darnold returns. It's basically a lost year already for the Jets and new head coach Adam Gase.

Oakland is already halfway to its four-win total from last season and coming off an impressive road victory against Indianapolis. Derek Carr has been slightly better than last season, completing 72 percent of his passes, but it's rookie back Josh Jacobs who has been the most impressive offensive player, with 364 yards from scrimmage and 5.0 yards per carry. The defense is also well on its way to besting its pitiful 13 total sacks from last season, led by 3.5 sacks from Benson Mayowa.

Philadelphia has been plagued by injuries on both sides of the ball, resulting in its 2-2 record, but it deserves props for gutting out a 34-27 win at Lambeau Field in Week 4. While he's had more incompletions than usual, Carson Wentz has been good overall with 9/2 TD/INT and a 72.8 QBR. The running back tandem of Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard also shows potential, but the team really needs to get healthy, particularly in the secondary.

Who would have thought Pittsburgh's first win wouldn't come until Week 4? It's more feasible, considering Ben Roethlisberger's season-ending elbow injury suffered in Week 2, and a rough early schedule also didn't do the Steelers any favors. They hope to build some momentum after blowing out Cincinnati on Monday night and have proved they can move the ball with Mason Rudolph under center. The biggest concern is a running game that's averaged only 3.4 yards per carry.

A series of big offseason moves have already paid big dividends for San Francisco, standing as the only remaining undefeated team in the NFC. Linebacker Kwon Alexander has been a tackling machine, and pass rusher Dee Ford already has two sacks. Running backs Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert have also picked up the slack for the injured Tevin Coleman, averaging better than 5.0 yards per carry, and healthy Jimmy Garoppolo is averaging 8.8 yards per pass attempt. Now through their bye week, the 49ers will finally get tested vs. Cleveland, followed by a visit to the Rams.

Seattle hasn't earned many style points but is still 3-1 through four weeks. The Seahawks eeked out wins vs. Cincinnati and at Pittsburgh before losing to New Orleans in Week 3, and then they beat Arizona easily in Week 4. As usual Russell Wilson has been uber-efficient, completing nearly 73 percent of his passes with 8/0 TD/INT, and the defense is generating pass rush without Frank Clark and Jarran Reed. The Seahawks have a key stretch ahead, starting with the Rams on Thursday night.

New head coach Bruce Arians has made an immediate impact on an offense that has improved with each game. The team is a Matt Gay missed field goal away from being 3-1 and shocked the Rams with a 55-40 win in Week 4. While Jameis Winston continues to throw too many interceptions (five), he's also put up star numbers with 292 passing yards per game and nine touchdowns. Newcomer Shaquil Barrett also has an unbelievable nine sacks already. We'll see very soon if the win over the Rams was a fluke, with Tampa Bay visiting New Orleans this week.

The Titans have finished 9-7 in three consecutive seasons, and this year's squad has the early makings of another good, not great, team. The defense has been dominant, allowing only 15.5 points per game, and smothering Cleveland and Atlanta on the road. However, the offense has lacked explosiveness again. Marcus Mariota has only 233 passing yards per game, and Derrick Henry is off to a relatively slow start. As expected, Tennessee is in the hunt but far from the AFC front-runners, at 2-2.

Head coach Jay Gruden's days in Washington look like they're numbered after an 0-4 start, with the team getting outscored 118-66. There's already an uncomfortable quarterback controversy with Case Keenum struggling and rookie Dwayne Haskins looking completely unready, and the running game has been inept with Adrian Peterson as the starter since Derrius Guice suffered another injury. The lack of defense is the biggest disappointment, as there is plenty of talent on that side of the ball led by new safety Landon Collins and veteran linebacker Ryan Kerrigan.