The biggest disappointments in the NFL at the midway point

If you've watched any of the past five Saints games, you've surely heard announcing crews reveal how much Sean Payton loves Hill (well, just not as a backup quarterback). The versatile third-string QB now makes regular cameos on offense. While it certainly provides interesting TV, Hill taking snaps limits Drew Brees' opportunities. Hill's up to 21 carries and has attempted three passes. He's taken more snaps handing off to Saints backs, too. Brees is in the MVP race and is forced to stand at wide receiver. This feels unnecessary. 

Joe Tessitore is successfully transitioning from his boxing/college football role at ESPN to a promising "Monday Night Football" voice, though his touchdown volume resembling that of a 12th-round knockdown is a different sound for NFL broadcasts. But he's having to carry this newly assembled crew weekly. Jason Witten is well off Tony Romo's pace and is showing it's not usually a good idea to give marquee roles to rookie announcers. Booger McFarland isn't much better. Although he's giving viewers more than Witten, he's not providing enough insight from his roving sideline set. 

Saquon Barkley is well ahead in the Offensive Rookie of the Year race. While debuting quarterbacks aren't known for immediate success, this year's quartet of top-10 picks doesn't have a surefire standout. Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and, to a lesser degree, Josh Rosen have shown flashes. But no Deshaun Watson- or Andrew Luck-level breakouts have occurred from this group. Darnold, Rosen, Mayfield and Josh Allen are all in the bottom six in quarterback defense-adjusted yards above replacement. It will be a bit before proper evaluation can commence, but the rookies have a long way to go.

Pat Shurmur thrived with the Vikings, but his clock-management snafu in a nationally televised game showed head coaches can be overmatched by basic math. The question of how to proceed when trailing by between nine and 11 points late in game has bedeviled many a coach. It really got the best of the Giants' leader. Instead of stopping a Giants drive to kick a late field goal and trim the Falcons' lead to eight in time for an onside kick, Shurmur called two Eli Manning QB sneaks. The Giants scored with five seconds left, still down three. This can't still be a problem in 2018. 

The component of New England's dynasty not mentioned enough continues. As expected, the AFC East will not produce a competent Patriots challenger this season. We're in season 10 of the Bills, Dolphins and Jets all but guaranteeing a Pats playoff home game and likely a bye. The last above-average quarterback who isn't Tom Brady to come through this division was Chad Pennington, and his run ended in 2009. It's hard to overstate how much this has contributed to AFC playoff fields going through New England this decade, and despite the Chiefs' stratospheric offense, that may end up happening again. 

Credit Le'Veon Bell for sticking to his guns. His holdout rivals Dan Williams' (the last franchise-tagged player to skip a season, doing so in 1998). Bell's missed out on nearly $7 million and has watched the Steelers find a groove with James Conner — the NFL's third-leading rusher. Bell's deprived NFL fans of his unique style and is risking plenty by sitting out. He's hoping for a deal better than the extension Pittsburgh offered. But with already 1,200-plus carries on his odometer, Conner thriving and backs rarely seeing big paydays, the two-time All-Pro may be disappointed come March.  

Kansas City's offense has the team armed with its best Super Bowl opportunity since the 1990s, but against high-end opposition, Patrick Mahomes' relentless attack may not have a large margin for error. The Chiefs' defense is still allowing a league-worst 36.2 points per game. The team traded former All-Pro Marcus Peters for a low-level return, and defensive coordinator Bob Sutton also is missing Eric Berry and Justin Houston. But the sixth-year DC's units have deteriorated in recent years. This one puts championship hopes in jeopardy.

Going into Week 9, 10 teams either will not be able to start their optimal running back or aren't certain to have their starter available. Devonta Freeman, Jay Ajayi, Derrius Guice, Marshawn Lynch and Jerick McKinnon are on injured reserve. Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook have missed extensive time. This position has a short shelf life and features frequent injuries, but this year's have been particularly tough on certain teams. 

The roster John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan assembled in their second year running the 49ers is one of the NFL's worst. San Francisco's deficient at many positions, and even Jimmy Garoppolo would've had a difficult time propping up this 49ers edition. Robert Saleh's defense has problems on all three levels. While Lynch and Shanahan received six-year contracts, they won't have much to show for their work beyond an odd Patriots gift-wrapped trade by the time their third offseason begins. But another high draft choice will be coming.

Bengals owner Mike Brown not only employs Vontaze Burfict but went out of his way to defend the NFL's consensus dirtiest player. Brown took issue with Burfict's $112,000 fine when no penalty was called, which is understandable. But he reportedly criticized the league's safety measures as well. Brown authorized an $11 million-per-year extension for the oft-suspended linebacker last year and continues to take no issue with employing and supporting players who are on- and off-field risks. It's not a good look for the Bengals.

When compared to the current infrastructures fellow all-time greats Tom Brady and Drew Brees have, Aaron Rodgers is lagging behind. He plays for a franchise that spent most of his career avoiding free agency. Rodgers remains trapped in a staid offense, has one reliable wide receiver and sees Green Bay's defense (24th in DVOA) often underwhelm. Rodgers was most recently seen watching the Rams run out the clock after a Packers special teams miscue. The organization continues to fail to live up to the responsibilities of employing a player of this caliber.

At least the Raiders are openly playing for the future. They've collected three additional first-round picks between 2019-20. The Bills, on the other hand, gave up assets to land Josh Allen only to make it nearly impossible for him to succeed. First, the Wyoming talent should not have debuted when he did. A horrendous quarterback depth chart (including the botched AJ McCarron signing) forced Allen into action. Buffalo's No. 32 scoring offense (10.9 points per game) has a bad line and next to no skill-position talent beyond LeSean McCoy. The Bills' defensive progress aside, their rebuild is a long way away.

The Cardinals won five combined games with Drew Stanton and Blaine Gabbert under center last season. This year's version has Sam Bradford and 2018's No. 10 overall pick, and it's somehow statistically worse in yards than a Bills team that's setting offense back generations. Arizona's averaging 233 yards per game — a cool 234 behind first-place Tampa Bay. David Johnson (394 rushing yards) and Larry Fitzgerald (357 through the air) are being wasted on this team. Since-fired OC Mike McCoy undid Bruce Arians' work quickly, and Josh Rosen's not exactly in a good learning environment. 

Expected to be one of the NFL's best teams, the defending champions are 4-4 and looking up at the NFC's premier squads. They're 1.5 games behind a less talented Washington team. The Eagles have failed to deter opposing passing games, allowing Tennessee's Marcus Mariota to post his outlier day (327 passing yards, 107 more than any other 2018 showing) in an overtime win. Philadelphia is 25th in pass defense, and the same blockers who comprised a dominant 2017 offensive line have allowed Carson Wentz and Nick Foles to be hit 63 times — better than only Houston. 

The Vikings are as pot committed as any franchise in the NFL. From Kirk Cousins' fully guaranteed contract to a host of high-end defender deals, the Vikings are built to contend now. Minnesota's defense has not played up to its capabilities. The unit's 16th in DVOA and 15th in points allowed (24.4). The Vikings led the NFL in points (15.8) and yards (275.9) yielded last season. They've played both the Saints and Rams but also allowed the Bills to score 27 points. The Vikes' embattled offensive line may restrict their offense throughout; they need much better defense to achieve their goal.

Jameis Winston's four-interception game got him benched, and he might not regain his job. The 2015 No. 1 pick has thrown 10 INTs this season, doing so in just 198 attempts. Fellow 10-INT clubbers Case Keenum and Sam Darnold have 288 and 250 attempts, respectively. Winston's now thrown 54 career INTs and is teetering on joining JaMarcus Russell and Tim Couch in an undesired wing of NFL history. Attached to a $20.9 million fifth-year option price, Winston probably won't be back with the Buccaneers next season.

The Browns fired their top two offensive leaders and gave the reins to the Bountygate guy. Haslam's owned the team since 2012; the Browns in that span are 22-81-1. He's fired four coaches, and Hue Jackson was a hot commodity on the market in 2016. It's going to be tough for the Browns to bring in a quality coach next year, even with successful general manager John Dorsey in the fold. Dysfunction's consumed the Browns during the entire Haslam tenure, and they now have a first-time offensive coordinator (at any level), Freddie Kitchens, set to call plays for a rookie quarterback whose development is vital.

This isn't a bad team. The Broncos have lost three games against the Chiefs and Rams by a combined 14 points. But at 3-5 and with Vance Joseph's road record sitting at 2-10, it's hard to see the Broncos booking a wild-card spot. Von Miller and select other Super Bowl 50 starters will likely be on next year's team, but several others will be gone. So will Joseph. John Elway's repeated issues replacing Peyton Manning has wasted years of a championship group's prime, and with Patrick Mahomes on an MVP track and Case Keenum struggling, the big picture looks bleak in Denver.

Amari Cooper fetched a first-round pick in a trade, despite his rookie contract being soon set to spike via a $13 million fifth-year option. Being burned by the Joey Galloway and Roy Williams trades involving first-rounders, Jerry Jones still bet an underachieving Cooper could save a mess he created. Dallas' Dez Bryant and Jason Witten replacements have predictably not helped Dak Prescott, a quarterback who needs a strong supporting cast. While Dallas' defense is solid and the NFC East may be weak, there's a better chance the traded pick is in the top 12 than there is the Cowboys win the division. 

The NFL's emphasis on overly protecting its top revenue generators has caused mass criticism — even from quarterbacks. The broken state of the roughing-the-passer penalty caused Dolphins defensive end William Hayes to tear an ACL, cost the Packers a crucial win and may have done the same to the Chiefs. Pass rushers' degrees of difficulty have never been greater, and the navigation of this rule is deciding games' outcomes. In an otherwise strong year for the league, it still can't get out of its own way.

Exotic smashmouth doesn't sound so bad anymore. This returning playoff team sports the NFL's 30th-ranked offense (280.9 yards per game), and the Titans are ahead of only the Bills and Cardinals in scoring (15.1 points per game). This was the main reason Mike Mularkey was fired, but his 2017 attack ranked 19th in scoring (20.9 ppg). Marcus Mariota (three TD passes in six games) either isn't fully recovered from his September elbow injury, or he's continuing to regress. The Titans have no run game (Derrick Henry's at 3.3 yards per carry) and no pass-catcher depth, putting any playoff hopes in peril.

A case can still be made that Eli Manning has seen the back end of his prime (and now his NFL twilight years) ruined by terrible offensive lines. That will be ultimately forgotten, but general manager Dave Gettleman's remade front is getting ravaged weekly and can't protect an immobile quarterback. The Redskins sacked Manning seven times in Week 8. He's gone down 31 times in eight games. That matches his 15-game total last season. But Manning is likely going to be ushered out in some fashion after 2018. This stretch will impact his legacy.

Jaguars brass must shoulder the blame for the team's predictable predicament. Bortles has been given numerous chances to show he's incapable of being a reliable starter, yet the Jags' multiyear managerial failure kept him in a centerpiece role. Jacksonville has the No. 2-ranked defense, but the team is 3-5 — having lost four straight thanks mostly to unsatisfactory quarterback play. If only there were a low-cost way for the Jags to have upgraded here. Instead, an overmatched passer has the chance to squander what could be a possible extended run of success.

In 2016, the Raiders went 12-4. They're now back to a level their fans know all too well. But this time, a coach who once steered a Raider resurgence is responsible. Gruden's trades for first-round picks would inspire more if he'd fared better as a drafter in Tampa. He's running a rebuilding team yet signed numerous 30-somethings. He's complained about his team's pass rush (NFL-worst seven sacks in seven games) after trading the best Raider since at least prime Charles Woodson. This mess comes just as Oakland fans of a certain age will watch the team relocate for a second time.

Politics aside, it's easy to see Kaepernick is a better quarterback than a few NFL starters and almost every backup. He was trending in the wrong direction after Jim Harbaugh left San Francisco, but each week NFL viewers can see awful QB play. The soon-to-be 31-year-old Kaepernick not having an NFL job while numerous players with criminal records do will not age well. Kaepernick's free-agency status looks worse now that the Panthers signed Eric Reid. The NFL has to contend with what will be a high-profile collusion trial that will overshadow most positive developments associated with the league.