Yahoo Sports grades NFL teams at midseason, Giants and Browns earn top marks while Chargers and Eagles fall to F

Yahoo Sports analysts Frank Schwab (covering the AFC) and Eric Edholm (covering the NFC) released their midseason evaluations of every NFL team after 136 games in the 2026 campaign. The Buffalo Bills earned an A- grade, sitting 7-1 and leading the AFC with Josh Allen delivering an MVP-level season, though a slow-starting defense kept the grade from being higher. In the AFC North, the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers each received A grades, while the Cleveland Browns were given an A-, reflecting solid play despite ongoing quarterback uncertainty.

The Jacksonville Jaguars topped the AFC South with an A, leading the league in point differential and DVOA, whereas the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans were graded D and D respectively for under-performing relative to expectations. The Kansas City Chiefs earned a B+, and the Denver Broncos a B, while the Los Angeles Chargers were the lowest-ranked AFC team with an F-, described as a major disappointment.

In the NFC, the New York Giants received an A- despite injuries to key players, and the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers were graded A- and B+ respectively. The San Francisco 49ers continued strong play with an A grade, while the Philadelphia Eagles fell to an F after a series of losses and quarterback health issues. The Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys and several other clubs received grades ranging from D to C-.

Schwab and Edholm noted that injuries, quarterback play and defensive performance were the primary factors influencing the grades, and they warned that the second half of the season could see significant shifts as teams adjust.

"The Chargers have been the worst team in football," Schwab wrote, calling the decline "unbelievable". "The Eagles' season has been a disaster," Edholm added, citing injuries to Jalen Hurts and a struggling defense.

The analysts concluded that while some teams have over-achieved, others face steep challenges to improve before the playoffs begin.