Sam Darnold proving himself as a starting caliber quarterback on a playoff team was a shock to many, but the results have been undeniable. The sixth best passing offense courtesy of his connection to Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson in particular has led the Vikings to a top-10 offense and a B- grade on the year so far. Next week, Darnold faces his final test of the regular season with the 1-seed on the line.
The addition of DeAndre Hopkins, alongside the return of Isaiah Pacheco and Hollywood Brown has the Chiefs offense humming once again for a B- grade on the year. After their two best games of the season, they now get to rest before a playoff gauntlet comes around. However, their season-long dominance has come in the form of efficiency, especially when it comes to third down conversions at the best rate in the league. A rested Mahomes/Andy Reid duo should be scary for any team come playoff team, especially with the team peaking at just the right moment.
Jordan Love has been very trigger happy, but the results have been mostly positive for Matt LeFluer as the team boasts a B-grade for the season. Thanks to the ninth-best red-zone offense in the league behind a spectacular year from Josh Jacobs, the Packers have all the tools to stage together a deep playoff run. But the passing offense is going to have to be as efficient and clean as the rushing offense.
The Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins trio is enough to bolster a B-grade on the year. But the emergence of Chase Brown as the ideal Joe Mixon replacement has given them some much-needed versatility. Even though the defense is impossibly bad, the Bengals offense remains among the scariest in the league.
Behind the dual threat of Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr., the Cardinals have been a top-10 passing and rushing offense, a mark just four other teams can match, giving them a B-grade on the year. However, an atrocious defense has them out of the playoff picture. Any improvement from 27th might make the immediate playoff contenders next season.
It is hard to overstate how impressive the rookie year from Jayden Daniels has been. Anchoring the eight-lowest turnover rate to the fourth-best offense at generating points on drives has doubled with a rushing game that might be second only to Lamar Jackson at the QB position. Against the Falcons in Week 17, he led a fourth quarter and overtime drive to put the game away and clinch the Commanders' first postseason birth in four seasons, giving them a B-grade on the year so far.
Josh Allen may snag home the MVP after career-lows in negative plays and interception rate. But the best offensive line in the league has been critical to a passing game, which complemented by an excellent run game on the back of James Cook, has them leading the league in points per drive and a B+ grade on the year.
Baker Mayfield got MVP buzz thanks to his otherworldly connection with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Even with injuries to both, the offense has trudged along, thanks to a strong ground game behind Bucky Irving. As a result, they have a top-five rushing and passing offense, earning them an A-grade on the year.
Their strength is in their versatility. While MVP candidate Lamar Jackson has 43 total TDs to just four interceptions, OPOY candidate Derrick Henry has orchestrated the second best rushing offense in the league. The league's best red-zone offense has given them a top-five finish 10 times this season, earning them an A-grade on the season as a whole.
The aggressiveness from Dan Campbell combined with the ingenuity of Ben Johnson has made the Detroit Lions virtually unstoppable. A passing game led by Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown, combined with a rush game led by Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, has made them the highest-scoring offense in the league, with top-three efficiency in both. They are the best offense in the league with an A-grade, but with the defense devastated with injuries, it remains to be seen if the offense can carry them through the playoffs alone.
