Pass or Fail...

I would like to think of the next couple of weekends as the midterm exam for a lot of teams. In weeks 6, 7, and 8 most teams know which direction they are headed for the season. So which teams or players passed and which failed...

New Orleans Saints = PASS...this week's win over the New York Giants was very definitive. They have two good running backs, a great quarterback, a strong offensive line and big wide receivers. The question mark is their defense, but if they keep on winning they can ensure home field advantage which is a great advantage for the playoffs...i.e. no cold weather. Next week they have a trap game in Miami who is struggling but can be a difficult team to defend. Atlanta in two weeks should be a great conference match up. (oh and by the way, they have beaten all three teams from the state of New York)

Atlanta Falcons = PASS...they defeated the Chicago Bears. The Falcons are 4-1 and beat a good Bears team. The addition of Tony Gonzalez has allowed Matt Ryan to continue to grow and avoid a sophomore slump. Wide receiver Roddy White and Gonzalez are big targets for a very good quarterback. their exam continues with Dallas in week 7 and New Orleans in week 8.

Washington Redskins = FAIL...I am not going to join the bandwagon and blame Jim Zorn. I am going to blame Daniel Snyder. The decision to take play calling away from Zorn is a bit premature. Zorn was hired to be the offensive coordinator, a position he had never had before, but soon was named the head coach. Snyder is a good business man but doesn't know how to run a football team. The decision to change the play caller in the middle of the season will not bring victories but confusion. Consultant Sherm Lewis doesn't know the Redskins offense...in fact he doesn't know the blitz protections. Maybe Snyder could have looked to offensive coordinator Sherman Smith but rather went outside the organization to a man who was calling bingo games in a senior center. All 6 games they have played have been against win less teams and they have lost four of them...Redskin fans will have to wait and see if this new experiment works.

Tennessee Titans = FAIL...the Titans started 2008 with a record of 10-0 but have gone 3-10 since. The 59-0 loss the Patriots this weekend was disgraceful for the organization and could mean the end of Jeff Fisher's reign in Nashville. Fisher has the longest running tenure of any active coach in the NFL. The Titans have a bye week and then face the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars, maybe they can turn it around and get a few wins.

Minnesota Vikings = PASS...Some may say that the Vikings have been lucky on a few of their wins. They beat the Ravens because of a missed field goal and played some terrible teams (Rams, Browns, and Lions). The defense has been giving up a lot of points in the second half and making the offense play really well, which they have been. As long as Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson are running on all cylinders this team will be tough to beat. Their upcoming games against at Green Bay and at Pittsburgh could be a good challenge for them.

Denver Broncos = PASS...In their last three games the Broncos have beaten the Cowboys, Patriots, and Bears. The Broncos under new head coach Josh McDaniels have been great. Kyle Orton is not being asked to do anything as quarterback that he cannot do and the play of Brandon Marshall has been brilliant. The Bronco defense has been outstanding and could help them keep on winning. It is great to see a head coach with emotion. After their bye week they will face the Ravens and Steelers (both of which will be coming off their bye weeks).

Late game missed field goals = FAIL...The Vikings' Ryan Longwell kicked a field goal with more than 3 minutes left to play to go ahead by 1 point. The Ravens were able to drive down the field and gave kicker Steven Hauschka a chance to win the game. From 44 yards out and with 2 seconds left to play, Hauschka missed.

The Jets/Bills game was pretty ugly. At the end of regulation, the Bills' Rian Lindell missed a 46 yard field goal that could win the game. The game went into overtime and here is were things got interesting. The Jets drove the field and were in field goal range. They lined up for a field goal, the snap was bobbled and they could not get it done. Lindell then got another chance to win the game and was able to make one from 47 yards.

The next couple of weeks will show if these kickers still have jobs, if the failing coaches still have jobs, and if the passing teams can keep on their winning streaks. With Bill Cowher, John Gruden, and Mike Shanahan available for coaching jobs...all "hot seat" coaches should be looking over their shoulders.