ShareThisEvery team in the National Football League has played at least eight games and there are some things that have become quite clear, even if our preseason predictions (Chargers? Super Bowl?) look pretty murky:
-- QUARTERBACKS ARE VITAL: Not only do teams need a solid starter but they also should invest in an experienced, quality backup. Taking it further, they should look to the draft -- especially the middle rounds -- for a promising No. 3.
The Patriots were awfully glad they had Matt Cassel on board when Tom Brady's knee ligaments were damaged in Week 1. The Cowboys, meanwhile, are learning the hard way that carrying washed-up Brad Johnson and Brooks Bollinger as backups to Tony Romo will get you to last place in a hurry.
-- COACHES SHOULD RENT: Job security among NFL head coaches has never been more tenuous because owners and fans can't stomach a rebuilding process. We've seen the Rams dump Scott Linehan and get an immediate return with interim head coach Jim Haslett winning his first two games. Both Bay Area teams sacked their coaches, Lane Kiffin and Mike Nolan, and haven't responded well to interims Tom Cable and Mike Singletary.
Who would have thought?
-- EDWARDS CAN'T CATCH: He was your fantasy superstar last year. Now Browns receiver Braylon Edwards has 12 drops and there is talk -- seriously -- that he either needs corrective eye surgery or contact lenses because he can't see downfield.
-- ROOKIE QBS CAN LEAD: Conventional wisdom dictated that the Falcons and the Ravens would be in for some tough times starting first-round picks Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. Flacco has taken his lumps but has earned the respect of the Ravens (5-3) with his toughness and hard work. Ryan audibled, ran a no-huddle offense and looked like a Pro Bowler in Sunday's 24-0 win over the Raiders.
-- 49ERS HAVE QB PROBLEM: It was a red-flag warning when the 49ers tried to tell us there was a competition at the position during camp while a career backup named J.T. O'Sullivan was taking the majority of the first-team snaps. Sirens went off when what was left of Alex Smith's shoulder was mangled in an exhibition game. The truth was revealed when O'Sullivan threw 11 interceptions and lost six fumbles in 7-1/2 games.
MIDSEASON REPORT
TOP OF THE HEAP
1. Titans (8-0): Jeff Fisher is now the favorite for Coach of the Year honors after dumping Adam "Pacman" Jones on the Cowboys, drafting Chris Johnson (715 rushing yards) and smoothing over the Vince Young debacle while reviving quarterback Kerry Collins.
2. Giants (7-1): Eli is the better Manning this season and the Giants have the best offensive and defensive lines. They simply find ways to win each week.
3. Steelers (6-2): They lost quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on Monday night against the Redskins but didn't miss a beat.
4. Panthers (6-2): Before their Week 9 bye, the Panthers crept up on the rest of the league by playing explosively on offense, steadily on defense and beating big-time opponents (Chargers, Saints, Cardinals).
5. Redskins (6-3): New coach Jim Zorn's offensive pedigree is meshing well with quarterback Jason Campbell's athletic playing style. Having NFL rushing leader Clinton Portis around doesn't hurt.
BOTTOM OF THE PILE
28. Chiefs (1-7): Quarterback Tyler Thigpen is actually starting to impress us. A little.
29. Bengals (1-8): Sunday's upset win over the Jaguars salvaged the Bengals from their franchise mark for futility: They opened 0-10 in 1993.
30. 49ers (2-6): Coach Mike Singletary vows not to drop his pants again to get this team's attention. Instead, the entire bottom might drop out Monday at Arizona.
31. Raiders (2-6): Well, the Cable Guy ain't getting it done, as Sunday's rock-bottom performance against the Falcons proved. But can any coach be successful in Oakland unless Al Davis completely revamps his operation?
32. Lions (0-8): This is no longer a losing streak; it's a way of life in Detroit. The Lions have lost 15 of their last 16 games and nine in a row.
(E-mail Nancy Gay at ngay@sfchronicle.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
