Highlights and lowlights from the NFL's bizarre first half

As this wacky NFL season approaches halftime, parity is ahead by two touchdowns.

Eight wins might buy you a division title in the NFC West ... 10 wins might get you left out of the AFC playoff picture.

Jerry Jones has no answers in Big D, the Chiefs have silenced their skeptics in KC and Tennessee's new addition, Randy Moss, is all jazzed up in Music City.

There's been little movement on the labor front but plenty of action on the league's determined crackdown on flagrant hits.

Through it all, here are the best and worst heading into intermission.

MVP

QB Peyton Manning, Colts. Why don't we just give this award permanently to Eli's big brother? You can't sack him, you can't intercept him and it doesn't seem to matter what receivers Indianapolis lines up - Peyton Manning finds 'em. He's the best of his generation, so enjoy him while you can.

Offensive Player

QB Philip Rivers, Chargers. This prolific gunslinger is on pace to throw for 5,298 yards, which would shatter the league record (5,084) set by Dan Marino in 1984. The difference is Marino's Dolphins made the Super Bowl that season, while San Diego is trying to crawl out of a 3-5 hole. Don't blame Rivers for the funky start.

Defensive Player

OLB Clay Matthews, Packers. One year after teammate Charles Woodson earned this honor, Matthews has been a weekly wrecking crew. He tops the NFL with 9.5 sacks and Matthews plans to torment every team that made him wait until pick No. 26 of the 2009 draft.

Head Coach

Raheem Morris, Bucs. Give it up for Todd Haley of the Chiefs and Steve Spagnuolo of the Rams, but no one is maximizing his team's talent base more effectively than Tampa Bay's second-year coach. The Bucs aren't the NFC's best club, but their rebuilding plan has been accelerated in large part because they believe in their fiery leader.

Assistant Coach

Romeo Crennel, defensive coordinator, Chiefs. Crennel has molded KC's young defense into an aggressive 3-4 unit that has keyed a surprising 5-2 start. The Chiefs have been stout against the run and only the Steelers, Jets and Bears have yielded fewer points.

Eric Berry

Offensive Rookie

QB Sam Bradford, Rams. The No. 1 overall pick in the draft has been particularly sharp on third down, posting a 101.2 passer rating, with six TDs and zero interceptions in 92 throws. By minimizing mistakes, Bradford has St. Louis fans excited by a 4-4 start.

Defensive Rookie

DT Ndamukong Suh, Lions. This competition isn't even close because Suh has exceeded expectations with 6.5 sacks in seven games, displaying a rare blend of size, power and athleticism that marks him as a perennial Pro Bowler.

Biggest Surprise

St. Louis. Only a last-minute loss in Tampa has prevented the Rams from a 5-3 getaway. The biggest improvement has come on defense, where opponents are converting only 36 percent on third down and second-year middle linebacker James Laurinaitis is an emerging stud.

Biggest Disappointment

Dallas. With the Super Bowl slated for Cowboys Stadium, Dallas fans were braced for a championship run. Instead, the season has come apart and Coach Wade Phillips is hanging by a thread. The last time this much talent went to waste, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman teamed up for "The Bucket List.''