Here’s a look at the first half of the season for the Cincinnati Bengals (3-4-1) and a preview of what to expect in the second half:

Grade C: The Bengals have been fairly average for most of the season. When they badly needed a win against the Redskins on Sunday, they could muster only a tie and allowed more than 540 yards of total offense. The Bengals haven't yet found the spark they had last year that led to a playoff run. While quarterback Andy Dalton has played well, he's already been sacked 25 times and appears to be headed toward a career high in that category. Their defense is ranked 24th overall, they're worst in the league in returning punts, and kicker Mike Nugent has struggled. However, the return of tight end Tyler Eifert could be one of the missing pieces.

Midseason MVP: Wide receiver A.J. Green, who essentially put the team on his back for the first half of the season. The Bengals lost two reliable receivers in Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu, and Eifert, their touchdown leader, was hurt for the first six games. Outside of Green, the team couldn't muster much of an offense. He already has four 100-yard receiving games this season and has been fairly unstoppable, including catching a juggling Hail Mary pass.

Best moment: A.J. Green's Hail Mary catch. Green's juggling skills as a kid paid off. Dalton heaved a midfield pass toward the end zone on the last play before halftime and, remarkably, Green caught it. With defenders draped all over him, he juggled the ball from one hand to the other before finally securing it for the touchdown and a 21-10 lead. That moment will be on Green's highlight reel for years to come.

Worst moment: Trailing the Cowboys 28-0 in the third quarter of an eventual 28-14 loss. The Bengals salvaged this game on the scorecard, scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns to make it appear closer than it really was. In reality, it was one of the most embarrassing losses of the Marvin Lewis era. Dalton was sacked four times as the Bengals struggled to move the ball for three quarters, while the defense was overwhelmed by rookie tailback Ezekiel Elliot and quarterback Dak Prescott.

Player to watch: Tight end Tyler Eifert, who proved he's back from his injury with a big game against the Redskins on Sunday. His presence should improve the offense, and Green said he already noticed teams devoting less safety help on his side with Eifert back in the mix. Eifert led the team in touchdowns last season. Having the Pro Bowler back takes the load off Green's shoulders, and provided Eifert stays healthy he could help the team's inconsistent offense.

Second-half outlook: The Bengals' schedule lightens up considerably in the second half. They had to play three of the top teams in the league: Denver, New England and Dallas. There's no team as good as those three remaining on the Bengals' schedule, but there aren't many easy wins either, with divisional games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh remaining. Pittsburgh is still the team to beat, but since quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is hurt, the Steelers certainly aren't unstoppable. The Bengals should still be in the playoff hunt toward the end of the season, but they've got a lot of improvements to make if they want to get to that point.