GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Here’s a look at the first half of the season for the Green Bay Packers (4-4) and a preview of what to expect in the second half:

Grade C: Even in the muddled NFC, the Packers would be out of the playoffs at this point. They're currently No. 9 in the playoff standings. Still, they’re in the thick of the division race and have the Minnesota Vikings coming to Lambeau Field late in the season. Yes, many thought the Packers might be 7-1 or 6-2 at this point but even in their current banged-up state, they’re not out of anything yet. The most appropriate grade for a .500 team is average at best.

Midseason MVP: One NFL scout put it best this week when he said: “Mike McCarthy is at his best under tough circumstances.” And it’s hard to imagine it could be much tougher than what the Packers coach has dealt with on the injury front. He lost both of his running backs (Eddie Lacy and James Starks), so he moved receivers Ty Montgomery, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams into the backfield. Because of that, Aaron Rodgers came out of his slump. Yet even Montgomery and Cobb have missed games. He also played most of October without his top three cornerbacks yet still didn’t allow stud receivers such as Alshon Jeffery and Julio Jones to dominate them. In the absence of a standout individual performer, McCarthy's work at least stands out for the challenges he's faced with little or no help from general manager Ted Thompson in the way of significant in-season roster additions.

Best moment: In an otherwise sluggish start to the season, Rodgers had a half of brilliance in the Week 3 win over the Lions. He threw four touchdown passes before halftime, marking just the second time in his career that he’s had a four-touchdown-pass first half. He added another four-touchdown game in Week 8 against Atlanta, giving him 18 such games for his career, leaving him one short of Brett Favre’s team record. Rodgers ranks sixth in NFL history in four-touchdown games and is third among active quarterbacks.

Worst moment: The Packers were about to get back into the Week 6 game against the Cowboys. Trailing 20-6, they had first-and-goal at the 1-yard line, but Rodgers fumbled and couldn’t recover it. The Packers fumbled five times that day; the Cowboys recovered three of them and beat the Packers 30-16 at Lambeau Field.

Player to watch: Adams has finally shown the consistency that he lacked in his first two seasons. The third-year pro had a penchant for disappearing after big games. Not this year. He backed up his first big game of the season (a 13-catch, 132-yard performance against the Bears) with another double-digit outing against the Falcons. He’s given Rodgers another trusted weapon in the passing game.

Second-half outlook: It may be hard to believe, but the Packers don’t play at Lambeau Field again until Dec. 4 against the Texans. A three-game road swing to start the second half of the season takes them to Tennessee, Washington and Philadelphia. Somewhere along the line, and sooner rather than later, they need to get their cornerbacks healthy. They’re not going to have Sam Shields (on injured reserve with a concussion), but 2015 first-round pick Damarious Randall should return soon from his groin surgery. That will allow defensive coordinator Dom Capers to blitz more, possibly leading to turnovers. A deep playoff run is still possible as long as the defense holds its own and Rodgers & Co. keep trending up.