NFL Midseason Report

We’re just over halfway through the NFL season and it has been far from what many may have expected. Here are just a few thoughts on some intriguing storylines.

It has been an interesting year for quarterbacks

Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are doing what they normally do at arguably the most important position in football. Carson Palmer, now fully healthy, is on pace for the best season of his career. Drew Brees is on pace for his 4^th season of 5,000+ yards in his last 5. Cam Newton is turning heads with his ability to lead a team with little talent around him (and his celebrations).

Beyond that, where is the QB class of ’12? Once deemed a group that might have the chance to live up to the prolific class of ’85 (Dan Marino, Jon Elway, Jim Kelly), these guys have taken a major step back in 2015. Not a single quarterback has a winning record - hard to believe a year after they combined to go 39-23. Their numbers to date:

Andrew Luck (injured): 2-5 as a starter, 15 TD’s, 12 INT

Ryan Tannehill: 4-5 record, 15 TD’s, 9 INT

Russell Wilson: 4-5 record, 10 TD’s, 7 INT

Nick Foles (benched for Case Keenum Week 11): 4-5 record, 7 TD’s, 6 INT

Robert Griffin III: N/A

It poses an interesting thought: Could they be surpassed by the class of ’14? It’s not too early to start looking at the sophomores. This group has been on fire in 2015:

Derek Carr: 4-5 record, 21 TD’s, 6 INT

Teddy Bridgewater: 7-2 record, 9 TD’s, 6 INT

Blake Bortles: 3-6 record, 19 TD’s, 11 INT

As for some of the other veterans? Well unfortunately, the days of Peyton Manning may be numbered. He is struggling to remain healthy and has 17 interceptions to only 9 touchdowns. Even at his old age, it is stunning to see such a legend struggle. Joe Flacco is on his way to his first losing season as a pro. Philip Rivers & Matthew Stafford are a combined 4-14. Accordingly, with mixed results to date, it looks like we may have a change of guard at the top of the quarterback list.

A league of parity

Nine teams have already met or exceeded their number of wins from a year ago:

                                    2014              2015

Oakland                     3-13                4-5

Tampa Bay                2-14               4-5

Jacksonville              3-13                3-6

Washington              4-12                4-5

New York Jets          4-12                5-4

Minnesota                 7-9                  7-2

Atlanta                       6-10                6-3

Carolina                    7-8-1               9-0

Tennessee                2-14                2-7

Unheralded Stars

Oftentimes, playing for bad teams won’t garner any attention. For others, superstars steal the spotlight from the role players. But these players have put themselves on the path to stardom.

In Jacksonville, the wide receiver duo of the Allen bros are putting together an incredible year. Allen Hurns has caught a touchdown in 7 straight games. You’d have to go back to Dez Bryant in 2012 for the last time someone has accomplished that feat. Meanwhile, his counterpart, Mr. Robinson, has hauled in 7 TD's himself, and needs just 3 catches to surpass last season's total. 

Robinson has been a force in Jacksonville

                               

His second-year QB, Blake Bortles, is 11^th in passing yards (2,381) and tied for 7^th in TD passes (19). The record for a Jaguar is 23. He’s thrown for multiple touchdowns in 7 of 9 games.

Derek Carr has revitalized a once proud franchise in Oakland. He has thrown as many touchdown passes, 21, as Aaron Rodgers!

Other notables: RB Charcandrick West (KC), RB Jeremy Langford (CHI), WR Jamison Crowder (WSH)

Rookies continuing to adapt

With such advancement in knowledge and technology, it’s becoming much easier for college players to adapt to the professional game. It is once again evident this year in players like Todd Gurley, Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, Marcus Mariota, and Jamies Winston, among several others.

Todd Gurley is 4^th in rushing, which includes missing the first two games due to injury. Amari Cooper ranks 13^th in receiving yards. Marcus Mariota ranks 9^th in passer rating. Jameis Winston went four consecutive games without a turnover, and has already doubled the win total in Tampa from a year ago. Mr. Diggs is averaging 5 receptions, 84.5 yards through 6 games.

Gurley is taking the league by storm in his first season

AFC South jungle

Just last year, Carolina won the NFC South with a losing record, 7-8-1. This year, we could see a very similar outcome in the AFC. Not a team in the division has a winning record, and by the way they’re playing, it is hard to imagine that changing. Hec, Tennessee is 2-7, yet only 2 games back, while Jacksonville sits one game back at 3-6! (The Jags and Titans play each other twice in the next three weeks).

There's a lot to be sorted out in the second half, including whether Carolina & New England can go the distance unbeaten (I sure hope not!), or whether the Browns will land the Number 1 overall pick in the draft. Just a few reasons it should be an exciting finish!