NFL Mid-Season Report

With the NFL reaching the midway point of the season, here is a look at the early season winners and losers.

MVP – Derek Carr, QB, Oakland Raiders

Everyone wants to anoint Brady the early season MVP. Although his numbers to date are crazy even after 4 games (12 TD, 0 INT), that’s almost become second nature for him. Instead, what Derek Carr is orchestrating in Oakland is far more impressive. He has thrown for 2,321 yards (5^th), 17 TD passes (3^rd), and ranks 5^th in QB rating (100.9). He has set the Raiders franchise record for most passing yards in a game with 513 (in which he completed 40 passes including 4 TD’s and 0 INT)! Moreover, his defense ranks 31^st which means in most cases Carr has to provide points on offense (time and time again) in order to keep the team in the game. The most intriguing stat of all however: a perfect 5-0 on the road and first in the AFC West at 6-2. Oakland hasn’t had a winning season in 13 years. In just his third season behind center, Carr is not only leading the Black Hole to a winning season, but to the playoffs as well. He deserves MVP consideration.

Carr has rejuvenated Raider Nation

Rookie of the Year – Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

It’s incredible that two of the top three candidates for rookie of the year are on the same team. Ezekiel Elliott has no doubt been impressive in his rookie campaign as he leads the league in rushing through the first half and he’ll more than likely take home this award come season’s end. But to a certain extent, wasn’t that expected out of a 4^th overall pick running behind the best o-line in the league? The more surprising star has been his backfield counterpart, Dak Prescott. Without the poise and incredible ability of what’s looking like a fourth round steal, the Boys wouldn’t be having near the amount of success. Prescott is just the second rookie quarterback in the history of the league to lead a team to a 6-1 start – the last time someone reached that feat was 1948. He also boasts the record for most pass attempts without throwing an interception to start a career. This past Sunday, he directed a touchdown opening drive in overtime in the comeback win over the Eagles. His legend keeps growing, and if he continues at this rate, Romo’s career in Dallas could be over.

Most underrated player – Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions

Losing Calvin Johnson was supposed to take a major hit to the Lions signal caller’s production. Instead, it seems as though Stafford has actually improved. He ranks 4^th in QB rating, 4^th in Completion percentage, 5^th in TD passes, and 8^th in passing yards. Although he does have some playmakers around him, he doesn’t have a great supporting cast (a situation similar to that of Philip Rivers), and yet the Lions are right in the middle of the NFC Playoff picture. It’s time Stafford is ranked among the elite, at the least a top-10 quarterback in the NFL.

Best Performance - Jay Ajayi, RB, Miami Dolphins

In a league that's pass heavy, committing to the run in today's game has become an afterthought, especially without strong offensive lines. After an abysmal 1-4 start, including a near loss to the winless Browns, the Dolphins abandoned the pass and turned to the run. The beneficiary? Second year back Jay Ajayi - the same player who didn't even travel to Seattle Week 1 after being benched because he was upset for not being named the starter. Maybe he had a case. In weeks 6 and 7, he turned his opportunity into reality, becoming just the 4th player in the history of the league to rush for over 200 yards in back-to-back games. He bulldozed Pittsburgh for 204 and two scores, and followed that up with 214 and another score over Buffalo. In each of those games, he had over 95 yards after contact, the first to do that since 2001. What will he do for an encore? Tune in Sunday to find out.

Ajayi will look to make history Sunday against the Jets

Team with the worst luck – San Diego Chargers (3-5)

The Chargers five losses have come by an average of 4.4 points. They’ve blown fourth quarter leads in four of their five losses (one being a botched snap on a FG as time expired). Take even two of those losses and the Bolts would be in the playoff hunt. On top of that, consider all the devastating injuries they’ve had to endure – Keenan Allen, Danny Woodhead, Branden Oliver, Stevie Johnson, Manti Te’o, and Jason Verrett all lost for the season. With that said, San Diego is still a tough out each and every week. They boast one of the most underrated quarterbacks of this generation in Rivers, who leads an offense that ranks 3^rd in points/game, 7^th in passing yards/game, and 8^th in total yards.  

Biggest Disappointments – Carolina Panthers & Arizona Cardinals

Who would have thought that the top 2 seeds (NFC Championship opponents) from the playoffs a year ago would be non-existent over the first half? The Panthers currently sit in the cellar of the woeful NFC South at 2-5, while the Cardinals aren’t much better at 3-4-1. These were supposed to be the two teams vying for a shot at a SuperBowl but instead are trending in the opposite direction. Statistically, Arizona is doing just fine, as the defense ranks 1^st in defense in terms of yardage (297 yds. /gm), 6^th in scoring defense (17.5/gm), and tied for 2^nd in interceptions with 9. The offense ranks 10^th overall. Special teams however has been their downfall as two missed FG and another block has cost Arizona two crucial games.

Meanwhile, Carolina has been dreadful, particularly on defense. After ranking in the top ten in just about every defensive category a year ago, the Panthers currently sit at 27^th in scoring defense (28 points/gm) and 30^th in pass defense (287 yards/gm). Newton has performed nowhere near his MVP form from a season ago and the defense’s inability to stop opposing offenses has proven costly.

Many experts predicted these teams to not only make it to the SuperBowl, but to win it. If that’s going to happen, they’ll have to turn things around and start playing better football in the second half.

Finally…A couple things I’d change

1. Eliminate Thursday Night Football

Nothing has been more apparent than the lack of competitive play on Thursday Night Football games so far this year. There virtually hasn’t been a single game that hasn’t been decided in the first half. The average margin of victory has been 14, a whole two possessions! Moreover, home teams hold a 5-2 advantage (6-2 if you include Denver’s opening night victory over Carolina although that game isn’t considered part of the TNF slate) over their away counterparts. The only Thursday’s that should be reserved for NFL is Thanksgiving and the season opener. It’s time the league brings this tradition back.  

And if the league is going to stick with TNF which is more than likely going to happen, here’s a proposition: Trash those color rush uniforms and make every team wear throwbacks instead.

2. Flex Monday Night Football

Every year I watch Monday Night Football, I ask myself, “How in the world are these two teams on the national stage?” I really wonder what the scheduling committee is thinking when they choose certain matchups - like giving the Chicago Bears and New York Jets multiple games in primetime. Really? This is supposed to be the premier game of the week and yet year after year, there’s more laughers than there is competitive games. In 2016, the average margin of victory on MNF is 16.4 points. There has been one game decided by less than two possessions (the boring bowl between Carolina & Tampa Bay in which Newton didn’t even play), and four games decided by more than two possessions. The solution? Flex the Monday Night schedule at the midway point, creating more exciting matchups for the second half.  

Here’s to an exciting rest of the season!