Five [Opfer's Take]aways from NFL Week 12

Twelve nuggets from week 12

The Cleveland Browns (surprise, surprise), San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants have officially been eliminated from the playoffs…

For the first time in franchise history, the Cowboys have scored fewer than 10 points in 3 consecutive games (ESPN)…

Since Zeke's suspension, Dak Prescott has 0 passing touchdowns and 8 turnovers. No other QB in the last decade has had 0 passing TD and 8+ giveaways in a three-game span (NFL)...

After starting 3-1, the Broncos have lost 7 straight…

The Dolphins have lost their past five contests by an average of 19 points…

The Bears rushed for six yards on 14 attempts against the Eagles...

Atlanta’s Julio Jones went bonanzas, recording 12 catches for 253 yards and two scores, marking the third time in his career he has gone over 250 yards receiving. No other player in NFL history has more than one such game (Elias)…

Falcon’s wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (who connected with Jones for one of his scores) and Ravens punter Sam Koch each completed passes. They both remain perfect in attempting passes in their careers (Sanu: 6-of-6 for 228 yards and 3 TD’s, Koch: 4-of-4 for 48 yards)…

The Steel City duo of Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell have combined for a league-best 2,572 scrimmage yards. The next closest is Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara from the Big Easy with 2,149…

The Vikings are 9-2 with a three-game lead on the rest of the NFC North. They’ve started 9-2 or better three times in the last 40 seasons. Each time they made it to the conference title game… and lost (ESPN)…

Eli Manning is the first QB in NFL history to lose 100 starts with one franchise (Elias). His reward: being benched for none other than Geno Smith (see below)…

Adam Thielen is the Vikings first 1,000-yard receiver this decade! Every other NFL team has already had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2010.

Five Takeaways

5. What can’t he do?

As if we need more evidence, Steelers’ Antonio Brown continues to showcase why he is the best receiver in today’s game. On Sunday against Green Bay, he made one acrobatic catch after another – including a 23-yard toe-tap catch along the sidelines on Pittsburgh’s game winning drive – in route to 10 catches, 169 yards and two scores. Even double teams can’t stop (let alone contain) him. In his last two games, Brown has tallied 20 receptions for 313 yards and 5 touchdowns. He is one of only four players in NFL history to finish first or second in the league in catches for four consecutive seasons. It’s safe to add another season to that list.

4. A season to forget in the Big Apple

It started when three wide-outs lost their season to injury in the same game – including superstar Odell Beckham Jr. It has been a downward spiral ever since. And it’s safe to say it has hit its climax this week with news of Eli Manning being benched. You know, the starting QB in the Big Apple for 210 consecutive games? A two-time Super Bowl MVP, twice knocking off the juggernaut Patriots. A player who has exemplified the position to its entirety. On and off the field. Yeah, that guy.

And with five games left, the Giants decide to bench him? In favor of Geno Smith? GENO SMITH?!! Are you kidding? This has to go down as one of the most embarrassing seasons in franchise history and this move only worsens the matter. Is five games really going to give you an idea of your future at the position? Most likely not, especially for a team with zero weapons.

The Giants season hit an all-time low with the benching of Eli (wsj).

Fun Fact: Manning’s streak of 210 consecutive starts (second longest streak all-time among QB’s) will come to an end. Every NFL team has utilized at least three different starting QB’s since Eli’s first NFL start in Week 11 of 2004, and every team in the NFC East has utilized at least 10. The Browns have utilized 24 (ESPN)…

3. The AFC West is up for grabs

Touted in the off-season [by many] as the best division in football, the AFC West is far from it in 2017. But who would have thought it’d be this tight of a race at this point in the season? Especially after the Chiefs were riding high at 5-0, and looking like the team to beat in the AFC. At that point, the Chargers were 1-4, the Raiders 2-3, and the Broncos 3-2. Better yet, at the midway point, Kansas City held a three-game lead on the rest of the division (KC 6-2, LA 3-5, OAK 3-5, and DEN 3-5). Now, the Chiefs are reeling having lost three straight, opening the door to the rest of the division (Los Angeles & Oakland). And the news gets worse for Chiefs fans: they are the fourth team in the Super Bowl era to go 1-5 or worse in the six games immediately following a 5-0 start -- the previous three all missed the playoffs (ESPN). Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Philip Rivers and the Bolts are turning things around after a 0-4 start (Sportingnews).

It’s hard to believe that the Chargers who started the season 0-4 and the Raiders who started 2-4, are both just a game out of first, at 5-6. Welcome to the world that is the NFL.

Fun Fact: With a win this week against the winless Browns, the Chargers would be the first team since the 2004 Bills to be at .500 or better through 12 games after starting the season 0-4 (ESPN).

2. Alvin and the…

Arguably the most explosive play-maker in this year’s rookie class, the Saints’ Alvin Kamara is making the most of his limited opportunities. And he’s starting to put the rest of the league on notice. On Sunday, Kamara continued to impress, totaling a career high 188 yards from scrimmage – 87 rushing and 101 receiving – on just 11 touches (17.09 yards/touch)! His performance was aided by an electrifying 74-yard TD run and a 15-yard TD reception. In five of his last six contests, Kamara has amassed over 100 yards from scrimmage. For the season, the dual threat back is averaging 7.1 yards per carry, and ranks fifth in the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,094 - 546 rushing & 548 receiving (keep in mind, he was sparsely utilized the first three weeks of the season when Adrian Peterson was still in the mix), adding a dynamic element to an already potent offense.  

A third rounder for offensive rookie of the year? Alvin Kamara is certainly making his case.

Go Figure: The last third round selection to be awarded offensive rookie of the year was running back Rueben Mayes… of the New Orleans Saints in 1986.    

1. Are the Eagles the Panthers of '15?

As the legend grows, so do the Eagles. Carson Wentz continues to dazzle in just his second season behind center, adding another accolade to his impressive start: only the third QB in NFL history to have at least 25 TD passes & five or fewer INT’s in a team’s first 11 games (NFL). He is tops in the NFL with 28 touchdowns (to only 5 interceptions), leading the Eagles to a 10-1 start -- winners of nine straight and a 5-game cushion in the NFC East. Much like the Panthers of ’15, Philly is doing it with an MVP candidate (Wentz), a high scoring offense and a suffocating defense:

	2015 Panthers		2017 Eagles (thru 11)
Record	15-1		10-1
PPG	31.3 (#1)		31.9 (#1)
Rushing YPG	142.6 (#2)		147.5 (#2)
Total Def	6th		6th
Rush Def	4th		1st

Result                SB loss               ??

Wentz is leading a charge much like that of Newton's MVP season of '15 (NBCsports).

Wentz and Co. look like the most complete team in football. One destined for a deep run come January.

Fun Fact: The last time Philadelphia started 10-1, they made it to the Super Bowl.

Five [Opfer's Take]aways from NFL Week 11

5. Eleven nuggets from week 11

The New Orleans Saints are the first team in the Super Bowl era to win eight straight games after starting the season 0-2 (NFL)…

The Philadelphia Eagles are off to one of the best starts in franchise history after winning eight in a row - of the previous 67 teams to start a season 9-1 or better in the Super Bowl era, 100 percent made the playoffs, 72 percent won a playoff game, 49 percent reached the Super Bowl, and 25 percent won it all (ESPN)…

The winless Browns still have a chance to make the playoffs. Wait, what? Aside from winning out, all they need is 47 other scenarios to happen…

Bills’ QB Nathan Peterman (see below) threw more interceptions in one half than the Patriots, Rams and Cowboys (Dak would later throw 3 against Philly) have thrown all season (ESPN)...

The Chargers scored 31 points off turnovers, which is more than they had recorded in their first nine games combined (28). The last time a team scored at least 31 points off turnovers was in 2014, Giants at Redskins (ESPN)…

With their victory over the Rams, the Vikings matched their win total from all of last season (8-2)…

Atlanta’s Matt Ryan passed Johnny Unitas for 18^th on the all-time passing (yards) list (ESPN)…

Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell leads the league in rushing with 886 yards, but ranks 30th in yards per carry (3.8) - that would be lowest average by a player to win the rushing title since the merger (NFL) ...

In the two games without Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys have yet to score a point in the second half - they’ve been outscored 47-0 (NFL)…

The Bills have been outscored 135-55 while giving up an average of 212.7 rushing yards in their last three contests…

The Saints and Rams - who square off this weekend - are 2 of the 3 teams with a top 10 rushing offense and passing offense this season. Last season, only two teams finished in the top 10 in both categories: Falcons & Patriots, who met in Super Bowl LI (NFL). 

4. Disastrous Decision

When was the last time a team that was 5-4, in the middle of a playoff race, benched their ‘franchise’ quarterback in favor of a fifth round rookie? Probably never. Buffalo’s first year head coach Sean McDermott made the switch to Nathan Peterman for week 11, benching three year starter Tyrod Taylor, and it backfired in a big way. Peterman was so bad on Sunday, that he only lasted a half, paving the way for Taylor to return to the lineup. The rookie nearly had more completions to the opposing Chargers (5) than he did his own team (6). This is one of the more questionable decisions a coaching staff has made in recent years, and it ultimately may cost the Bills a playoff spot.

It was that kind of day for Peterman in his first career start (chargerswire.com). 

3. Time to panic in KC?

After starting the season 5-0, including two impressive wins against the Pats and Eagles, the Chiefs were looking like the team to beat in the AFC. Since then, things have taken a turn for the worse, as they’ve lost four out of their last five, including this past week at home to the (previously) 1-8 Giants – a team in complete disarray. A major concern is Kansas City’s inability to score: in their last five, they’ve averaged just 19.6 points per game (compared to 32.8 in their first five). A deeper dive shows the reason may be due to the team’s inability to run the football. Kareem Hunt’s production has slowed tremendously in his past five, as he has accounted for just 264 yards on 76 carries (3.5 YPC), including zero touchdowns (the team as a whole has tallied 403 - 80 yards/game). Keep in mind, this is a team that led the league in rushing through the first five weeks of the season. Andy Reid’s offense is predicated on running the football effectively, and right now KC is struggling to fit that bill.

In a lousy AFC and division, the Chiefs are still in position to make the postseason (the rest of the AFC West is 4-6 or worse), but fixing the issues at hand will be imperative in making a run.

2. Don’t sleep on the Falcons

Everyone has been wanting to write this team off with each passing week. With as sluggish as they’ve been, it’s no surprise. But the dirty birds are quietly starting to heat up and it starts with the improved play of their franchise QB. Over his last five contests, Matt Ryan has thrown nine touchdowns to two interceptions, with a rating of 104.9 (in his first five games, he had six TD’s to six INT’s, and a passer rating of 87.3). The defense is also starting to round into shape - in their last four, they’ve tallied 15 sacks and seven takeaways.

To make a playoff run, the Falcons must do so at the expense of its division rivals. Sitting just two games back, five of Atlanta’s last six games are within the division, including two against current South leader New Orleans. It won’t be easy, but the Birds have the pieces, and experience, to do so. Don’t count out the Falcons just yet.   

1. SKOL! SKOL! SKOL!

Being in attendance, it’s only fitting to put this here!

       

Watching a game in this building is a must for any NFL fan. The Super Bowl is in for a treat. 

One streak ended, while another continued. Minnesota extended their winning streak to six by disposing of the highest scoring team in the league (Rams) in convincing fashion, 24-7. A team that came in averaging 32.9 points per contest, it looked like LA was well on its way to putting up a similar point total when it drove the length of the field on its opening possession to take a 7-0 lead. That’s all they could manage however, as the Vikes held the Goff led offense to its lowest point total of the season – seven. It was an impressive performance for a team flying under the radar. 

The Minneapolis skyline creates the perfect backdrop to this state-of-the-art facility.

Three things that stood out as an observer:

1)     Case Keenum – For all the flack this guy gets, he is quietly becoming a great signal caller for the Vikings. He dazzled again, completing 27-of-38 for 280 yards and a score (no turnovers), and made one of the plays of the year (for QBs at least) escaping two would-be tacklers for a sack and finding Thielen for a first down. No doubt, there will definitely be some questionable decisions from time to time, but his effort will never go unquestioned. Bridgewater may be the long-term answer, but Keenum deserves the short-term.

2)     Adam Thielen – the homegrown talent continues to establish himself as one of the best up-and-coming receivers in the game. He caught six passes for 123 yards, and turned a 5-yard hitch into a 65-yard TD. He currently ranks fifth among pass catchers in receptions (62) and second in yards (916).

3)    The crowd – the state-of-the-art facility is one thing. The crowd was another. It has to be one of the best and most underrated atmosphere’s to watch a game. Before the opening kickoff, the entire crowd joins together in a ‘skol, skol, skol’ chant (in the form of the slow clap) and then a designated person (often a former player) blows the Gjallarhorn and the entire place erupts! Even more, at least 90 percent of the fans were wearing yellow and purple, and they made their presence felt throughout, making it tough on the Rams offense.     

Until next week, Happy Thanksgiving!

Five [Opfer's Take]aways from NFL Week 10

5. Ten nuggets from week 10

Talk about a story - Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater was active for the first time in 672 days…

Atlanta’s defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn recorded a franchise record six sacks against the Cowboys. Consider this: he registered 7.5 sacks combined between 2015-2016, and hadn’t had more than six in a season since his rookie campaign (NFL)…

The 49ers won their first game of the season, leaving the Browns as the only winless team remaining…

Speaking of, the Browns set an NFL record for most consecutive losses on Sundays, clinched their tenth consecutive losing season, and now control their own destiny for the number one overall pick in next year’s draft…

From 2004-2016, the Rams won a total of three games by 25 or more points. Sunday’s 26-point win over the Texans was the Rams fourth win this season by at least 25 (ESPN)…

Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara became the first pair of Saints’ backs to go over the century mark in rushing in the same game since 2006 (NFL). They were also the only two backs in the league to eclipse the plateau on Sunday. The Saints have now won seven in a row…

Falcons QB Matt Ryan became the quickest to reach 40,000 passing yards in NFL history – 151 games (Elias)…

QB Russell Wilson leads the Seahawks in rushing with 290 yards (next closest is Chris Carson with 208 who is on IR). No QB to lead his team in rushing at season's end has ever made it to the Super Bowl…

Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald became the second youngest player to reach 15,000 career receiving yards and became the first player in the Super Bowl era to have 150 catches against three different teams - 155 against the Seahawks, 153 against the Rams, and 163 against the 49ers (Elias)…

Indianapolis' Jacoby Brissett tied the legendary Johnny Unitas (1966) for the most 60-yard passing touchdowns (four) by a Colts quarterback in a season (ESPN).

4. Injury ravaged season

The injuries continue to pile up. Notables who have lost their season due to injury in 2017- Richard Sherman, Deshaun Watson, Andrew Luck, Ryan Tannehill, Aaron Rodgers, Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, Zach Miller, Jason Peters, Joe Thomas, Marshall Yanda, JJ Watt, Whitney Mercilus, Eric Berry, Dalvin Cook, David Johnson, Darren Sproles, Julian Edelman, Allen Robinson, and Jamie Collins. The list goes on. The big time injuries that have taken the league by storm have hurt not only their respective teams, but also fans as the elite level of competition decreases with each devastating blow.

Sherman became the latest casualty on TNF, adding to a lengthy list (seattletimes).

3. Rock bottom

Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse for the Big Apple... The G-Men hit rock bottom on Sunday by losing to the previously winless 49ers. Coming into the game, San Fran had lost 23 of their past 25 games, while being outscored by 63 points in their previous three contests. All the Niners did was impose their will throughout to the tune of 474 yards and four scores behind a rookie quarterback, dominating the Giants in a 31-21 victory. A week after a 51-17 beat down at the hands of the Rams, it’s clear the Giants season is going off the rails. Hard to believe for a team that won 11 games a season ago. The only thing working for Ben McAdoo is his hair.

2. Cowboys miss more than Elliott

After his suspension was finally put into effect, it was clear the Boys would miss the play of its superstar Elliott. What most overlooked was the importance of their staple at left tackle, Tyron Smith. On Sunday, the running game was actually effective in limited attempts, as the backs rushed for 65 yards on 15 carries (4.3 YPC). The problem was when they fell behind, and were forced to throw the ball. The absence of Smith (groin), allowed the Falcons to account for eight sacks and two forced fumbles of Prescott. Smith’s replacement, Chaz Green, gave up six sacks and had a number of penalties. Dallas goes as its running game goes. Sure Elliott is important, but without All-Pro Smith, Dallas’ offense struggled, looking mediocre at best. With the 8-1 Eagles coming to town (a team with 25 sacks - 10th in the league), the Cowboys can only hope to have their staple back. Otherwise, look out.   

1. Flipping the script

All four of the current division leaders in the NFC – Minnesota (North), Philadelphia (East), New Orleans (South), Los Angeles (West) – finished in the bottom two in their respective divisions a season ago.

It's a changing of the guard through the first 10 weeks (Sportscenter).

Minnesota continues to be strong against opposing offenses, ranking fourth in total defense. The surprise has come in the form of a journeyman gem in signal caller Case Keenum, who has the third-best total QBR this season, 72.5 (ESPN), and is leading an offense ranked tenth in the league. The Vikings currently have a comfortable two-game lead on the second place Packers.

Philadelphia has reeled off seven straight after a week 2 set back to the Chiefs. The difference: turnovers. The Eagles have won the turnover battle in each of their eight wins this season, while their lone loss was the only time they ceded that battle. Moreover, they rank tenth in total defense (first in rush defense) and fourth in total offense. If you haven’t heard by now, the biggest reason for Philly’s success: Carson Wentz. No. 11 leads the league with 23 TD passes (only five INT’s), and is third in QB rating. With a win on Sunday, the Eagles will have a commanding four game division lead on Dallas. 

New Orleans has also won seven in a row. They’re not only flipping their losses to wins (7 wins ties their win total from all of last season), but also their game script. For years, Brees led a pass-heavy offense, often due to the fact that the defense was atrocious. Enter 2017, where the revamped D currently ranks eighth in total defense. Much like Dallas of last season, the Saints are now leaning heavily on the run. During their winning streak, they have rushed for 1,139 yards and 14 touchdowns (they tallied a franchise record six rushing scores on Sunday). At one point on Sunday, Peyton called 24 consecutive run plays. The commitment to the running game, behind Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, is leading to sustainable success for ‘Who Dat’ nation. The Saints currently hold a half-game lead on the Panthers, who they beat handily in week 3 (34-13) and meet again in week 13.

Los Angeles has seen an offensive explosion in 2017, scoring at least 30 points in six of their nine games – tops in the league. The Rams rank third in total offense – sixth in passing, fifth in rushing – and lead the league in scoring (32.9). During their current four game winning streak, they’ve outscored their opponents, 144-41. In the process, coach of the year candidate, Sean McVay, has turned second-year pro Jared Goff into a franchise quarterback. In his last two contests, Goff has erupted for over 650 yards and seven touchdowns (no INT), becoming the first QB in franchise history to accomplish that feat in a two game span. He currently ranks seventh in yards (2,385), QB rating (101.5), and touchdowns (16). We’ll find out rather quickly the nature of this team, as the Rams next five games are against stiff competition: @Minnesota, vs. New Orleans, @Arizona, vs. Philadelphia, @Seattle.

In a season in which the NFC is there for the taking, one of these four very well may be the conference’s representative in Minnesota.     

Five [Opfer's Take]aways from NFL Week 9

5. Nine tidbits from Week 9

The Los Angeles Rams are undefeated on the road this season (4-0): they’ve won as many games on the road as they had wins all of last season…

With their win on Sunday, the Saints became the third team in the Super Bowl era to win six in a row after starting 0-2. The other two teams – 1993 Cowboys & 2007 Giants – to accomplish that went on to hoist the Lombardi…

Cowboys’ Dak Prescott became the second quarterback in NFL history to record 35 passing TD’s and 10 rushing TD’s in his first two seasons (NFL)…

Kansas City’s Alex Smith threw his first interception of the season…

In Miami, running back Jay Ajayi had 138 carries, zero touchdowns. On Sunday, he found pay dirt on his fifth carry with the Eagles…

With his 159 yard outburst (on a career-high 37 carries), Adrian Peterson went over the 12,000 yard mark for his career, passing Thurman Thomas for 15^th on the all-time list. Ironically, teammate Larry Fitzgerald passed Tim Brown for sixth on the all-time receiving list (NFL)…

Through 16 games last season, the Rams totaled just 224 points. In just eight games this season, they have already eclipsed that mark, scoring a league-best 263 points (32.9 per). They’ve outscored their past two opponents, 84-17…

The Wentz train continues to roll, as he now leads the league with 23 TD passes – third most all-time for a first or second year QB in his first nine games to start a season (ESPN)…

On Monday Night Football, Matthew Stafford connected with Marvin Jones Jr. for his 200^th career touchdown pass (6^th fastest to reach milestone). It was also the Lions’ first double-digit win at Lambeau in 35 years.   

4. Jacksonville owns the AFC North

Good thing the Jaguars don’t play in the AFC North. All they’ve done this season is annihilate each of the divisions’ opponents they’ve faced. Through the first half, they’ve dismantled Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati by a combined score of 97-23 (44-7, 30-9, and 23-7, respectively). On Sunday, they held Cincinnati to just eight first downs and 148 yards of offense. In two weeks, the Jags go for the clean sweep against… Cleveland.   

The Jags are 5-3, thanks in large part to dominating the North (Blackandteal.com) 

Fun Fact: In each of their five wins this season, Jacksonville has held their opponents under double digits (given up just 5.8 per).  

3. Move on from Marvin

The Cincinnati Bengals have been mediocre at best this season. The same could be said about Marvin Lewis’ tenure – second longest in the league – as the team’s head coach (15^th season). In his career, Cincinnati is 121-108-3 (.528), and 0-7 in the postseason. In 2017, the 3-5 Bengals rank last in total offense, last in rushing yards per game, 28^th in points per game, and 30^th in turnover margin. On Sunday, not only was A.J. Green ejected for his altercation with Jalen Ramsey, but the team was out snapped 78-37 to Jacksonville, and out-gained 408-148.  

There’s no doubt stability is crucial to sustaining success in the NFL, but Lewis has done nothing to prove he can take Cincy over the top, let alone win a playoff game. And this year, things seem to be spiraling downhill in a hurry. It’s time the Bengals’ brass cut ties with Lewis.

2. The Big Easy is cooking

After dropping their first two games, it was looking like another middle of the road season for ‘who dat’ nation. But thanks to a revamped defense and a newfound running game, the Saints are once again looking like a contender in the NFC. Rookie sensations Marshon Lattimore (on defense) & Alvin Kamara (on offense) have added dynamic pieces to a hungry bunch. And let’s not forget, this team still has one of the all-time greats behind center in Drew Brees. On Sunday, the backfield duo of Mark Ingram and Kamara combined to rush for 145 yards (5.6 average) and a score. Kamara showed his versatility by adding six catches for 84 yards and another score. It’s a team relying more on the run, which is opening up the passing game for Brees, who completed 80 percent of his passes for 263 yards and two TD’s. For a team that poses an explosive offense, and a vastly improved defense, New Orleans is on the rise.

Brees and Payton have 'who dat' nation believing once again (bigeasybeliever.com).

1. Franchise QB = problem solver

It’s no secret that the NFL is a quarterback driven league. After all, the signal caller is the one position that is the driving force behind a team's success. 

Unfortunately however, as we’ve seen across the landscape of the NFL this season, injuries to some of the top signal callers in the game have left their corresponding teams' flaws exposed.

Take Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. The Packers were 4-1, looking like one of the top teams in the NFC, heading into Minnesota. Then, Rodgers went down in the first quarter (broken collarbone), Brett Hundley was forced to take over the reins, and the Pack have now lost three straight, going from contender to [basically] irrelevant. With Rodgers, they averaged 27.4 points per game, without him just 14.7. Every yard to gain is tougher, every possession is magnified.

Take rookie DeShaun Watson in Houston. In his six starts before he lost his season due to injury (ACL), the Texans were leading the league in scoring (34.7). On Sunday, they scored just 14 points against the Colts, who own one of the worst defenses in the league. Backup Tom Savage was abysmal, completing just 43 percent of his passes (19/41). 

Having an elite talent behind center gives you a chance no matter the odds and makes mediocre players/teams look like great players/teams (i.e. Carson Wentz who is making the Eagles look elite at 8-1). It's the one position that covers up the flaws at other key positions.

No other position can hide or expose weaknesses quite like the quarterback of today's game. Just ask the Browns.  

Extra Point: NFL Mid-season Awards

The wildly unpredictable, yet highly entertaining 2017 NFL season has hit the midway point. Here are my first-half awards:

Craziest Game: New Orleans 52, Detroit 38

Many thought this game would have a chance at being a shootout and it lived up to that billing. But not in typical shootout fashion.

The Saints built a 45-10 lead early in the third quarter (thanks to two defensive scores), only to see the Lions score four unanswered touchdowns – including a 74-yard punt return and a 2-yard INT return – cutting the deficit to just seven. Detroit regained possession with a little over five minutes to go with a chance to tie the game, but a batted Stafford pass led to a Saints interception for a touchdown to secure the win.

It was the first time in NFL history that two defensive linemen (Lions A’Shawn Robinson and Saints Cameron Jordan) returned interceptions for scores in the same game. In all, the two teams combined for twenty penalties, eight turnovers, four defensive touchdowns, and a punt return for a score. Not your typical day at the office.

Best Game: Seattle 41, Houston 38

A rookie going into Seattle. Into the land of the 12’s. Into the ‘Legion of Boom’. Easy ‘W’ for the Hawks. Not so fast! Rookie sensation Deshaun Watson went step for step with Seattle’s Russell Wilson for four quarters only to fall short in the end. Watson finished with 469 yards (402 passing & 67 rushing) and 4 TD’s, while Wilson exploded for 452 yards and 4 TD’s in a game that saw four ties and five lead changes. It’s only the sixth time in NFL history that opposing QB’s had over 400 yards passing and 4+ touchdowns in the same game (ESPN). 

Wilson once again has the 12's thinking Super Bowl (footballuniversity.org).

Fun Fact: The Seahawks won a game in which their backfield combined for three yards on 17 carries! THREE yards.

Biggest Disappointment: New York Giants

It was supposed to be the other team from New York hitting rock bottom. Instead, the G-Men are falling apart, literally and figuratively. A team many had predicted to be Super Bowl contenders, the Giants are off to one of the worst starts in franchise history at 1-6. They’ve lost a number of key players, most notably superstar Odell Beckham Jr., and it looks like QB Eli Manning’s days may be numbered. The team ranks 29^th in total offense, 30^th in scoring offense, and 24^th in total defense. 

Runner-up: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-5)

Biggest Surprise: Los Angeles Rams

In 2016, the Rams finished the season scoring just 224 points (40 fewer than any other team), and averaged a league worst 262.7 yards of offense. Through the first half of 2017, HC Sean McVay is leading a resurgence, as the Rams are averaging 30.3 points per game (second in the league) – two touchdowns (16 points) more than a season ago. They rank 12th in total offense/game, including sixth in rushing and 13th in passing.

The second year QB and third year RB have been the biggest beneficiaries. Last season, RB Todd Gurley failed to reach the 100-yard plateau in any game, finishing the year with 885 yards and six touchdowns. Through seven games in 2017, Gurley has already topped 100 yards rushing in four, tallying 627 yards and five touchdowns. He’s added 293 yards receiving and three scores, averaging 131.5 all-purpose yards per contest. Meanwhile, Jared Goff started the last seven games of his rookie campaign, completing just 54.6% of his passes for 1,089 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions. Enter 2017, where Goff is thriving with McVay (and a better O-line) completing 60% of his passes for 1,719 yards, nine scores and just four interceptions.

The most important piece to the puzzle: Wins. Last year, LA finished 4-12. They’ve already surpassed that, as they sit in second in the NFC West, at 5-2… Now if they could only get fans to their games.

Fun Fact: By scoring 13 more points this season, the Rams will eclipse their entire point total from all of 2016.

Runner-up: Buffalo Bills (5-2) – tied for second in scoring defense (allowing 16.4 points per game) and eighth in rushing yards per game (124.6).

Defensive Rookie of the Year: T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh’s linebacker is living up the family hype in his first season as a pro. In six games, Watt has tallied four sacks and an interception. His versatility and athleticism have been on full display, as his ability to drop back in coverage (effectively) has been a huge addition to the Steelers defensive scheme. It won’t be long before he becomes an All-Pro.

Runner-up: Tre’Davious White (BUF) - 12 pass breakups, 26 tackles, an interception, and allowed just 48.9 percent of passes against him to be completed. No wonder they traded away Darby.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: DeShaun Watson

What can’t this kid do? Just as we saw in college, the brighter the stage, the bigger the performance for Houston’s rookie signal caller DeShaun Watson.

Watson is taking the league by storm (USAtoday).

- In his six NFL starts, the Texans lead the league in scoring at 34.7 points per game. 

- He has passed Kurt Warner for most passing touchdowns in his first seven games with 19 (which ties Carson Wentz for most passing touchdowns this season).

- Only four rookies have had four games with three or more TD passes since the 1970 merger (ESPN): Peyton Manning, Marcus Mariota, Dak Prescott, and now Watson (who still has 9 games to go).

- He has recorded three or more TD passes in four consecutive games, a rookie record.

- Prior to Sunday’s game in Seattle, the Seahawks were allowing just 15.7 points per game (13.5 at home) to opposing offenses. Watson erupted for 469 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Texans to 38 points.

- He is the first QB in NFL history with 400+ passing yards, 4 passing touchdowns and 55+ rushing yards in a single game (NFL).

Through the first half, he’s on pace to have the best rookie season ever for a rookie quarterback. I think it's safe to say the Houston expansion has finally found its franchise quarterback. 

Runner-up: Kareem Hunt (KC) – leads the league in rushing (763) and yards from scrimmage (1,070) and ranks second in the league in yards after contact (2.6). As a rookie!

MVP: Carson Wentz

From last in the division a season ago to currently having a 2 ½ game lead. What a leap from year one to year two for number 11. Carson Wentz is the first second-year quarterback since Dan Marino in 1984 to lead his team to a 7-1 start and throw for 15+ touchdowns in those games (NFL, Marino led the Phins to the Super Bowl that season). Wentz currently leads the league with 19 TD passes (tied w/ Watson), and ranks first in third down efficiency, third in passing yards, and seventh in passer rating. His ability to extend drives has been a major key to his progression. On third downs, he is completing 65% of his passes, with 8 touchdowns and a passer rating of 118.8. In week 5 against the Cardinals, he finished 11-of-12 for 229 yards and three scores on third down. That's nuts! With each game he seems to be developing more and more into a star, and it’s paying off for an Eagles team looking to make the next step.

Fun Fact: Through the first half of the 2017 season, the Eagles have matched their entire win total from all of last season with 7.

Runner-up: Alex Smith (KC) – ranks first in passer rating (115.4) & yards per attempt (8.42), and second in passing yards (2,181) and touchdowns (16). He has ZERO interceptions on the season.

Other: Super Bowl Contenders (By Division)

AFC, NFC                                                                    

North - Pittsburgh, Minnesota         

South - Houston, Atlanta

East - New England, Philadelphia

West - Kansas City, Seattle  

Sleepers: Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans