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).
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| 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 29th in total
offense, 30th in scoring offense, and 24th 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.
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| 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
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