2016 NFL Regular Season Awards
Alright kids, the NFL regular season is finally over. This means we finally get to watch some playoff football and the cities of Cleveland and Jacksonville get to be put out of their misery until training camp starts back in July. This year was interesting to say the least. In 2016 we saw the defending conference champs and Super Bowl participants combine for a 15-17 record and both miss the playoffs, we witnessed a team with an all rookie backfield go 13-3 and post the best record in the NFC, we witnessed Matt Ryan become an MVP candidate, and even witnessed the Titans win 9 games. Oh, yeah, and the Patriots started the first quarter of their season without Tom Brady and still finished the season 14-2. All of that being said, it's time for me to give out my awards for this season.
MVP & ROY- Ezekiel Elliott: When you're a rookie and you lead the league in rushing yards and score 16 total touchdowns and turn a 4-12 team into a 13-3, division winning, and best team in the NFC, you deserve the MVP as well as Rookie of the year. Elliott had the third most rushing yards of any rookie running back in NFL history behind only George Rogers and Eric Dickerson. Elliott also broke the Cowboys franchise record for rushing yards as a rookie. Zeke only trails Eric Dickerson for most rushing touchdowns in a season as a rookie. This is easily one of the best rookie seasons in league history and his value helped turn the Cowboys into a winner and dare I say it, Super Bowl favorite.
Defensive Player of the Year- Eric Berry: As if beating Hodgkins Lymphoma and coming back to be a top level NFL safety isn't badass enough, Berry picked off 4 passes and took 2 back to the house while also accounting for 77 tackles as he was the defensive anchor for the 12-4, AFC West champion Chiefs. This hard hitting safety makes the Chiefs a sneaky pick to upend New England and steal a trip to the Super Bowl.
Coach of the Year- Adam Gase: Ten weeks ago, there wasn't a snowballs chance in hell I would consider giving the Dolphins a shot at making the playoffs after their 1-4 start. Adam Gase was an excellent offensive coordinator in Denver and Chicago and coached under great football minds like Nick Saban, Mike Martz, John Fox, and even coached and learned from the greatest quarterback to ever live in Peyton Manning. What makes his coaching job so great this year was the recovery from a 1-4 start and proceed to win 6 straight and compete for a playoff spot. Ryan Tannehill had a career season and during the race for the wildcard spot, goes down with a sprained ACL and MCL and was to miss the last three weeks of the season. With Matt Moore at QB, the 'Phins went 2-1 and secured their first playoff appearance since 2008. As a rookie head coach, I'd say that's a solid first season and definitely deserves more love for coach of the year in the NFL.
As for the upcoming NFL Playoffs, wildcard weekend starts this Saturday. I like the Texans to beat the Raiders in the worst playoff QB matchup in NFL history, I like the Steelers to get their revenge on the much improved Dolphins at home. In the NFC, I like the Seahawks to extend the Lions playoff victory drought, and I have the Packers beating the Giants because Aaron Rodgers is the best QB in football right now and will score just enough to get past the G-Men defense, which just so happens to be the best in the league. It also doesn't help that the Giants have to play in the arctic conditions known as Lambeau Field in January. Very few teams make it out of that stadium a winner. Check out the first ever podcast from The Long 2 on Soundcloud by clicking on the link here ---> https://soundcloud.com/heong2/the-long2-podcast-1-with-dirty-dan-clements.
@E_Campbell3 @TheLong2_Sports
