Washington Commanders – The Commanders laid a big egg at home against the Chicago Bears on Thursday. The biggest culprit was their porous defense who has a lot to improve. Fans are calling for the firing of Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio which may not be a bad idea.

Dallas Cowboys – They are who we thought they were. If you look at the Cowboys first four opponents that we’re all pretty weak. Against a really good 49ers team, they were exposed. Also the 49ers gave other teams an idea on how to control Micah Parsons.

New York Giants – Their stock was already down, but it keeps going further and further down. Their lack of weapons is a reason there in the bottom of the NFL power rankings.

Stock Up

Philadelphia Eagles – Some have questioned the Eagles so far, that they haven’t been playing the same as last year. But here we are and the Eagles are 5-0.

San Francisco 49ers – If you watched the Cowboys game, you’ll know why. They are a complete team from top to bottom and let’s not forget about Brock Purdy, the leader of the team!

The post NFL Stock Up/Down Week 5 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Stock Up

Baltimore Ravens: For all the Lamar Jackson doubters he has shown he is a pocket passer after Game 2. Now it is only one game and defenses will try to defend him better but the Ravens appear to be on the up and up. If Gus Edwards can run like he did in Game 2 they will be hard to beat.

San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy didn’t have his best game, but the 49ers still won with a stiff D and and another strong game from Christian McCaffrey. Also, Deebo Samuel came alive, who they will need as they compete with the good teams in the NFC.

Dallas Cowboys: Two words, Micah Parsons! He is a difference maker on defense and a big reason Dallas will be hard to beat this year. There D is extremely fast and talented. Even if Dak Prescott doesn’t play his best, Dallas should be in every game.

Stock Down

Houston Texans: We all didn’t expect Houston to be a Super Bowl favorite but they haven’t looked that good. This is a rebuilding year with their first year QB.

Denver Broncos: Denver had a 21-3 lead against the Commanders and somehow found a way to lose at home. Russell Wilson had flashes of good plays and then plays that left me scratching my head. He has to learn to be smart with the ball and not be so tentative in the pocket.

Cincinnati Bengals: Cincinnati should be OK in the long run, but right now they don’t look good. The offensive line is struggling to protect Joe Burrow, which is effecting the solid WR corps of the Bengals. I feel like they have to utilize Joe Mixon better to relieve some pressure off Burrow.

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NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Seattle Seahawks 37, Detroit Lions 31

The Seattle Seahawks won 37-31 in walk-off fashion on the road in Detroit as Geno Smith found Tyler Lockett, who reached out for the pylon. Smith led Seattle to a turnover-free victory, going 32-for-41 with 328 yards and two touchdowns. Both passing touchdowns were to Lockett, who racked up eight catches for 59 yards. Seattle also found success on the ground, rushing for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf left the game in the first quarter with a rib injury, and headed to to the locker room. He returned shortly after, finishing the game with six receptions for 75 yards, as Geno Smith spread the targets around all game. Turnovers proved to be the downfall for Detroit. The Lions fumbled the ball away twice in a row, one to end the first half and another to begin the second half. Jared Goff then threw a pick-six to Seattle cornerback Tre Brown, who ran it back 40 yards to the house. Late in the fourth quarter, Goff led the Lions down the field for a game-tying field goal, forcing overtime with a score of 31-31. However it was not enough for the Lions, who fall to 1-1 after the loss. Meanwhile, Seattle also moves to 1-1 with the victory.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Buffalo Bills 38, Las Vegas Raiders 10

Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills to a stress-free victory at home, going 31-for-37 with 274 yards and three touchdowns. Both the Bills and the Las Vegas Raiders move to 1-1 on the season.

The ball seemed to be in the hands of the Bills all game, as the Buffalo defense forced three turnovers. Linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard both intercepted Jimmy Garoppolo, and Taylor Rapp recovered a Zamir White fumble. Josh Allen spread the touches throughout the offense, finding Gabe Davis, Khalil Shakir, and Dawson Knox for touchdowns. The run game was unstoppable for the Bills, led by James Cook who ran for 123 yards, as Damien Harris and Latavius Murray ran in a touchdown each. Allen had no turnovers and looked comfortable in a bounce-back victory.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Baltimore Ravens 27, Cincinnati Bengals 24

Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens went on the road to Cincinnati and avoided a Bengals second half comeback, winning the game 27-24. The Ravens move to 2-0 on the year, as the Bengals fall to 0-2.

Jackson completed 24 passes on 33 attempts for 237 yards and two touchdowns. He added 54 yards on the ground, as the Ravens ran for 178 yards as a team, including a Gus Edwards touchdown. Safety Geno Stone intercepted Joe Burrow to begin the second half, and the Ravens turned it into a touchdown on the next drive.

Burrow and the Bengals made a late push in the second half, with a final drive consisting of 16 plays for 80 yards and a touchdown, making the score 27-24. The Cincinnati offense struggled, rushing for just 66 total yards as Burrow went 27-for-41 with 222 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Kansas City Chiefs 17, Jacksonville Jaguars 9

In a low scoring affair, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 17-9. Both teams move to 1-1 on the season.

The first five possessions resulted in punts, before Jacksonville finally took a 3-0 lead on a field goal. The Chiefs fumbled the ball away on the following possession, before Patrick Mahomes was picked off by Jaguars safety Andre Cisco. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars offense struggled to move the ball all day, as the third year quarterback went 22-for-41 for 216 yards and no touchdowns. The ground game was no better, producing just 74 yards as the Jaguars failed to find the endzone. Kicker Brandon McManus was the lone scorer for Jacksonville, going 3-for-3. Mahomes finished the game 29-for-41 with 305 yards and two touchdowns, finding Travis Kelce on one of them.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Tennessee Titans 27, Los Angeles Chargers 24

The Tennessee Titans beat the Los Angeles Chargers 27-24 in an overtime thriller, as Nick Folk kicked the game-winning 41 yard field goal. The Titans move to 1-1 on the season, as the Chargers fall to 0-2.

Los Angeles got out to an early 11-0 lead after a Keenan Allen touchdown and a converted two-point conversion. Ryan Tannehill came back with a 70-yard pass to Treylon Burks, as Derrick Henry finished the drive with a touchdown, making the score 11-7. Both teams went back and forth all game, with impressive outings from both quarterbacks. Justin Herbert found Keenan Allen and Mike Williams consistently, with both receivers finishing the game with 8 receptions and a combined 194 yards. Allen brought in two touchdown passes, as the Chargers marched down the field for a field goal to send the game to overtime with a score of 24-24. The Chargers won the coin toss and got the ball first in overtime, but went three and out and punted the ball back to the Titans offense. Tannehill led them down the field for an 8 play, 37 yard drive to give Nick Folk a 41 yard field goal for the win, which he put down the middle.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Atlanta Falcons 25, Green Bay Packers 24

The Atlanta Falcons squeaked by the Green Bay Packers by a score of 25-24, including an electric fourth quarter comeback by the Falcons. Green Bay falls to 1-1 on the season as Atlanta goes to 2-0.

The Packers got out to a 24-12 lead in the third quarter after Jordan Love found Jayden Reed in the endzone for his second touchdown of the game. Desmond Ridder and the Falcons ground-and-pound offense put together an eight play, 75 yard drive for a touchdown of their own, as Ridder ran it in himself to make the score 24-19. The Falcons defense forced a punt and drove down the field for a field goal, cutting the deficit to 24-22. After forcing yet another punt, Atlanta went 12 plays for 66 yards, setting up a 25 yard field goal for Younghoe Koo. The made field goal put the Falcons ahead 25-24, ultimately winning them the game. Jordan Love finished the game 14-for-25 with 151 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Falcons.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, Chicago Bears 17

Baker Mayfield shined, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 27-17 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Buccaneers move to 2-0 on the season, as the Bears fall to 0-2.

Although the Bears scored on their first possession, it was all Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers for the rest of the afternoon. Mayfield found Mike Evans wide open on a deep pass that Evans took 70 yards downfield, inside the 10 yard line. The big play setup for a Rachaad White touchdown run, giving the Buccaneers a 10-7 lead. Mayfield connected with Evans again in the third quarter for a 32 yard touchdown, making the score 20-10.

The Buccaneers defense gave Justin Fields fits all game, sacking him six times. In the fourth quarter, Fields connected with Chase Claypool for a 20 yard touchdown, making the score 20-17. The bears got the ball back after forcing a punt, beginning the drive on their own seven yard line. After a couple penalties, Justin Fields dropped back and had his pass tipped and intercepted by Shaquil Barrett, who brought it just a few steps into the endzone, giving the Buccaneers a convincing 27-17 victory at home.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Indianapolis Colts 31, Houston Texans 20

The Indianapolis Colts stole a game on the road in a divisional matchup as they beat the Houston Texans 31-20. The Colts move to 1-1 on the season as the Texans fall to 0-2.

Anthony Richardson ran it in for a touchdown on the Colts’ first two drives of the game, making it 14-0. On the second touchdown, he took a shot causing his head to bounce off the turf, forcing the fourth overall draft pick to be evaluated for a concussion. The rookie quarterback was ruled out for the rest of the game, leaving the Colts with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew. Minshew took over and went 19-of-23 for 171 yards and a touchdown, maintaining the lead. The new acquisition at running back Zack Moss contributed 18 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown, as the Texans couldn’t stop the Indianapolis offense.

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud had an impressive outing in the loss, going 30-for-47 with 384 yards and two touchdowns. Stroud connected with Nico Collins and fellow rookie Tank Dell seven times each, for a combined 218 yards. Each of the receivers brought in a touchdown, as the Colts bounced back from their week one home loss.

NFL Week 2 Recap: New York Giants 31, Arizona Cardinals 28

The New York Giants rallied for a 21 point comeback on the road against the Arizona Cardinals, the third comeback that size in Giants history. With a 20-0 lead at halftime, and a 28-7 lead in the third quarter, Arizona allowed 24 unanswered points to fall to 0-2 on the season. Meanwhile, the Giants move to 1-1 on the season following the rollercoaster of a week two game.

The Giants went scoreless for the first six quarters of the season, the first time since 1934. Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs showed his athleticism all first half, using his legs to gain yards along with scrambling out of the pocket to make throws on the run. On Arizona’s third possession, Dobbs dropped back to pass and found an opening up the middle, taking it 23 yards for a touchdown, trucking a giants defender just before falling into the endzone. The play gave Arizona an early 14-0 lead, which would quickly grow before the half ended. 

Daniel Jones and the Giants offense came storming back in the third quarter, with help from Saquon Barkley, who scored both a receiving and rushing touchdown before leaving the field with an ankle injury towards the end of the game. The injury took away from the stunning comeback, as the Giants await the information on his ankle.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: San Francisco 49ers 30, Los Angeles Rams 23

The San Francisco 49ers went on the road to SoFi Stadium, pulling away with a 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams. San Francisco elevates to 2-0 on the season as Los Angeles falls to 1-1 following the divisional matchup.

Two interceptions thrown by Matt Stafford proved to be the difference Sunday afternoon. With just under five minutes remaining in the game and the Rams trailing 27-20, Stafford looked across the middle for Van Jefferson but was picked off by Deommodore Lenoir.

Christian McCaffrey was in mid-season form, rushing for 116 yards on 20 carries to go with a touchdown. Brock Purdy missed some throws on big plays throughout the game, but was sufficient, going 17-for-25 for 206 yards, along with a rushing touchdown of his own. All three of the 49ers touchdowns came on the ground and the Rams defense had no answer. 

With Cooper Kupp sidelined, Puka Nacua was the focus once again for the Rams offense. He racked up 15 receptions for 147 yards, making him the first player in NFL history to record at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards in his first two games of his career. Meanwhile running back Kyren Williams got 20 total touches with both a receiving and rushing touchdown, proving why he should replace Cam Akers in the backfield.

NFL Week 2 Recap: Washington Commanders 35, Denver Broncos 33

The Washington Commanders completed the thriller comeback on the Denver Broncos, holding off a late game hail mary to win by a score of 35-33. Denver completed a hail mary as time expired, but couldn’t convert the two point conversion to force overtime. The Commanders move to 2-0 on the season as the Broncos fall to 0-2.

The Broncos jumped out to a 21-3 lead early into the first half, including a Marvin Mims Jr. one-play, 60 yard touchdown pass from Russel Wilson. The Commanders cut the lead to 21-14 before halftime, and continued into the second half as the defense immediately forced a punt. The offense took over and scored a touchdown on its first drive as Sam Howell found Terry McLaurin in the middle of the endzone for a 30 yard touchdown, tying the game 21-21.

Denver eventually got the ball back with a chance to tie the game. After moving the ball to midfield, Russel Wilson and company had one last chance to force overtime. The deep hail mary pass was tipped around before being brought in by Brandon Johnson for his second touchdown of the game, making the score 35-33. The two point conversion, a pass intended for Courtland Sutton was incomplete as the Broncos looked for a pass-interference call but didn’t get it.

Sam Howell finished the game with an impressive 27 completions on 39 attempts for 299 yards and two touchdown passes. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. also ran in for a pair of touchdowns himself.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Dallas Cowboys 30, New York Jets 10

The Dallas Cowboys beat the New York Jets handedly by a score of 30-10 as the Cowboys defense dominated for the second week in a row. Dallas moves to 2-0 on the season as the Jets fall to 1-1.

Micah Parsons and the Cowboys defense looked unstoppable in week two, intercepting Jets quarterback Zach Wilson three times. Parsons recorded two sacks and four hits on Wilson, as Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker, and Trevon Diggs each intercepted a pass.

Ceedee Lamb showed he didn’t need the help of Brandin Cooks, who missed the game due to a sprained knee. Lamb recorded 11 catches for 143 yards, with big plays setting up for multiple scores for Dallas. Kicker Brandon Aubrey went five-for-five on field goals, as Dak Prescott found tight ends Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker for a touchdown each. 

The lone touchdown for the Jets came from star receiver Garret Wilson, who caught a pass across the middle and took it 68 yards to the house, marking his longest touchdown of his career thus far. Other than that, there wasn’t much going for Zach Wilson and the Jets offense, who recorded 215 total yards. Parsons along with the rest of the ruthless Dallas front four pressured Wilson all game, showing why they are one of the best defenses in the NFL.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Miami Dolphins 24, New England Patriots 17

The Miami Dolphins held off a late comeback by the New England Patriots, winning the game 24-17 as a lateral to Cole Strange came up short on fourth down. 

Tua Tagovailoa took what the defense gave him for most of the night, finding Jaylen Waddle five times for 86 yards. The Dolphins had plenty of success on the ground as well, as Raheem Mostert took 18 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns.

Rookie Cornerback Christian Gonzalez kept Tyreek Hill in check for the most part, holding the star receiver to four receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown, with the touchdown coming on a play where Gonzalez was not covering Hill.

Mac Jones finished the game 31-for-42 with 231 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The interception came at the end of the third quarter after the Patriots drove down the field into the redzone. Xavien Howard picked off the pass intended for DeVante Parker on the sideline at the Miami three yard line, putting an end to New Englands’ drive and keeping the score at 17-3.

The Patriots cut the lead down in the fourth quarter following a Mac Jones scramble for 18 yards, the longest run of the night for New England. Jones found Hunter Henry on the run for a six yard touchdown pass, making the score 17-10.

On the next Miami possession, Tagovailoa threw it deep down the left side of the field to Tyreek Hill as the pass was intercepted by Christian Gonzalez. The rookie first round pick made a leaping catch over Hill, giving the Patriots the ball back.

The Dolphins forced a three and out, getting the ball back on the New England 43 yard line. On the first play of the drive, Raheem Mostert took a handoff up the middle 43 yards untouched to the endzone, extending the lead to 24-10.

Mac Jones led the Patriots to a 9 play 75 yard drive ending with a Rhamondre Stevenson touchdown run to cut the lead down to 24-17.

The Dolphins took the ball and drove it into Patriots territory, before the snap was fumbled on third and one. Tua recovered the fumble, but the mistake forced Miami to kick a 55 yard field goal. With concern for Brenden Schooler, who blocked the previous field goal, Jason Sanders missed the field goal, giving the Patriots an opportunity to tie or win the game.

After finding Kendrick Bourne for a pair of completions, Mac Jones was sacked by Bradley Chubb for a loss of 8 yards. New England was faced with a fourth and four, where Mac Jones completed a pass to Mike Gesicki short of the first down line. Gesicki threw a lateral to offensive lineman Cole Strange, who was stopped short of the marker, ending the comeback for the Patriots.

The win brings the Dolphins to 2-0 on the season, as the Patriots fall to 0-2.

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What do we take of the Browns who took care of business in Cincinnati, led by Deshaun Watson. I think they looked good, but will have a hard time competing with the Ravens and Bengals.

What else did we learn? We learned that the Packers could be for real, or is that an anomaly. I think it’s easy to overact to one game but they seemed to not skip a beat. We learned that the Cowboys D is very, very, good, led by the Penn State alum Micah Parsons. I struggle a little with this one deciding if the Cowboys D is that good or the Giants are that bad. I think it’s a combination of both. I do expect the Cowboys D to keep them in most games.

The Buffalo Bills struggled this weekend, but this is deja vu for Bills fans. Last year Allen had a similar game and did just fine the rest of the season. He might have to just dust some of the rust off.

Brock Purdy did purdy darn good this week and answered any critics he had entering year 2. I believe he is the real deal and with that tough D, they could be an NFC favorite along side the Philadelphia Eagles.

Finally, the Lions who continued the momentum from last year and beat the Chiefs in Arrowhead, something that is very hard to do. Granted, they didn’t have Chris Jones and Travis Kelce, they still played tough. Look for the Lions to compete all year led by Dan Campbell. What an exciting and unexpected first week! What does Week 2 have in store, grab your popcorn and let’s watch.

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When you look at the elite pass rushers, the game changers in the NFL right now, they make themselves known every single game. For example, we just saw the Giants come to Washington and beat the Commanders in a huge NFC East game. Kayvon Thibodeaux was a game changer who made a huge impact. He had a sack, fumble and TD recovery in a key moment in the game. He was all over the place, and finished the game with 12 tackles and 1 sack. The Commanders didn’t have an answer for him, and is the big reason they lost.

Staying in the NFC East, Micah Parsons is an impact player each and every game. He is a one man wrecking machine that creates havoc. They move him on both sides of the ball, and he creates matchup nightmares for opposing offenses. Without Micah, Dallas doesn’t win as much and becomes a more mediocre team. Below are the stats comparing all three defensive players in their careers.

Kayvon Thibodeaux

Micah Parsons

Chase Young

The Commanders need that same ferocity and impact that those two guys possess. That’s why they drafted him with the 2nd pick in the 2020 draft. He needs to be a game wrecker and unfortunately we haven’t seen that too much. We saw glimpses in 2020, but it would be nice to see Micah Parsons type impact, In the last game, Kayvon Thibodeaux type impact. The Commanders defense would go from good to elite, but he needs to step up his game. We’ll see how he responds from a serious knee injury, but that’s the expectation the coaching staff should have. Just bull rushing every single play is not going to work, and they need to move him on both ends. Try stunts, be creative in letting this young man release his potential. Let’s hope this comes to fruition, and we get to see who the real Chase Young is! So my question remains, Will the real Chase Young please stand up?

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Key Injuries to Quarterbacks: Tough week for Lamar Jackson and Jimmy Garoppolo, with Garoppolo taking the worse of his injury. He will be out for the year as Lamar is considered week to week. For SF a huge blow as then Super Bowl hopefuls are considered just playoff bound. I don’t think Brock can lead them to the Super bowl. That is why they went out and picked up Josh Johnson. Even though Brock stepped in and played well there still not 100% sure he can help them reach their goals this season.

Philly is Special: Philly continues to steamroll their opponents as they are talented on both sides of the ball. They’re pretty much a lock for the #1 seed and have a date with the Giants on Sunday.

Deshaun’s Return: The big headline this week was the return of Deshaun Watson. As expected he struggled, and had rust in his first start back in over 700 days. If it wasn’t for his defense this would of been a loss for the lowly Browns.

Cowboys Riding: Cowboys just like the Eagles continue to win, which starts with their Micah Parsons’s lead defense. They have found the formula for success which is play good defense and run the ball with the two headed monster of Pollard and Elliot.

Brady Magic: Brady is still Brady at 45 years old. He set the record for his 44th 4th quarter comeback. For most of the game against the Saints, he was inept, but when it counted he came through. This win was huge for Tampa Bay as they stay atop the NFC South.

Raiders Hot: Raiders led by Derek Carr won their 3rd straight game. The connection between Carr and Davante Adams is live and real. And it’s not just their offense that’s clicking, their defense has stepped up led by Maxx Crosby.

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By: Jake Rajala

There are clearly a lot of gifted football players in the year of 2022. The spot-light undoubtedly is handed to the top quarterbacks in the NFL. The cream of the crop QBs garner expectations to win the most prestigous, individual award: MVP. Well, I’m going to roll out the red carpet for a few under-the-radar QB faces and even non-QB players. Without further ado, here are my 10 best darkhorse MVP candidates in the 2022 season.

Matt Ryan

The 2016 MVP, Matt Ryan, is back in a situation where he is surrounded by sexy offensive pieces. Ryan will enjoy utilizing Jonathan Taylor (1,811 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns in 2021), Michael Pittman Jr (1,082 receiving yards in 2021), and Alec Pierce (Colts second-round pick in 2022) – who is seen as an OROY favorite by countless NFL heads. I also absolutely love Matty Ice’s 30th ranked schedule in 2022.

Jameis Winston

Bart Scott isn’t in the wrong for believing that Jameis Winston can win MVP in 2022. Jaboo has a hungry & healthy Michael Thomas, a legendary slot WR in Jarvis Landry, & a talented rookie WR (Chris Olave) that has dazzled this off-season. Furthermore, he’s on a Saints team that has constantly mopped the floor against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Justin Jefferson

The Minnesota Vikings nicely unveiled a sophmore season (108 receptions, 1,616 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns) that was more potent than his rookie season (88 catches, 1,400 receiving yds, and 7 TDs). Jefferson is in a shiny new offensive scheme with Kevin O’Connell and he clearly will have plenty of creative assignments. He shouldn’t just set his sights on being the next wideout to win OPOY, as he should aspire to win MVP.

Kirk Cousins

I may be cheating with slotting two Minnesota Vikings back to back. Nonetheless, I really believe Kirk Cousins is due for a career season – after throwing 33 touchdowns to 7 interceptions last season. Captain Kirk has had a 100+ passer rating in each of his prior three seasons. Furthermore, he’s made the Pro Bowl in two of his past three campaigns.

Dak Prescott

The warrior Dak Prescott unveiled a career-best 37 passing touchdowns to 10 interceptions last season. Prescott also had a 68.8 completion percentage (personal-best). Despite Amari Cooper leaving town, I expect Prescott to improve from last season with an ascending Ceedee Lamb & a healthy Michael Gallup. Even if Prescott sits on a potentially overpopular squad, I still believe he’s an underrated MVP candidate.

Mac Jones

The sophmore QB from Alabama, Mac Jones, ousted 3,801 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns (to 13 interceptions) a season ago. He was gifted a trip to the Pro Bowl after his succesful 2021 outing. Of course, he shined on and off the field at the PB. I forsee Jones taking a signifcant step forward in year two with Devante Parker. If he can edge out the Buffalo Bills once (or twice), he can certainly improve his MVP chances.

Trevor Lawrence

I honestly love the direction with the Jacksonville Jaguars offense. The Jags offense has gifted Trevor Lawrence a healthy Travis Etienne, the explosive Christian Kirk, and the match-up nightmare in Evan Engram. Lawrence had a rough rookie season, but he has more firewpoer and a much wiser head coach than a season ago.

Micah Parsons

Micah Parsons is simply a freak of nature. I believe he will soon be regarded as the best defender to come out of the draft since Aaron Donald. Parsons had an unbeliveable DROY season (13 sacks, 30 QB hits, 20 TFLs, and 3 FFs). He was given first-team All-Pro honors for his rookie efforts, as well. I believed Parsons can be DPOY in 2022, while he very recently made it clear that he believes he can be MVP in the upcoming season. I certainly won’t disagree with him after his take.

Tua Tagovailoa

The young Dolphins signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa is likely head over heels with his potent supporting cast. He has the fastest WR tandem (Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill) in the league. He also has his own young, offensive wiz head coach in Mike McDaniel. Perhaps Tagovailoa can have a lot of victories & make an infinite amount of splash plays.

J.C. Jackson

There have only been two defensive players to win MVP and it may not be a surprsie to state that neither of those profiles were a cornerback. J.C. Jackson may just be the first CB to win MVP! He had 9 ints in 2020 and 8 ints last season. He will certainly have a plethora of more opportunities to dominate in a Chargers defense that features Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa. There will also be A LOT of desperate opposing teams that try to keep pace with Justin Herbert – which could spell that oppposing QBs will be pressured into more mistakes.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons unleashed 13 sacks, 30 QB hits, 3 FF, and 84 combined tackles — which led him to win DROY. Parsons’s rookie season garnered him comparisons to the legendary Lawrence Taylor — who was named first-team All-Pro and won DPOY as a rookie. With that said, I’m going to sound the trumpets for three reasons why Parsons can take a step forward and win DPOY next season.

• Strength of schedule

The Boys should feel very excited about their 31st-ranked strength of schedule next season. Parsons should plan on mopping the floor in each match-up. Aaron Donald really capitalized off pedestrian competition in his last DPOY campaign, so Parsons shouldn’t feel guilty about racking up the stats against weak competition. Parsons should anticipate being able to dominate against the Carson Wentz-led Commanders and young, rebuilding Giants next season.

• Growth

Parsons gained a year of experience and he should be able to react faster in his sophomore season. The Cowboys LB is also a workaholic, as he worked out with Demarcus Ware this off-season. Per SI, Parsons stated, “It’s going to be more challenging. But I never back down from a challenge”. Perhaps Parsons is actually ready to be an LB that embodies a 99 overall grade on Madden.

• Aging Aaron Donald

The highest-paid non-QB in NFL history, Aaron Donald, has won DPOY in three of the past five seasons. Donald was an All-Pro player in 2021, but he didn’t win DPOY. In fact, Parsons (5) snagged more votes than the 31-year-old Donald (3 votes) last season. I believe Parsons is trending in the opposite direction as Donald. With that said, it may be a close race between Parsons and T.J. Watt for DPOY honors.

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By: Jake Rajala

The NFL witnessed the development of a few Prometheus-like NFL defenses this off-season. The New Orleans Saints defense brought in Tyrann Mathieu, the Buffalo Bills inked Von Miller, and the Los Angeles Rams brought in Bobby Wagner.

There are a few sexy defenses and even many other defensive units that have received lots of praise from NFL analysts. Well, I’m going to move a few NFL defenses that are honestly underrated and deserve to be moved into the spotlight.

Philadelphia Eagles

I really believe Philly could have a Top-3 run defense in 2022 after having a ninth-ranked run defense last season. The rookie Jordan Davis/40-yard dash legend should certainly excel with excellent match-ups next to Fletcher Cox. Haason Reddick was a sneaky free-agent signing, as he logged 23.5 sacks in the past two seasons combined. It should also be noted that Brandon Graham, who made the Pro Bowl in 2020, played in a mere two games last season. Of course, the Eagles defense recently added a nice piece to their puzzle in the former NYG James Bradberry.

Dallas Cowboys

The Boys have a fantastic trio of defenders: Demarcus Lawrence, Micah Parsons, and Trevon Diggs. They may not have the most superb depth in their secondary, but I love the potential in Micah Parsons. He may have had a mythical rookie season, but he can absolutely take the next step and win DPOY. Demarcus Lawrence was also out for 10 games last season and it would be an understatement to say a healthy Lawrence makes a massive difference.

New York Jets

I am not a big fan of the Jets overall ceiling in 2022 – or the job security for Robert Saleh and Zach Wilson. Nonetheless, I expect Saleh to help the Jets have success on defense – as they have a unique unit. Quinnen Williams will look to have his best season in a contract year. Amhad ‘Sauce’ Gardner (who recently had a pick-six in practice) should be a big boost and a potential DROY candidate, as well. The Jets could really struggle in the brutal, ascending AFC East next season, but their defense honestly has a bright future.

New York Giants

Let’s stay in New York and in the NFC East. The Giants absolutely have a lot of energy on defense at the moment. Kavyon Thiobdeuax was recently pegged as a DROY favorite by Bleacher Report. I also like the intense and creative mindset that Don Martindale brings to the building every day. The Giants defense should enjoy more rest from an improved Saquon Barkley and Giants rushing attack, too.

Baltimore Ravens

Similar to the Eagles, the Ravens could have an overly impressive section of their defense (secondary) in 2022. I expect the Ravens to return to having an elite defense with their new faces this off-season. Kyle Hamilton was one of the biggest draft steals and the former Saint Marcus Williams will be a ball-hawk next to Hamilton.

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By: Andy Davies, Jake Rajala, and Jeremy Trottier

The 2021 NFL season is almost over. We now know the Super Bowl 56 matchup as the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Los Angeles Rams in L.A.

This is one of the more refreshing quarterback matchups in recent Super Bowl history, with neither the Bengals’ Joe Burrow or the Rams’ Matthew Stafford having won a Super Bowl. In fact the Bengals have never won it and the Rams have only done so once.

NFL fans who have gotten so used to seeing the newly retired Tom Brady in the game and the frustration of seeing the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game every season, this offers fans a nice changeup and one that guarantees someone to win their first ring.

It has been one of the best NFL seasons in recent memory. From the brilliant Week 18 overtime clash between the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders to the game of the year between the Buffalo Bills and Chiefs, it has been a campaign for the ages. Here at Pro Football Mania, a few of us have decided to give you our end of season awards.

Best Game: Buccaneers vs Bills in Week 14 (Jake Rajala)

There were many special football games in the 2021 regular season, but the clear winner has to be the Buccaneers matchup with the Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen was prolific with 417 total yards and three touchdowns, while TB12 had 369 passing yards and three total touchdowns. Each team had 460+ total yards and roughly 32 minutes of possession. 

The Bucs claimed a massive victory in overtime. The Bills won the coin toss, but the Bucs defense forced a punt and awarded Brady a chance to lead his team down the field. On 3rd and 1, Leonard Fournette picked up the first down by inches. After that play, Mike Evans drew a pass interference call near midfield. It seemed like the game would be over at that point. The Bucs dink and dunked into good field goal range and the Bucs kicked a field goal to win in overtime. 

Biggest Disappointment- Baltimore Ravens (Jake Rajala)

I’m not sure if enough fans know that the Baltimore Ravens and NOT the Cleveland Browns were the last team in the AFC North last year. The Ravens took a sad step back in 2021 after reaching the playoffs in 2020. The golden opponent for the Kansas City Chiefs was once the Baltimore Ravens and now it seems clear that it’s the Cincinnati Bengals or Buffalo Bills. 

The 8-9 squad has turned a blind eye to the aid of Lamar Jackson in the passing game. If Aaron Rodgers threatens a vacation to Hawaii with the help he’s given at wide receiver, Lamar Jackson should contemplate backpacking Europe for the talent he’s supplied at the WR position. The 25-year-old Jackson is slowly fading away from the cream of the crop QB position and Jon Harbaugh needs to figure out how he can help Jackson and the Ravens before his clout for winning Super Bowl XLVII dies off. 

MVP: Aaron Rodgers- QB- Green Bay Packers (Jake Rajala)

Aaron Rodgers needs to be the MVP favorite after his 2021 performance. Rodgers may have thrown for fewer touchdowns and yards than Tom Brady, but he was more efficient and more impressive in big moments than the Buccaneers seven-time Super Bowl champion. Sports Illustrated nicely noted how Rodgers would have thrown for more touchdowns and passing yards if he had the same passing attempts as TB12. The Packers and Buccaneers both accumulated a 13-4 record, but the two QBs don’t share the same record as starting QBs in 2021. Rodgers only lost two games as a starting QB, while Brady lost four games as a starting QB. The Buccaneers ageless QB was also shut out against the Taysom Hill-led New Orleans Saints on December 19th. 

Offensive Player of the Year: Cooper Kupp- WR- Los Angeles Rams (Andy Davies)

A huge honorable mention goes to Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. He had an excellent season, with 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns. However, Kupp has been pivotal in the Rams’ run to the Super Bowl. Someone who was dearly missed in their Super Bowl 53 loss to the New England Patriots, he caught for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns in the regular season as well as 386 yards and four touchdowns in the postseason. He is also an MVP candidate and he has been a key part in the Rams’ season. The MVP is a QB’s award, which is worth noting.

Defensive Player of the Year- T.J. Watt- LB- Pittsburgh Steelers (Jake Rajala)

It’s time for J.J. Watt’s little bro to claim his prolific glory and carve a fine path for Canton. Watt should be the clear winner for the 2020 Defensive Player of The Year. Watt was barely edged out by Aaron Donald in 2020, but he made sure that didn’t happen to him in 2021. 

Watt tied Michael Strahan’s sack record (22.5 sacks) in 15 games, which might surprise people. He also had five forced fumbles and he was a fierce run-stopper routinely. I don’t think there’s a close competitor for the 2021 DPOY award. The Cowboys rookie Micah Parsons was a menace against the run and pass, but he wasn’t playing on a historic level. Expect the Watt brother who plays defense for the Steelers to win a DPOY trophy next weekend.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ja’Marr Chase- WR- Cincinnati Bengals (Andy Davies)

When the Bengals took Chase fifth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, many felt that they should have gone down the offensive line route, notably Penei Sewell. However, this season has proved that Chase was absolutely the right pick. The offensive line is definitely a position they need to upgrade in the offseason but they have reached the Super Bowl in Chase’s first season whilst he also broke records for most yards in a rookie campaign. Chase is a special football player and he is the clear favorite to win OROY.

Mac Jones and Jaylen Waddle performed excellently but Chase has been on a different level. He has been one of the best wide receivers in the league, rookie or not.

DROY: Micah Parsons – LB – Dallas Cowboys (Jeremy Trottier)

The defensive rookie of the year in our award predictions is Micah Parsons, to essentially no ones surprise.  The heavy odds on favorite at -10000 from the Dallas Cowboys is as clear cut as it gets for awards, after a phenomenal rookie season overall.  The rookie linebacker out of Penn State had one of the most impressive defensive rookie seasons in recent memory and was an absolute force on the Dallas defense.  After being drafted to be a true linebacker at the time, Parsons proved his utility as an edge was also extremely effective, racking up a huge sack total of 13 on the season.  His stat line looked like the following:

16 games played (all 16 started)

84 tackles (64 solo, 20 assisted)

20 TFL, 30 QB hits, 13 sacks, 3 forced fumbled, 3 passes deflected

All-pro first team & pro bowler when it comes down to it, Micah was far and away from the best rookie defender this season, despite strong performances from Patrick Surtain and Odafe Oweh.  If this success continues, Dallas could have a perennial pro bowl talent on their roster for years to come.

Best touchdown: Deebo Samuel 83-yard house call @Chicago (Jeremy Trottier)

The best touchdown of the year is one that could be seen as a few different ones, three other plays in consideration were:

Derrick Henry’s 76 yard run against Buffalo

Jonathan Taylor’s 78 yard run against New York. 

Jakeem Grant’s 97 yard punt return touchdown against Green Bay

However, Deebo Samuel had an insanely impressive 83 yard touchdown against the Bears, which was the third-longest reception of the year, and second-longest receiving touchdown as well.  Overall this was just one of the most exhilarating plays to watch all season, from one of the more impressive players all season as well.  It seems easiest just to let the play do the talking.

Biggest Surprise: Deebo Samuel – WR – San Francisco 49ers (Jeremy Trottier)

This award came down to two players, and I am sure we all know who they are.  Deebo Samuel, WR of the 49ers, and Cordarrelle Patterson, RB/WR of the Atlanta Falcons.  While Cordarrelle Patterson was certainly a surprise and was a great player all season for Atlanta, Deebo just exceeded expectations a little bit more and was the catalyst to the 49ers deep playoff run this season.

Deebo had a total of 1405 receiving yards this season, averaging a league high 18.2 yards per catch and ended up with 6 receiving touchdowns.  On top of that, he also had 59 rushing attempts for 365 yards (6.2 YPA) and 8 touchdowns, making him one of the most lethal players from scrimmage all season.  For a receiver who only had 1193 receiving yards combined in his first two seasons, he really broke away this season and became a true top receiver in the NFL.  

Comeback Player of the Year: Dak Prescott – QB – Dallas Cowboys (Jeremy Trottier)

This award on our list is comeback player of the year, which came down to two players as well, and mostly was a grade on the word comeback more than anything.  The other option for this award is Joe Burrow, who obviously had a phenomenal season and has led his Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2021-2022.  However, this is not necessarily a “comeback” as he did not play in the NFL before the 2020-2021 season, so we did not really see it as a comeback but more a beginning.  

Dak Prescott on the other hand continued to be one of the best QBs in the NFL, producing 4,449 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, on 68.8% completion percentage and a 104.2 quarterback rating.  Overall, an amazing season coming off what was one of the more gruesome injuries of the 2020-2021 season, and an awe-inspiring feel good story to go along with it. 

Coach of the Year: Mike Vrabel (Andy Davies) 

The Bengals’ Zac Taylor and Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur deserve huge credit but Vrabel did something quite remarkable. The Titans head coach lost star running back Derrick Henry in Week 8 but still managed to win games and earn the number one seed in the

Vrabel managed to guide this team to the division and top seed despite injury after injury that saw them have the most players used in a single season.

You have to credit the job done by Vrabel, who may have guided Tennesee further had he had Henry fully healthy and a roster that hadn’t suffered injury after injury.

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