NFL Awards

Drew Brees broke Dan Marino's passing yard record this season. 

MVP: Peyton Manning, IND

How can a guy who didn’t play a game be the MVP this season?  Sure, Drew Brees and Tom Brady broke passing records. But the Indianapolis Colts went from a 10-6 record in 2010 to a 2-14 record in 2011. MVP stands for Most Valuable Player. Manning is clearly valuable to the Colts organization. Imagine what the Colts would have been this season? Imagine how they will fare be next season? 

Runner up: Drew Brees

Offensive Player of the Year: Drew Brees, NO

Brees broke Dan Marino’s passing yard record. Brees also threw the for the most touchdowns this season. Brees just dominated in the year of the passer. He threw 5,476 yards and 46 touchdowns. He led his Saints to a 13-3 record. 

Runner up: Tom Brady, NE 

Defensive Player of the Year: Jared Allen, MIN 

In an otherwise miserable season for the Vikings, Jared Allen stood out. Allen had 22 sacks, 66 combined tackles, including 48 solos. His 22 sacks led the league. Allen also forced four fumbles, and recovered four as well. His four recovered fumbles were the most in football. 

Runner up: DeMarcus Ware DAL

Offensive Rookie: Cam Newton, CAR 

What a year for Cam Newton. Newton threw for 4,051 and 21 touchdowns. In addition, he ran for 706 yards and 14 touchdowns. Newton led the Panthers from a 2-14 record last year, to 6-10 this year. He also had the best completion percentage of any rookie quarterback, and finished 18^th among all quarterbacks, with 60%. 

Runners up: A.J. Green and Andy Dalton, CIN 

Defensive Rookie: Von Miller, DEN 

The Number 2 overall pick in the draft had a fantastic season. Miller had 64 combined tackles, including 50 solo ones. He also had 11.5 sacks. In addition, He forced 2 fumbles. Miller was a major factor in the Broncos defense. He helped the defense from allowing 29 points per game in 2010, to 24 this season. 

Runner up: Patrick Peterson, ARI 

Coach of the Year: Jim Harbaugh, SF 

The 49ers reached the NFC championship this season. And who was the man who led them to this championship? Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh inherited a 6-10 team, with a struggling quarterback, and turned the team into winners. A 13-3 team to be exact. Also, Harbaugh developed Alex Smith and Frank Gore into elite players this season. 

Jim Harbaugh led his 49ers from a 6-10 team, to an NFC championship team. 

Runner up: Jim Schwartz, DET 

Comeback Player of the Year: Matt Stafford, DET 

After two injury plagued seasons, Stafford finally broke out, and became the player we all thought he was. The Number one overall pick in the 2009. After two years of just 19 touchdown passes, Stafford threw 41 this season. He also passed for 5,038 yards. Stafford was also a big factor in leading the Lions to a playoff berth, the team’s first since 1999. 

Runner up: Steve Smith, CAR 

NFL Championship Picks

Ray Lewis and the Ravens will try their best to stop the Patriots' offensive attack. 

It all comes down to these two games. The winner of the Patriots- Ravens game becomes the AFC champion. The Patriots or Ravens will face either the Giants or the 49ers. Or more simply put, the winner of the NFC championship game. 

AFC Championship: 

Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots 

The Ravens travel to Foxborough on Sunday to play the Patriots. The last time these two teams faced each other last year, the Patriots won 23-20 in overtime. In 2009, the Ravens and Patriots faced each other in the playoffs. On the first play of that game, Ray Rice ran 83 yards for a touchdown. The Ravens would score 24 points in the first quarter, and cruise to a 33-14 victory. Two years have passed. Joe Flacco has begun to develop more as a quarterback, and the Patriots have been grooming tight ends. The Patriots, as usual, are being led by Tom Brady. Brady has numerous weapons in his passing attack. Not just receivers Wes Welker and Deion Branch, but Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez too. The Patriots’ running game is a work in progress. The combination of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Kevin Faulk, Stevan Ridley, and Danny Woodhead, isn’t a great quartet. The Ravens are led by their core of defensive all stars. Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Haloti Ngata. Suggs led the team in sacks, Lewis in tackles, Reed was second in interceptions, and Ngata recovered the most fumbles. The Ravens’ offense is not as good as their defense however. The offense is averaging 23 points per game compared to the Patriots 32. 

The Pick: When the Patriots lost to the Ravens in 2009, Welker was out, and Gronk and Hernandez weren’t even members of the Pats organization. Since that game, the Patriots have developed as a roster, and have gone 27-5 in the regular season since that lost. The Ravens have developed as well. Their defense has continued to get better, but unfortunately older. This could be the last year of the Ravens stellar defense, as Lewis & Co., are aging. This game will be very, very close but the Patriots, led by Brady, will pull away with a victory. 

Patriots over Ravens 

NFC Championship: 

New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers 

Osi Umenyiora will pressure Alex Smith as much as he can. 

The hottest team in football visits the most surprising team in football. The Giants have dominated their postseason opponents. Led by Eli Manning and their fantastic rushing defense, the Giants blew out the Falcons, and upset the defending champion Packers. If Eli Manning beats the 49ers on Sunday, he will have the opportunity to win another championship. If he wins the game, he will have more then his brother, Peyton. Will he be better than Peyton? We don’t know for sure. Alex Smith has renewed his career this season also. He, helped by Jim Harbaugh led the 49ers to a 13-3 record. Smith had a career year this year. He threw for 3,144 yards, the most in his career, as well as 17 touchdowns. His second most in his career. He also threw for an NFL low five interceptions. Running back Frank Gore finished  sixth in rushing yards, and also scored eight touchdowns. 

The Pick: The Giants have the momentum. After all, they beat the defending champs. Eli Manning wants to prove to the world that he is an elite quarterback. He wants to prove to the world that the Giants are an elite team, a team that will contend in the future. The 49ers want to show they belong in the playoffs. They want to show that this season is not a fluke. The Giants, because of the players’ experience will beat the 49ers and face the Patriots in a Superbowl XLII rematch. 

Giants over 49ers 

NFL Divisional Round Picks

AFC Games: 

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots 

Tom Brady will attempt to win his first playoff game since 2007.

One play. That’s all it took for the Broncos to beat the Steelers last week. One 80 yard pass by Tim Tebow to Demaryius Thomas to win in overtime. Now, after beating an injury riddled Steelers squad, the Broncos travel to Foxborough to face Tom Brady and the Patriots. Brady led his team to a 13-3 record, including a win over the Broncos in Week 15. Brady has had yet another fantastic season, also breaking Dan Marino’s single season passing record, with 5,235 yards. Tight end Rob Gronkowski also scored the most touchdowns by a tight end in a single season. 

The Pick: The last time these two teams played each other, the Patriots snapped the Broncos six game winning streak, and led the Broncos into a three game losing streak. The Broncos have the momentum, but the Patriots have an elite quarterback and great receiving corps. If the Broncos can get to Brady they may have a shot, but if Tebow played like he did against the Patriots in Week 15, the Broncos could have a problem. 

Patriots over Broncos 

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens 

Arian Foster wil try to keep the momentum going for the Texans. 

Arian Foster vs. Ray Rice. T.J Yates vs. Joe Flacco. The Texans defense vs. The Ravens defense. There are countless different exciting matchups in this game. The Texans come into this game after beating the Bengals 31-10 last week. The Texans are making their first playoff appearance in franchise history. This game is Joe Flacco’s first playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. Ravens fans are praying that he will play his heart out in this matchup. 

The Pick: Rice finished with more yards and more touchdowns then Foster did in the regular season.However, Foster had a fantastic game last week, rushing for 153 yards. This game will be a game of running and defense. The play of each quarterback will be key. Flacco will want to prove to Ravens fans that he belongs in Baltimore. Because of this, he will edge TJ Yates, and lead his team to the AFC championship. 

Ravens over Texans

NFC Games: 

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers 

Eli Manning leads possibly the hottest team in football into Lambeau Field on Sunday. The Giants demolished the Falcons 24-2 last week, led by Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora, and Justin Tuck. The Packers meanwhile had a bye week. The Packers, last season’s champs cruised to a 15-1 record this season. Aaron Rodgers had a great year for the Packers, as did receiver Jordy Nelson, who scored 15 touchdowns. The Packers defense however, has been a struggle all season. 

The Pick: If the Giants can get to Rodgers like they did to Matt Ryan, the Giants could win. However, if Aaron Rodgers can throw to his receivers, the Giants could be in for a long night. The Packers’ running game has struggled, while the Giants’ combination of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw flourished last week. This game will be close, but if Jason Pierre-Paul, and the rest of the Giants line pressure Rodgers, the Giants will upset. But if Rodgers scrambles enough, and can get the ball to Nelson and Jennings, the Packers will prevail. 

Packers over Giants 

New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers 

Drew Brees is on fire. Last week, he threw for 466 yards and three touchdowns, as he led his Saints to victory. Brees has broken the single season passing record, and is attempting to lead his team back to the Super Bowl. Their next test is in San Francisco to play the 49ers. The 49ers are led by their fantastic defense which allows just 14 points per game. They allow 230 yards passing, and an NFL low 77 yards rushing. Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles won’t be much of a factor in this game. On offense though, the 49ers have struggled. They finished 26^th in the NFL with 23 points per game. 

The Pick: It’s the NFL’s second best offense going head to head against the NFL’s second best defense. Of course, it’s also the NFL’s 13^th best defense, going against the 26^th best offense. The Saints have the edge in offense, and their defense is better than the 49ers offense. Alex Smith will do his best, but he can only lead his 49ers so far. Expect the 49ers to contend next year as well. 

Saints over 49ers 

NFL Wildcard Round Picks

Tim Tebow will have some trouble overcoming the fantastic Pittsburgh Defense.

After 17 weeks of regular season games, the NFL has finally reached the playoffs. Throughout the seasons there were countless surprises. The Philadelphia Eagles, despite all of their star power, won just  8 games. The Broncos surprised everyone and somehow won their division. Marvin Lewis led his Bengals to the playoffs, one of three AFC North teams to reach the next stage. 

2011 was the year of the passer. Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers led their team’s to the playoffs despite having some of the worst defenses in football.  Drew Brees beat Dan Marino’s record for passing yards in the season. Brady broke the record as well. 

AFC Games: 

Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans 

Andy Dalton has done what was once impossible. He has led a Bengals team, without both Chad Ochocinco and Carson Palmer to the playoffs. With the exception of Cam Newton, Dalton has been the best rookie quarterback this season. Dalton threw for 3,398 yards, and 20 touchdowns. Dalton is going into the wildcard round after a loss to division rival Baltimore. The Texans made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The team finished with a 10-6 record. Three of those wins came without all-star quarterback Matt Schaub. Unfortunately, three of those losses came without Schaub as well. With rookie T.J Yates starting, the Texans could have a problem. Fortunately, the Texans have running back Arian Foster. Foster finished with 1,224 yards on the ground, good for fifth in the league.  The Texans defense is great, they allow just 17.4 points per game. 

The Pick: Both the Texans and Bengals have overcome obstacles to reach the playoffs.  However, the Bengals failed to beat a playoff team. They went 0-7 against playoff teams , including losing both games to the Steelers and Ravens. In the Texans’ five games against playoff teams, they went 2-3. One of their two wins was against the Bengals. Texans over Bengals 

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos 

People doubted him, but he somehow won games. In one game he passed for less yardage then the running back ran, yet he still won. Then, the Patriots came to town. The Patriots tore at Tebow, scoring 41 points against he and his Broncos. After the Patriots game, the Broncos lost their next two games, and skidded into the playoffs only after the Raiders lost. The Steelers, despite all of their injuries, had a fantastic 12-4 season. Ben Roethlisberger will most likely play in this game, but if he doesn’t, the Broncos could have a chance to win. 

The Pick: The Steelers have the best defense in football, allowing just 14 points per game. The Broncos are allowing 24 points per game. If Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace break out, the Broncos are in for a long game. 

Steelers over Broncos

NFC Games: 

Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints 

Single season passing leader Drew Brees will try to lead his team over the Lions.

The Lions had the tools to make the playoffs. But they were also cursed. The last time the team won all four of their preseason games, they went 0-16. Matthew Stafford was determined to change that. And he did. He led the Lions to a 10-6 record. With the help of his receiver Megatron, Stafford passed for 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns. Calvin Johnson had a  great season of his own. He caught 96 balls for 1,681 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Saints finished the season 13-3. They also ended the year on an eight game winning streak. Drew Brees set the record for most passing yards in a season for the Saints. Against playoff teams, the Saints were 4-1, losing only to the Packers. The Saints allow 21 points per game, compared to the Lions’ 24. Expect Brees to take advantage of the Lions' poor defense, and throw the ball constantly.

The Pick: The Saints come into this game having won their last eight games. The Lions come into this matchup with a record of 3-2 in their last five games. This will be a passing heavy matchup, but expect Brees to come with the victory. 

Saints over Lions 

New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons 

Tom Coughlin loves Dallas. With his team in the midst of a four game losing streak, Coughlin’s team traveled to Dallas. Eli Manning passed for 400 yards and led his team to a 37-34 victory, that began the Giants’ road to the playoffs. Then, with their playoff hopes on the line, the Cowboys came to Metlife Stadium and lost 31-14. Because of that win, the Giants clinched the playoffs. The Falcons arrived in the playoffs a different way. Led by quarterback Matt Ryan and receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White, the Falcons finished 10-6. The Falcons have a so-so defense, allowing 22 points per game. The Falcons have a potent offense, though not as potent as the Giants, who average 385 yards compared to the Falcons’ 376. 

The Pick: This game will come down to the running game. Which running back will show up, Michael Turner or Ahmad Bradshaw? Whichever running back runs for more yardage will most likely win the game. Eli Manning will do as much as he can, but Turner and Matt Ryan will lead the Falcons to the next round. 

Falcons over Giants