Season Recap

With the playoffs in full swing its always fun to look back and see how we got here. I'll go ahead and kick off my season recap with my first award to Best up and coming team. 

Runner up Tampa Bay- The Bucs just missed the playoffs and held a respectable 9-7 record. However they lost all 4 games in the month of December and allowed the Falcons to sweep in to the wild card. Yet the Bucs started the season 6-3 by the bye week and included a 27-3 romp over eventual number 2 seed Carolina. Really what didn't help the Bucs was nagging injuries all year to QBs and both Starting running backs. Tampa Bay will be force next year I predict a playoff appearance for them.

Runner up- New England. Heading into this season New England fans couldn't realistically expected another perfect season. However the gasps filled Gillette stadium once the crowd saw future hall of famer Tom Brady on the ground clutching his knee. Immediately it became a question of what now. Matt Cassel showed the potential that this team has with out Brady. Just missing the playoffs despite winning their last 4. I predict them to win the division next year.

Winner- New Orleans finished 8-8 and did so without Reggie Bush most of the season. Drew Brees showed his stuff and won himself the offensive player of the year award. Factor in the Saints were the most scoring offense in the league and led in most total yards. The only hang up with them is their defense and they'll be shopping for a new coordinator soon. 

Where did they go?- Teams that got off to a great start but disappeared in the end

Runner up- Washington- Redskins started 6-3 by week 10 and were poised to challenge New York but an injury to top running back Clinton Portis really hurt the Redskins down the stretch.

Runner up- Tampa Bay just like Washington it looked as though the Bucs were a sure thing for January. But being bit by the injury bug limited their offense.

Winner- Buffalo- The Bills had their best start in over ten years winning their first 6 games. The Bills were turning as much heads as the Titans early on but going winless in the division killed them.

Most Disappointing team- Teams with the great seasons last year that couldn't repeat the same result this year.

Runner up- Jacksonville-Last year The Jags won a playoff game and gave the Patriots a good game in the next post season game. This year they went 5-11 and looked nothing like last years team. 

Runner up- Green Bay- Following Brett Favre is a hard act but he took the team to the NFC championship last season and the Pack followed it up with a 6 win season this year. 

Winner Dallas- This was the Cowboys year to make it back to the super bowl. After a decent finish last year they were poised as the favorite for the NFC to win. But internal bickering and injuries turned Americas team into a mediocre 9-7 team.

My MVP- Adrian Peterson. All Day had a great year. He rushed for over 1700 yards and had averaged 4.8 yards per carry. Without a decent passing game Peterson helped carried the Vikings into the postseason.

My Rookie of the year- Matt Ryan. In a town that first went threw Michael Vick last year. Then in the middle of the night their coach splits for Arkansas U after promising to stay. Matt Ryan seemed like he came from above. He actually came from Boston College. Ryan helped the town get over all of their trouble with Vick and their runaway coach. Sure Joe Flacco has had similar success but Matt Ryan had to start with nothing.

My Coach of the year- Dolphins coach Tony Sparano. It would be easy to factor in Jeff Fisher for taking his team undefeated for half a season but his team stumbled a bit in the end. Atlanta coach Mike Smith inherited a mess in Atlanta and brought them to the post season but Sparano took a team that had only 1 win last season to the division title. 

Image courtesy of Donald Miralle