The 2015-2016 NFL season has certainly seen its share of surprises. The following are my picks for the 9 biggest surprises in the NFL
9. Andy Dalton
In his fifth NFL season, Andy Dalton has become an elite quarterback. Since his debut in 2001, Dalton has become a constant threat in the NFL, but has never found his stride to be elite. This season, Dalton is on pace to have a career high in touchdowns, quarterback rating and passing yards. He has accomplished these feats with the help of an outstanding offensive line led by left tackle, Andrew Whitworth, and a great rushing and receiving corps with Jeremy Hill, and Geovani Bernard coming out of the back field as well as wide receivers AJ Green, Marvin Jones and Mohammed Sanu.
8. Cowboys
Many people in the preseason predicted that the Cowboys would go to the Super Bowl and win, but they have been greatly disappointed. I hope they didn’t bet any money because they are going to be more broke than Tony Romo’s collarbone. The Cowboys were supposed to have a fantastic season with All-Pro quarterback Tony Romo, pro bowl wide out Dez Bryant and the number one offensive line in the league. The defense was going to be led by linebackers Rolando McClain and Sean Lee and defensive lineman Greg Hardy. However, due to many devastating injuries, Dallas has sunk to the bottom of the NFC East. Dallas’ injuries include a broken collarbone from Tony Romo, broken foot to Dez Bryant, multiples concussions for Sean Lee and injuries to Anthony Hitchens. Let’s hope the next few games give the Cowboys and their fans a little more time to heal.
7. Raiders
The Raiders have enjoyed a great season for their team. They might be 4-4, but they are miles past where they started. At this time last year, the Raiders were 0-8 and would lose their first 10 games of the year before finishing 3-13. However, this year, their story is extremely different. Their offense has improved drastically with quarterback Derek Carr playing extremely well and Amari Cooper has turned out to be an extremely valuable pick from the draft. Cooper has more receiving yards, touchdowns and receptions than any receiver taken in the draft and their defense has more than stepped up to the plate.
6. Charles Woodson
Raiders safety Charles Woodson has defied father time and in his age. At 39, he is having a better season than he was 10 years ago. Woodson began his career in 1998 and has consistently been one of the best safeties in the NFL. Woodson currently leads the NFL in interceptions with five. He also currently sits at 5th on the all time interceptions list with sixty-five.Just a little bit ago, it was believed that Woodson had only a few good years left in him. However, that’s certainly not the case anymore. Woodson is defying the laws of physics and is not only running, jumping and playing with some of the youngest most athletic players in the game but beating them as well.
5. Peyton Manning
What can you say about Peyton Manning, other than the fact that he is a legend.? Manning has enjoyed one of the greatest careers in pro football history. He is the all time leader in touchdown passes and yards, but this season he has fallen on hard times. He is the current NFL leader in interceptions thrown and has only completed 62% of his passes. This is certainly a shocker because while Peyton is getting up there in age he certainly is widely respected around the league. We haven’t really ever seen a non-spectacular Peyton Manning until this season. Hopefully, Peyton Manning’s 2nd half will show that he can still compete in the NFL today. He has said that he is considering retiring after this season due to the physical tolls the NFL takes on your body. At the rate he is going, it is appearing to be very evident in the way he is playing. I hope Manning finishes with fantastic 2nd half .While he might not win the Super Bowl because he will have to get past the Bengals and the Patriots, I do hope he can at least go out on a good note.
4. Todd Gurley
Prior to his start in the NFL, Todd Gurley was considered a once in a generation talent. So far, he hasn’t let them down. Gurley has really only played 5 true games this season because he missed the first two games with an injury and only played part of a third game.However, in his other five games, Gurley has absolutely destroyed his opponents, averaging 110 yards per game and scoring 4 touchdowns. He has certainly become an major improvement over his predecessors Tre Mason and Benny Cunningham
and has become a franchise running back that the Rams can build their team around. Gurley is currently on pace to set the NFL rookie record for rushing yards in a season (1808) set by Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson.
3. Colts offense
These next three surprises could have all been number one on this list but not everyone can be a winner, so the number three spot is held by the Indianapolis Colts average offense. The Colts offense is led by quarter back Andrew Luck, running back Frank Gore, Tight Ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, and Wide Receivers TY Hilton, Andre Johnson, Phillip Dorsett and Donte Moncrief. Coming into the 2015 NFL season, people were saying that quarterback Andrew Luck was going to break records and have the greatest season at quarterback in NFL history. This offense has certainly disappointed many with their failures to even put up good numbers. Andrew Luck leads the NFL in turnovers, Frank Gore is getting older and is becoming more and more inconsistent and their receiving corps has become average at best.
2. The Cardinals
The Cardinals have opened the doors to the retirement home, punched father-time in his face and taken their offense to new heights. Thirty seven year old Carson Palmer is now an MVP candidate after leaving a successful career in Cincinnati. Running back Chris Johnson has shocked everyone, defying logic by being the second in the NFL in rushing. Considering the fact that the oldest running back in the NFL is Deangelo Williams of the Pittsburgh Steelers who is 32, Johnson isn’t doing to bad at the age he is. Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald is just fantastic at his position. For about five years, Fitzgerald was considered one of the best at his position because he had hall of fame quarterback Kurt Warner as his passer. Since then, he has had some success with the mediocre quarterbacks the Cardinals have given him. At thirty-two, Fitzgerald is still putting up good numbers and is getting a lot of pro-bowl votes.
1. Undefeated
And the biggest surprise goes to the three teams that remain undefeated in week eight. Never before has there been a season where there are three undefeated teams this late in the season. The Patriots, Bengals and Panthers have proven that they are teams to be reckoned with. How late will these teams go? Go read my article on the undefeated teams. Spoiler Alert: The Patriots are going to finish undefeated and Tom Brady will get his record 5th ring.
Written by Kenny Quinn
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