NFC South Season Review

1st: New Orleans Saints(12-4)

The Saints were once again led by Drew Bree's to the NFC South title. New Orlean's finished with the 2nd best total offense in the league and were 4th in scoring averaging 36.7 points per game. It was another amazing season by Bree's putting up 5.540 yards and 54 touchdowns. Eddie Lacy was acquired in a trade and supported the passing game with a solid 1,136 yards at 4.2 yards per carry and 7 scores. However the star of the show for this team was second year wide receiver Brandin Cooks, a lot was expected of Cooks when he was drafted but no one could have expected him to produce like he did this season.

Cook's managed to destroy the receiving yards record with 2,492 yards and he also tied Randy Moss with 23 receiving touchdowns. Many tried to slow him down but no matter what teams did Cook's just kept on putting up the yards. 

Team MVP: Brandin Cooks - it really can't be anyone else, it'll be interesting to see if Cook's can carry on this production next season.

Unsung Hero: Brandon Browner - the veteran cornerback finished 2nd on the team in tackles and got a team high 6 interceptions. Solid production but i'm sure there were quite a few holding penalties in there aswell.

Team Needs

The Saints have been weak on defense for a number of years so will likely focus their offseason on improving that side of the ball, not much seems wrong with the offense but a replacement for Colston is probably needed.

2nd: Carolina Panthers(11-5)

Carolina got off to a hot start at 5-1 and led the division for quite a while during the season but they dropped a few games late on in the season, including a crucial loss to the Saints in week 13 which meant the Panthers had to settle for the #6 seed and a wildcard playoff spot.

Cam Newton had a solid year with 4,164 yards and 30 touchdowns, although his 26 interceptions will be something he'll want to improve next season. The Panthers did have the number 1 rushing offense in the league though with the triple threat of Seastrunck, Stewart and Newton proving too much to handle, they finished with an average of 138.4 rushing yards per game. 

Team MVP: Luke Keuchly - Keuchly continues to dominatte the league, he led the Panthers with 67 solo tackles on the year, 19 better than the next best on the team and also forced 2 fumbles and picked opponents off 3 times.

Unsung Hero: Kurt Coleman - a very productive year for the free safety with a team high 9 interceptions and 2nd on the team in tackles.

Team Needs

Carolina have a very strong roster so there aren't many areas to improve. They have released Stewart so a replacement for him and probably some upgrades at the wide receiver position. No doubt the Panthers will be a threat going forward though.

3rd: Tampa Bay Buccaneers(6-10)

A very inconsistent season in Tampa with wins against playoff teams in the Titans and Redskins but then heavy defeats to Carolina and New Orleans. You never quite know which Tampa will show up but on their day there is no doubt this team can compete with the best in the league. 

Perhaps with a rookie QB it is expected to be up and down and Jameis Winston certainly had a typical rookie year ending up with 3,668 yards and 19 touchdowns with 19 interceptions. With plenty of cap room to attack the offseason this team could be right there next season in the NFC South, definitely a team with potential.

Team MVP: Mike Evans - Evans led the team with 1,388 yards and caught 7 touchdowns off 82 receptions. Another very productive year for Evans and there is nothing to suggest he won't continue it next season.

Unsung Hero: Bruce Carter - the MLB led the Bucs in solo tackles with 90 and added 4 interceptions and a forced fumble. 

Team Needs

As mentioned before this team has a lot of cap space heading into free agency, they'll be looking to improve their offensive line significantly. A replacement for Vincent Jackson and improvements to the secondary are also areas that need addressing.

4th: Atlanta Falcons(5-11)

A tough season for the Falcons with both sides of the ball ranked 21st in the league. Matt Ryan is likely to continue at QB for the Falcons but he will be hoping to improve on his 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions next season, Atlanta needs him to get back to the level he was at a few years ago.

The good news for Ryan is star receiver Julio Jones had another monster season with 1,393 yards and 14 receiving touchdowns. Jones is virtually impossible to stop and the Falcon's will always have a chance with him in the team. 

Team MVP: Julio Jones - the freakish athlete continues to produce and isn't going to stop any time soon.

Unsung Hero: Paul Worrilow - the MLB led the team with 72 tackles and also got 3 sacks showing his versatility. The NFC South is a strong division at the MLB position.

Team Needs

Atlanta will likely be in the hunt for a couple of wide receivers to help out Julio, Roddy Whites career is coming to an end. A tight end is also a need. On the defensive side, the secondary could do with some new faces.

NFC West Season Review

1st: Arizona Cardinals(12-4)

The Cardinals rode their high flying offense to the NFC West title and the #3 seed in the NFC. Arizona averaged an impressive 39.7 points per game, good enough for 2nd in the league and finished up 3rd in the league for total offense. The offense was led by Zach Mettenberger after a trade with the Titans and he lit up opposing defenses for 5,019 passing yards with 46 passing touchdowns. The Cardinals also had a strong rushing attack that saw Christine Michael put up 1,421 yards and 15 scores. This was an all around juggernaut that barely anyone in the league could come to terms with.

On the other side of the ball things didn't go quite as smoothly as the Cardinals ended up with the 31st ranked defense with teams seemingly able to move the ball as they pleased. This made for an exciting combination with plenty of shootouts on the way. Can the Cardinal's offense carry them when it matters or will the saying 'defense wins championships' once again be proved correct? One things for sure it'll be worth watching!

Team MVP: Zach Mettenberger - the second year passer led one of the most explosive offenses in the league which makes it impossible to give this to anyone else. It was surprising to see Palmer replaced but you can't argue with the production.

Unsung Hero: John Brown - the number 3 receiver in the Card's deep receiving core came to play this season putting up 72 receptions, 1,563 yards and 14 touchdowns. He ended up Arizona's most productive wideout.

Team Needs

The defensive front is looking rather old on this roster so that will definitely be an area of concern and in all likliehood the Card's will be looking for another cornerback to play opposite Patrick Peterson.

2nd: St. Louis Rams(11-5)

Much like the Cardinal's the Rams had a very productive season on the offensive side of the ball actually finishing up with the no.1 total and scoring offense in the league. Nick Foles broke the single season pass yards record and threw 53 passing touchdowns but St. Louis proved to be their own worst enemy with Foles also throwing 43 interceptions. Turnovers were a killer for the Rams and in the end it narrowly cost them a playoff berth to Carolina. 

The Rams defense also struggled ending up as the #32 passing defense despite having the #1 rushing defense. It was a bit of a crazy season for St. Louis and they will be hoping to cut out the turnovers next season and reach the playoffs were they believe they belong. The talent is there, they just need to sort out the mistakes and they will be a force to be reckoned with.

Team MVP: Alshon Jeffrey - it may seem odd to not give this to Foles but his interceptions ended up being too costly. Jeffrey meanwhile had a monster season with 98 receptions, 1,836 yards and 17 touchdowns, very nice numbers by any standard. 

Unsung Hero: Rodney McLeod Jr. - it was a poor season for the passing defense but McLeod enjoyed an impressive individual year hauling in a team high 8 interceptions and 3rd on the team with 66 tackles.

Team Needs

St. Louis are likely to look for help at cornerback and offensive line is also an issue. A replacement for veteran Chris Long may also be on the agenda.

3rd: Seattle Seahawks(5-11)

A tough year for the Hawks after reaching back-to-back Superbowls the team came down to earth a little but this is still a very strong team with the potential to bounce straight back into Superbowl contention next season. The main reason for Seattle's struggles came on the offensive side of the ball with the team only finding the endzone on 35 occasions all season and averaging only 19.1 points per game. They also finished the season with a -11 turnover differential highlighting the problems on offense. 

Wilson had a very up and down season finishing up with a 21-26 TD:INT ratio and he'll definitely be wanting to get back to his previous production next time round. The ever reliable Marshawn Lynch once again broke 1,000 yards rushing and had 9 touchdown runs but offense will be the focus for the Hawk's this offseason.

Team MVP: Bobby Wagner - Wagner had an amazing 141 tackles on the season, which was a league high and also added 3 interceptions. Wagner has definitely established himself as one of the best MLB's in the league.

Unsung Hero: Jeremy Lane - he may not think much of Rob Gronkowski but Lane is proving to be better on the field than he is at evaluating tight ends. He led the Seahawks defense with 4 interceptions at nickelback and is likely to move up to the #2 cornerback next season opposite star Richard Sherman.

Team Needs

Offensive line and wide receiver are guaranteed to be on the shopping list for Seattle. Lynch isn't getting any younger either, he may have one more year left in him but the Hawk's will have to think about his replacement sooner rather than later.

4th: San Francisco 49ers(5-11)

With Willis and Bortland both retiring and a weak offensive line, two key strengths of this team two years ago seemingly disappeared overnight. As a result the 49ers find themselves in rebuilding mode once again. Is Colin Kaepernick the answer for San Fran in the long run or is the "Beats by Dre era" over in the Bay area?

The 49ers made it pretty clear early on this season that their focus was on the future so their struggles in a very tough NFC West weren't a huge surprise. They have made several trades and will be looking to make some noise next season with hopefully a much stronger roster. 

Team MVP: Navorro Bowman - after a horrific leg break many wondered whether Bowman could reach his previous production level and after leading the team with 121 tackles he has silenced any doubters. Like Wagner, Bowman is one of the very best at the MLB position.

Unsung Hero: Jermichael Finley - Finley's career also appeared over after a serious neck injury but the 49ers took a chance on him and he has delivered leading the team with 68 receptions, 992 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns.

Team Needs

The 49ers face a tricky offseason, almost every position needs upgrading, fortunately they have a lot of cap room so expect them to be very busy in free agency.

NFC North Season Review

1st: Minnesota Vikings(12-4)

Minnesota's defense guided them to the NFC North and #1 seed in the NFC. The Vikings had so many contributors to their success its hard to single out anyone. Teddy Bridgewater was very solid with 42 td's and 4,458 yards and rookie defensive end Danielle Hunter broke the single season sack record, an incredible achievement in his first season.

Running back Jerick McKinnon took over after Adrian Peterson was traded and soon made it clear that he was more than capable of replacing the star running back. Rookie Stefon Diggs also had an amazing first season with 1,559 yards and 12 touchdowns off 83 receptions.

As said before there are almost too many guys to name. The Vikings also led the league in redzone efficiency at 93% and finished 2nd on 3rd down conversion with 58%. The Vikings also led the league with 60 sacks on their way to the #3 defense.

Team MVP: Danielle Hunter - Hunter smashed the single season sack record with 27 sacks, hard to give this to anyone else.

Unsung Hero: Jerick McKinnon - tough to pick this one but no one would have expected McKinnon to produce as well as he has this season, Adrian Peterson is a distant memory and that is quite a statement. 

Team Needs

There aren't many holes on the Vikings roster, they are likely to focus on the linebacker position and replacing veteran Chad Greenway. WR could also do with an addition.

2nd: Green Bay Packers(6-10)

Green Bay got off to a disastrous start to the season going 0-5, however it wasn't a fair representation of this team, two of the losses came against the Rams and Chiefs, both very good opponents. From that point onwards the Packers went just above .500 and can look forward to a more competitive season next time round. 

Aslong as this team has Aaron Rodgers under center this team will have a shot. Rodgers threw for 5,106 yards and threw 37 touchdowns. Rodgers will be hoping to improve on his 29 interceptions though.

Team MVP: Jordy Nelson - the underrated receiver once again enjoyed a brilliant season for the Packers with 81 receptions, 1,465 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Unsung Hero: Nick Perry - Perry finished 2nd on the team in tackles with 82 but impressively 17 of those were tackles for a loss, he also got 3 interceptions.

Team Needs

Green Bay also don't have many weaknesses but mlb and dt are definitely positions that could do with an upgrade. WR may also need looking at after Davonte Adams was traded.

3rd: Chicago Bears(6-10)

Chicago's struggles in the passing game ended up costing them this season with Cutler once again proving that he isn't the answer for this team, will this finally be the end for his time with the Bears? The team ended up with the 31st ranked passing offense and the 29th ranked offense overall. The running game was productive with Mason leading the way but that wasn't enough for the Bears in the end.

They showed flashes of potential with wins over the Raiders, Broncos and a good win against the 49ers and they will be hoping to be more consistent next season with a more dynamic passing attack.

Team MVP: Tre Mason - Mason was acquired in a trade with the Rams that saw star receiver Alshon Jeffrey go the other way. The running back finished 4th in the league in rushing with 1,334 yards and 7 touchdowns at a 4.5 average. 

Unsung Hero: Kyle Fuller - the young cornerback is really starting to make a name for himself in this league and finished the season with 7 interceptions and was 2nd on the team with 81 tackles.

Team Needs

Chicago have quietly stocked up on draft picks so with a strong draft this team could really hit its stride next season. They will be looking for help on offense with a new QB likely along with adding more depth at the receiver position. On the defensive side of the ball they will be looking to upgrade the front 7 and safety will be a priority. 

4th: Detroit Lions(2-14)

A tough season for the Lions with 3 quarterbacks used through the regular season proving the uncertainty surrounding the position on this team. Will Stafford get another chance or has his lack of consistency cost him once and for all in Detroit?

On the positive side the Lions have got themselves a potential two headed monster in the backfield for next season with Jamaal Charles and Carlos Hyde which is certainly an exciting prospect. Calvin Johnson continues to produce with another 1,236 yards this season and the emerging Eric Ebron gives this team encouragement going forward.

Team MVP: Calvin Johnson - Calvin has enjoyed better seasons in his career but he is still the most reliable player the Lions have on offense and will likely continue that next season.

Unsung Hero: Eric Ebron - There was a lot of excitement about this TE when he was drafted and he has started to produce what was expected with 825 yards and 8 receiving touchdowns, the future is bright for the athletic tight end.

Team Needs

It goes without saying QB is a need for this franchise but they have traded away their 1st round pick which makes filling that position a lot more difficult. Elsewhere cornerback is in desperate need of an upgrade, as is strong safety.

NFC East: End of Season Review

1st: Philadelphia Eagles(12-4)

The Eagles took the NFC East title in large part thanks to two huge wins over the division rival Redskins and in the process managed to clinch the #2 seed in the NFC and a first round playoff bye. The Eagles found themselves a new QB after a trade with Denver and Brock Osweiller delivered and the Eagles look set at the quarterback position for many years to come.

Demarco Murray had another great year rushing the football with 1330 yards and 9 touchdowns and the Eagles have a young dynamic receiving core with Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor and Josh Huff that gave defenses hell all season. 

The Eagles combined the #6 offense with the #4 defense making them a very solid all round team with not many weaknesses. They also had a +19 turnover differential in large part thanks to only having 20 giveaways all season, the third least in the MSFL.

Team MVP: Brock Osweiller - Osweiller finished the season with the best QB rating in the MSFL of 136.8 and 4,853 yards, 49 TD's and only 11 INT's. 

Unsung Hero: Chris Houston - The veteran cornerback finished the season with a team high 6 interceptions and 57 tackles.

Team Needs

The Eagles will likely be focusing on improving their secondary with cornerback and strong safety two positions that need attention. 

2nd: Washington Redskins(12-4)

Washington had a very solid season falling just short of the NFC East title but still a very productive season for a team that isn't exactly loaded with talent. The Redskins finished up as the #5 seed in the NFC and they have done it without a QB for the most part with neither Tom Savage or RGIII having a great season. Instead the team has been carried by rookie running back Matt Jones who found the endzone 17 times and rushed for 1,229 yards at an impressive 5.8 yards per carry.

TE Jordan Reed and WR DeSean Jackson also had solid seasons both finishing up with just over 900 yards receiving. Washington have got by with solid production across the board and they'll be hoping to continue that going forward.

Team MVP: Matt Jones - Jones was definitely the work horse for the offense and will likely be even tougher to stop in the future.

Unsung Hero: Keenan Robinson - MLB Robinson ended the season with 73 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss and a team high 6 interceptions.

Team Needs

The Redskins will definitely be wanting to add a QB going forward but whether they can do that without a high pick in the draft remains to be seen. They will also likely be looking to improve their offensive line and their secondary.

3rd: Dallas Cowboys(5-11)

A tough season for the Cowboys in a strong division, the team had their moments with a win over the Eagles in week 9 showing the potential of this team. However a lack of consistency cost Dallas any hopes of competing for a playoff spot this season.

Tony Romo didn't have one of his better years for the Cowboys and with the veteran passer now 36 the question will certainly be asked whether Romo is the right man to lead this team going forward. On the flip side of that Adrian Peterson was acquired in a trade, finally getting to play for the Cowboys and enjoyed a productive season with 1,042 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.

The Cowboys will definitely be disappinted to finish the season with a -3 turnover differential and will be hoping to improve significantly in that area next season.

Team MVP: Terrance Williams - somewhat surprisingly Williams emerged as the no. 1 WR for Dallas this season with 1,326 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns with a very impressive 21.7 yard per reception. 

Unsung Hero: JJ. Wilcox - the free safety had a staggering 105 tackles, very impressive from a safety and he also added 5 interceptions.

Team Needs

Dallas may be looking for a QB depending on how they feel about Romo's future and a replacement for veteran TE Jason Witten is also likely. A running back may be added with no depth behind Peterson. 

4th: New York Giants(2-14)

Much like Dallas, the Giants struggled in a strong division and seemed to focus more on the future pretty early on in the season. The Giants ended the season with the #32 offense which is a clear indicator of where the team will be looking to improve. The Giants also only converted 31% of the time on 3rd down which also highlights the offensive struggles. Eli's time in New York looks almost certain to come to an end.

Team MVP: Odell Beckham Jr. - in a season of struggles on offense the lone bright spot for the Giants, the star receiver hauled in 65 receptions for 1,133 yards and caught 8 touchdowns.

Unsung Hero: Landon Collins - The rookie safety impressed for the Giants with 102 tackles, good enough for 3rd on the team and 3 interceptions. The Giants will hope he can continue that production going forward.

Team Needs

The 2nd overall pick in the draft is almost certain to be quarterback. After a season of offensive struggles all offensive roles are likely to be looked at with running back and tight end other potential needs, along with a couple of o-lineman. On the defensive side of the ball, mlb is an area that needs work.

Mid-Season Awards Predictions

As the MSFL reaches the mid-point of an exciting season so far some players have really stood out for their teams and individual records have already been set this season with other records looking likely to fall. So with that in mind let's take a look at who is leading some of the award races and who is likely to emerge as the winners come the end of the season.

MVP

1. Alex Smith QB - Kansas City Chiefs

Smith has led a pass heavy Kansas City offense and is setting a record breaking pace with 34 touchdowns through 9 games and 3,298 passing yards. Smith is looking likely to beat the passing TD and yardage records set by Peyton Manning in 2013 which would be an incredible achivement for a QB considered to be nothing more than a game manager. Oh and the Chief's happen to be unbeaten which makes Smith case to be the MVP even stronger.

2. Drew Brees QB - New Orleans Saints

Many expected a drop off in production from Brees with the departure of Jimmy Graham in the off-season but the veteran passer has once again been putting up elite QB numbers with 32 touchdowns and 3,394 yards through 10 games. Bree's has had an amazing connection this season with Brandin Cooks that has more than made up for the loss of Graham. If only the Saints defense could help Brees out.

3. Tom Brady QB - New England Patriots

The 4-time Super Bowl winner continues to defy father time and currently boasts the best QB rating in the league at 137.8 with 26 touchdowns and 8 interceptions through 8 games. Brady has guided the Patriots to an 8-0 start and New England look set to challenge in the postseason once again with Brady at the helm.

Also in the hunt: Brock Osweiller QB(Eagles), Brandin Cooks WR(Saints) and Zach Mettenberger QB(Cardinals)

MVP Prediction: Alex Smith - There are certainly some strong candidates other than Smith but you can't look past him when he is playing at such a high level and putting together a potentially record breaking season.

OPOY

The offensive player of the year is split into both AFC and NFC so firstly lets take a look at the AFC.

AFC:

1. Alex Smith - Chiefs

2. Tom Brady - Patriots

3. Marcus Mariota - Titans

Smith and Brady have already been mentioned in the MVP race so somewhat inevitably they are also up for OPOY. Mariota meanwhile has been up and down so far in his rookie season but has impressed overall with 13 passing touchdowns and 2,467 yards in 8 games and he has also added a couple of rushing touchdowns highlighting his ability as a dual threat QB.

AFC offensive player of the year prediction: Alex Smith

NFC:

1. Drew Brees - Saints

2. Brandin Cooks - Saints

3. Brock Osweiller - Eagles

The high octane Saints offense has vaulted two of thier players into prime position for this award. Bree's was mentioned earlier but Cooks contribution this season is worth further mention as 69 receptions, 1,562 yards and 15 receiving touchdowns are incredible numbers at this point in the season, Cooks will likely end up breaking several NFL records. Osweiller meanwhile has the 2nd best QB rating in the MSFL and a 28-7 TD to INT ratio, very good numbers and the Eagles should be a contender in the NFC with his solid play.

NFC offensive player of the year prediction: Brandin Cooks

DPOY

AFC:

1. Jamie Collins - Patriots

2. Zavier Gooden - Dolphins

3. Justin Houston - Chiefs

Collins has had an amazing season so far and has tied the NFL record for interceptions with 14 already at the mid-point of the season, he had a ridiculous 6 interceptions against the Bills early in the season which broke the NFL record for a single game and leads the Patriots in tackles. The athletic linebacker has taken his production to the next level this season. Gooden was a free agent pick-up for Miami and his lightning quick speed has really shone through so far for the Dolphins and he leads the team with 79 tackles, has 2.5 sacks and 4 interceptions. Houston is one of several Chiefs in the running for this award but his ability to get after the quarterback and stuff the run game make him one of the most dominant defensive players in the MSFL.

AFC defensive player of the year prediction: Jamie Collins

NFC:

1. Danielle Hunter - Vikings

2. Cameron Jordan - Saints

3. Deone Bucannon - Cardinals

Hunter is the joint NFL sack leader with 12.5 and has also added to that with 34 tackles. The rookie is a big reason why the Vikings current boast the best defense in the MSFL. Jordan also has 12.5 sacks for the Saints and is one of the few bright spots for a struggling New Orleans defense. Bucannon leads the Cardinals defense with 61 tackles and has 2 sacks and also 3 interceptions. He has been a major contributor on a Cardinals defense that has forced the most turnovers in the league.

NFC defensive player of the year prediction: Danielle Hunter