3 Standouts from NFL's Conference Championships

The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers punched their tickets to Super Bowl LIV. The AFC Champion Chiefs defeated the Tennessee Titans 35-24, while the NFC Champion 49ers pounded the visiting Green Bay Packers 37-20. Here are three offensive players who dominated the Conference Championship Round.

1. Raheem Mostert

The 49ers fed Tevin Coleman the rock 22 times during their win over Minnesota last week. It was Raheem Mostert’s turn in the NFC Championship. 

On the 49ers’ second drive, Mostert busted out a 36-yard TD run on a halfback draw. By game’s end, Mostert had amassed a jaw-dropping 220 yards and four TDs.

Mostert carried the ball 29 times, as Coleman exited the contest early with a shoulder injury. The undrafted running back gashed the Packers for 160 yards and three TDs in the first half.  He is the only player in NFL history to rush for at least 150 yards and a trio of TDs in the first half of a playoff game. Mostert’s 220 yards were the second-most rushing yards by a player in league history.

Raheem Mostert's 220 rushing yards are the 2nd-most in a postseason game in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/qbpvgY8K5G

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 20, 2020

The 49ers’ offensive line did a remarkable job at creating holes up front for Mostert. According to Pro Football Focus, the 49ers provided nearly three yards of open run room before contact per carry. Mostert took advantage of these gaps and refused to go down once he was hit by a defender. Mostert gained 159 yards after contact and broke seven tackles.

The rushing attack was so dominant that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo attempted only eight passes, the second fewest ever in a postseason contest. 24 minutes of game time went by between Garopolo’s sixth and seventh pass attempts. He ended the night with six completions for 77 yards.

2. Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes demonstrated why he is the best player in football Sunday afternoon. The 24-year-old quarterback threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns. His most highlight-worthy play came on a 23-yard TD run. He finished with 53 yards rushing on eight carries.

THAT. WAS. INCREDIBLE.

Championship moment for @PatrickMahomes. #NFLPlayoffs #ChiefsKingdom

📺: #TENvsKC on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/x5sQRf24XS pic.twitter.com/fopHAvVlzl

— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2020

All three of Mahomes’ TD passes were thrown to wide receivers. This is a direct contrast to last week’s touchdown barrage in which Mahomes threw all five scores to running backs and tight ends.

Mahomes will play in his first Super Bowl after winning the AFC Championship. (Charlie Neibergall/AP)

Mahomes has compiled nine TDs (eight passing) in two games this postseason. A week after the Chiefs stormed back from a 24-0 deficit, they erased a 17-7 early hole behind Mahomes to advance to the franchise’s first Super Bowl in 50 years.

3. Sammy Watkins

Sammy Watkins caught three 3 TDs this season—all three coming in Week 1—but dismantled the Titans’ secondary in the AFC Championship. He collected seven receptions for 114 yards and the dagger touchdown halfway through the fourth quarter. 

Watkins broke wide open in the middle of the field on his 60-yard TD grab, building a commanding 35-17 advantage for Kansas City.

AHHHHHHHH 😁 pic.twitter.com/vVIcO1bSw1

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 19, 2020

NFL Awards 2018 Predictions

With the 2018 NFL regular season completed and the playoffs kicking off this weekend, there is no better time to give picks for the MVP, defensive player of the year and all the other major end-of-season awards.

The Associated Press (AP) will announce the individual NFL awards the night before the Super Bowl in Atlanta in the 8th Annual NFL Honors on Feb. 2. Here are my selections.

MVP: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

Leading the Kansas City Chiefs to the No. 1 seed in the AFC and throwing 50 passing touchdowns, Mahomes is the runaway favorite for the league's most valuable player award. Forced to make up for his team's less-than-adequate defense—which ranked 24th in points allowed per contest—Mahomes put up historic numbers to secure home-field advantage for the Chiefs throughout the AFC playoffs. He had two 6-touchdown games, racked up 5,097 passing yards and was the most dominant player in football.

Runner-Up: Drew Brees, Saints

The NFC playoffs run through New Orleans and Brees is the biggest reason why. The best player on the best team, Brees led the league in completion percentage (74.4) and passer rating (115.7). He threw 32 touchdowns against just five interceptions, spearheading the New Orleans Saints to 13 wins. Unlike Mahomes, however, Brees had a competent defense to compliment his excellent quarterbacking. Furthermore, Brees threw only three touchdown passes in the Saints’ last five games (he sat out the fifth).

Offensive Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes

Only two quarterbacks in NFL history have thrown for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a single season: Peyton Manning in 2013 and Mahomes in 2018. That makes Mahomes this season's OPOY.

Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald, Rams

Donald is set to win his second consecutive DPOY Award, despite missing training camp over a contract dispute. The defensive tackle had 20.5 sacks—just shy of Michael Strahan's NFL-record of 22.5—and led the league in QB hits (41) and tackles for loss (30).

Aaron Donald is the league's most dominant defensive player. (Getty Images)

Runner-Up: Khalil Mack, Bears

Mack transformed the Chicago Bears into the best defense in football. The Bears' defense finished first in takeaways (36) and interceptions (27) and No. 3 in points off takeaways (107).

The engine of the defensive unit, Mack was tied for second in the league with six forced fumbles. The linebacker accumulated a team-high 12.5 sacks and was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month in September.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Baker Mayfield, Browns

Mayfield threw more touchdown passes, 27, than any rookie in NFL history. He reached that total despite not seeing any action until Week 3 and not starting until the following game. More importantly, he turned the Cleveland Browns into a legitimate franchise again, leading them to a 7-8-1 record after the team finished 0-16 a season ago. The Browns were in playoff contention until Week 16, something that seemed unfathomable based off how bad things were for the team at this time last year.

Baker Mayfield threw 27 passing TDs, a rookie-record. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Runner-Up, Saquon Barkley, Giants

In just about any other year, the New York Giants running back would take home the OROY crown. Barkley, a transcendent talent, had seven 100-yard games and 89 receptions—catching nine or more passes in four games—and logged over 2,000 all-purpose yards.

But Mayfield had a far bigger impact on the Browns than Barkley had for the Giants, who only improved their win total (5) by two games from the prior season.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Darius Leonard, Colts

Leonard led the NFL in tackles (163), totaling 19 more than the next closest player. The linebacker had 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Last season, the Indianapolis Colts' defense ranked 30th in points and yards allowed. But with Leonard on board this year, the unit rose to 10th in scoring defense and 11th in yards allowed.

Runner-Up: Derwin James, Chargers

One of the most versatile defenders in the league, James, primarily a safety, played multiple positions for the Los Angeles Chargers this season. He appeared in all 16 games and registered 105 tackles, three interceptions and 3.5 sacks.

Coach of the Year: Matt Nagy, Bears

Nagy led the Bears to 12 wins and a division championship. Chicago had finished in last-place in the NFC North four years in a row before Nagy came to town. The Bears' record in the four seasons prior to his arrival: 5-11, 6-10, 3-13 and 5-11. The Bears rose to the No. 3 seed in the NFC under Nagy and closed with a 5-1 division record.

Runner-Up: Frank Reich, Colts

Despite losing five of their first six games, the Colts made the playoffs with a 10-6 record. Reich, a first-year head coach like Nagy, helped guide the franchise to a huge turnaround season after the team finished 4-12 last year.

Comeback Player of the Year: Andrew Luck, Colts

After missing the entire 2017 season, Luck returned and completed a career-high 67.3 percent of his passes for 4,593 yards, 39 touchdowns with 15 interceptions. Luck went eight straight games with at least three touchdown passes and has the Colts in the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Runner-Up: J.J. Watt, Texans

The AFC South champion Houston Texans returned to a formidable defense with Watt back in the fold. He missed 24 games over the last two seasons with back and leg injuries before his incredible 2018 campaign. The defensive end had 16 sacks and seven forced fumbles to reassert himself as one of the NFL's most dominant defensive players.

Executive of the Year: Chris Ballard, Colts

In his first season as Colts GM, Ballard emphasized the offensive line in the draft. He selected guard Quenton Nelson in round one and tackle Braden Smith in the second round. Both players helped transform the Colts into one of the best O-lines in football, as the unit surrendered just 18 sacks all season.

Ballard nabbed the aforementioned Leonard in round three and made the prudent choice to hire Reich to be the head coach.

Runner-Up: Ryan Pace, Bears

Pace traded for Mack days before the start of the season and the results of the acquisition speak for itself. He hired Nagy, the likely winner of Coach of the Year, and has the Bears back in the postseason for the first time since 2010.

NFL MVP Rankings

With four weeks remaining in the season, the NFL MVP race looks to be a two-man battle between Drew Brees and Patrick Mahomes.

Entering Week 14, Mahomes appears to have the edge on Brees, who had one of the worst games of his storied career in the New Orleans Saints' primetime loss to the Dallas Cowboys last Thursday night. Mahomes, on the other hand, is coming off a four-touchdown performance versus the lowly Oakland Raiders, extending his NFL-high passing touchdown total to 41 as he immediately stepped up for the Kansas City Chiefs in the absence of the recently-released Kareem Hunt. Mahomes is the third player in NFL history to throw 40+ TDs through 12 games, as Peyton Manning accomplished this feat twice (2004 and 2013) and Tom Brady achieved it in the New England Patriots’ perfect regular season in 2007.

Mahomes has led the Chiefs to a 10-2 record. (AP Image)

Below are all the MVP candidates worth mentioning.

10. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans

Watson, the second-year QB who tore his ACL last season after beginning his career in historic fashion, has led the Texans to nine consecutive victories after the team started 0-3. He has logged 21 passing touchdowns, two rushing scores and eight interceptions.

9. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts

Luck, who missed the entire 2017 season, has transformed the Colts into playoff contenders after consecutive years of being bottom-feeders. Before the Colts were shut out by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Luck had a stretch of eight straight games with three or more passing scores.

8. Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams

Gurley is the most explosive player on the best team in the league. Gurley leads the league in rushing and has already set a Rams single-season franchise record with 15 rushing touchdowns, also a league-high.

7. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams

Under center for the 11-1 Rams, Goff has 28 total touchdowns (one rushing score) against just seven interceptions with a 109.9 passer rating, the fifth-best mark in the NFL. Even with Gurley in the backfield in what is sometimes a run-first offense, Goff still ranks fourth in the NFL in passing yards.

6. Khalil Mack, Chicago Bears

Under the tutelage of Mack, the NFC North-leading Bears feature the best defense in football. Chicago’s outside linebacker—traded by the Raiders just before the start of the NFL season—has five forced fumbles, nine sacks and an interception, which he returned for a touchdown.

5. Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams

The best player on the best team in the NFL, Donald is on pace to win Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year. He leads the NFL in sacks with 16.5.

4. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Seattle, but Wilson and the young 'Hawks (7-5) have surpassed expectations. The remarkably efficient Wilson has thrown the fourth-most passing touchdowns (29), despite ranking 24th in pass attempts in the Seahawks’ run-centric offense.

3. Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers

Rivers is having arguably the best season of his legendary career, making the Chargers (9-3) one of the most feared teams in the league. A 28-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio with the third-best passer rating (115.7) in the league places Rivers behind only Brees and Mahomes in the MVP race.

2. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Brees has never won NFL MVP—an award that would further cement his loaded career résumé—but that could change with a strong finish to the 2018 season. Brees holds the NFL’s best passer rating (123.2) and best completion percentage (75.5) with 30 passing scores against just three interceptions.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Mahomes has guided to the Chiefs to the top record in the AFC. He is having one of the best seasons ever by a quarterback, currently on pace for 55 passing touchdowns, which would tie Manning's record set in 2013. Mahomes, who has two rushing scores, has accounted for 43 total touchdowns, which is more than 28 teams in the NFL have scored this season. In addition to leading the league in touchdowns, he also ranks second in passing yards and second in passer rating. Mahomes is easily the most dangerous player in football.

NFL Power Rankings Week 10

1. Los Angeles Rams (8-1)

The Rams lost, but they still hold the top record in the NFC and are showing no signs of slowing down on offense. Todd Gurley scored a touchdown for the 12th straight game—a franchise record. Brandin Cooks caught six passes for 114 yards and a score against his former team, while Jared Goff completed 28-of-40 passes for 391 yards, three TDs and an interception.

2. New England Patriots (7-2)

Josh Gordon had his coming-out party with the Patriots, catching five passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. It's the second 100-yard game for Gordon in the past three contests.

Cordarrelle Paterson, the kick returner-turned-receiver-turned-halfback carried the rock 11 times for 61 yards and a touchdown versus Green Bay. James White rushed 12 times for 31 yards and two touchdowns and caught six passes for 72 yards in the victory for the Patriots, who have won six straight.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (8-1)

Patrick Mahomes remains the odds-on favorite for MVP, completing 23-of-32 passes for 375 yards and three touchdowns in Kansas City's 37-21 rout of Cleveland.

With seven games still left to play, he has thrown 29 touchdowns and is one away from tying the franchise record for TD passes in a season set by Hall of Famer Len Dawson in 1964.

Mahomes has thrown for over 300 yards in eight straight games. (AP Photo)

4. New Orleans Saints (7-1)

The Saints unseated the Rams behind the Big 3 of Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas. Brees completed 25-of-36 passes for 346 yards and four touchdowns. Kamara rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns and hauled in four passes for 34 yards and another score. Thomas had the best game of his career, catching 12 passes for 211 yards—a Saints single-game receiving record—and a 72-yard touchdown that essentially sealed the victory.

5. Los Angeles Chargers (6-2)

Keenan Allen broke out of his season-long slump, posting 124 receiving yards and adding 28 yards on the ground.

The visiting Chargers defeated the Russell Wilson-led Seahawks, the first time the Super Bowl champion quarterback lost a home game to an AFC opponent in his seven-year career.

6. Carolina Panthers (6-2)

The Panthers scored a franchise-record 35 points in the first half, eventually holding on for a 42-28 win over the Bucs.

Christian McCaffrey registered 79 rushing yards with two TDs and 78 receiving yards.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2-1)

James Conner is the driving force behind the Steelers' resurgence and is performing better than Le'Veon Bell ever did. He mustered 163 total yards, running for 107 with 56 receiving yards and a TD reception.

8. Minnesota Vikings (5-3-1)

Adam Thielen’s streak of 100-yard receiving games ended at eight, but he still caught a touchdown in the Vikings’ win over Detroit.

The Vikings set a franchise-record with 10 sacks.

Defensive end Danielle Hunter was the player of the game for Minnesota, posting 3.5 sacks and returning a Matthew Stafford fumble 32 yards for the touchdown.

9. Philadelphia Eagles (4-4)

The Eagles return from their bye to host the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.

10. Houston Texans (6-3)

The Texans escaped Denver with a 19-17 win as Broncos kicker Brandon McManus clanked a a 51-yard field goal on the game's final play.

Winners of six in a row, the Texans look like the cream of the crop in the AFC South.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (5-3)

The Bengals received bad news during their bye week, as star wide receiver A.J. Green is expected to “miss some games” with a toe injury.

12. Chicago Bears (5-3)

The Bears produced two defensive touchdowns in the second quarter of their 41-9 beatdown over the turnover-prone Bills. Safety Eddie Jackson scooped up a fumble and ran for a 65-yard score and linebacker Leonard Floyd intercepted a tipped pass and returned it for 19 yards and a touchdown.

13. Baltimore Ravens (4-5)

The Ravens have lost four of five and head coach John Harbaugh is reportedly on the host seat in Baltimore, which has not made the playoffs since 2014.

14. Washington Redskins (5-3)

First-place Washington laid an egg versus Atlanta. The passing game continues to struggle under Alex Smith and the rushing attack was stymied against a Falcons’ defense ranked in the bottom of the league in nearly every statistical category.

The undisciplined Redskins totaled 147 penalty yards, their most since 1971.

15. Atlanta Falcons (4-4)

Julio Jones caught his first touchdown since Week 11 of the 2017 season, while Matt Ryan ripped the Redskins’ tough defense apart for 350 yards and four TDs. The Falcons won for the third consecutive time to place themselves back into the NFC playoff race.

Rest of the Pack

16. Miami Dolphins (5-4)

17. Seattle Seahawks (4-4)

18. Tennessee Titans (4-4)

19. Green Bay Packers (3-4-1)

20. Dallas Cowboys (3-5)

21. Detroit Lions (3-5)

22. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-5)

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5)

24. Indianapolis Colts (3-5)

25. Cleveland Browns (2-6-1)

26. New York Jets (3-6)

27. Denver Broncos (3-6)

28. Buffalo Bills (2-7)

29. New York Giants (1-7)

30. Arizona Cardinals (2-6)

31. San Francisco 49ers (2-7)

32. Oakland Raiders (1-7)

NFL Power Rankings Week 5

1. Los Angeles Rams (4-0)

The best team in the NFL put on a show on Thursday night behind Jared Goff. The QB threw for 465 yards and five touchdowns with a perfect passer rating.

Goff torched the Vikings in a transcendent performance at LA Memorial Coliseum. (Getty Images)

2. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0)

The Chiefs are 4-0 for the second straight year behind Patrick Mahomes, the early favorite for MVP. Their defense remains a concern, ranking dead-last in nearly every statistical category.

3. New Orleans Saints (3-1)

The defense finally woke up—albeit against the Giants’ anemic offense—to give New Orleans its third consecutive victory.

4. Carolina Panthers (2-1)

The Panthers, who lead the NFL in rushing with 166 yards per contest on the ground, return from their bye week with a home tilt against the Giants.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1)

Leonard Fournette (hamstring) went down again and will likely be sidelined a few weeks, but Blake Bortles bounced back after a dismal Week 3 showing, throwing for 338 yards and two TDs in a blowout victory over the Jets.

6. New England Patriots (2-2)

The AFC East still runs through New England, as evidenced by the Patriots’ beatdown over the previously-unbeaten Dolphins. Sony Michel broke out for 112 yards and his first career touchdown. Josh Gordon debuted Sunday and now fellow wide receiver Julian Edelman will return after serving his four-game suspension

7. Chicago Bears (3-1)

Already establishing itself as one of the league’s best defensive teams, Chicago's offense showcased its talents in Sunday’s lopsided win versus the Bucs. Mitchell Trubisky recorded 354 passing yards and a whopping six touchdowns on just 26 pass attempts and added 53 rushing yards.

8. Tennessee Titans (3-1)

Fresh off beating the powerhouse Jaguars in Jacksonville, the Titans knocked off the defending-champion Eagles in a thrilling OT victory. Mike Vrabel is on pace to win Coach of the Year, leading his team to the top of the AFC South, despite a rash of injuries. Quarterback Marcus Mariota had his best game in a long time, completing 30 of 43 passes for 344 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, while rushing for 46 yards and a score.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (3-1)

The inconsistent Andy Dalton showed poise in the Bengals’ game-winning drive against the Falcons. A.J. Green continued his torrid start by catching the go-ahead TD, Tyler Boyd (11 catches, 100 yards) had another strong showing and Giovanni Bernard (69 rushing yards with 2 TDs and four receptions for 27 yards) excelled in place of the injured Joe Mixon.

10. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)

QB Joe Flacco and wideout John Brown are in full sync, while the defense delivered a terrific performance against the rival Steelers. Baltimore held the Steelers to just 284 total yards and fewer than 20 rushing yards.

11. Minnesota Vikings (1-2-1)

The defense has been stunningly bad, but Kirk Cousins looks like an elite quarterback, giving the team hope for a revival.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)

The Eagles’ secondary is awful, but the champs’ offense finally played well in their loss on Sunday. If the pass defense can improve, the Eagles should find themselves back at the top of the NFC East.

13. Los Angeles Chargers (2-2)

The Chargers never make anything easy. Philip Rivers threw a brutal pick-six in the opening quarter, and needed to fire three passing strikes to get his team past the 49ers (1-3).

Rivers moved into 8th-place all-time on the NFL's passing yards list, passing Hall of Fame QB John Elway on Sunday.

14. Washington Redskins (2-1)

The Redskins return to action on Monday Night Football at New Orleans to play the surging Saints.

15. Green Bay Packers (2-1-1)

The offense is not where it needs to be as Aaron Rodgers has not looked like his elite self.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2-1)

The Steelers are a mess right now. On the bright side, Le’Veon Bell looks likely to return by Week 7 or 8.

17. Miami Dolphins (3-1)

The Dolphins laid an egg versus the Patriots. Ryan Tannehill was 11-of-20 for just 100 yards. The Dolphins had seven punts, two turnovers and 10 penalties for 89 yards.

Rest of the Pack:

18. Denver Broncos (2-2)

19. Atlanta Falcons (1-3)

20. Seattle Seahawks (2-2)

21. Dallas Cowboys (2-2)

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-2)

23. Cleveland Browns (1-2-1)

24. Detroit Lions (1-3)

25. New York Giants (1-3)

26. Houston Texans (1-3)

27. Indianapolis Colts (1-3)

28. New York Jets (1-3)

29. San Francisco 49ers (1-3)

30. Oakland Raiders (1-3)

31. Buffalo Bills (1-3)

32. Arizona Cardinals (0-4)