Tyler Ash Sports Blog: Philip Rivers

Showing posts with label Philip Rivers. Show all posts

Thursday, December 6, 2018

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.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

NFL Power Rankings Week 13

1. New Orleans Saints (10-1)

Drew Brees threw four touchdown passes to four undrafted players in Thursday night's win over the Falcons. Receivers Tommylee Lewis and Austin Carr each caught a touchdown pass, as did rookie tight end Dan Arnold and rookie wideout Keith Kirkwood.

The Saints’ defense logged a season-high six sacks, 13 quarterback hits and an interception. The Falcons lost three fumbles inside the Saints’ 20-yard line and were held to 26 yards rushing.

The victory lifted the Saints into the No. 1 seed in the NFC and eliminated the Falcons (4-7) from contention in the NFC South. New Orleans has outscored opponents 130-38 over its last three games.

Drew Brees tossed 4 touchdown passes in the Saints' win. (AP Photo)

2. Los Angeles Rams (10-1)

Coming off the bye, the Rams can clinch the NFC West for the second year in a row with a win at Detroit on Sunday.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-2)

The Chiefs return from their bye week to play the lowly Raiders in an AFC West matchup.

4. New England Patriots (8-3)

Rookie Sony Michel ran for a career-best 133 yards and a TD. The Patriots accumulated 216 rushing yards in their 27-13 victory against the Jets.

5. Chicago Bears (8-3)

Eddie Jackson collected his second pick-six in a five-day span, intercepting an errant Matthew Stafford pass and returning it 41 yards to the house, which turned out to be the game-winning touchdown in the Bears’ Thanksgiving Day win at Detroit.

Backup quarterback Chase Daniel—filling in for injured Mitchell Trubisky (shoulder)—threw for career-highs in completions (27), yards (230) and touchdowns (two).

6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-3)

Philip Rivers completed 28 of his 29 passes for 259 yards and three TDs in the Chargers’ rout of the Cardinals, logging the highest completion percentage (96.6%) in a single game in NFL history. He completed all 19 of his first-half pass attempts for 187 yards and two TDs.

Rivers set an NFL record with 25 consecutive completions to start the game. His 25th completion came on a four-yard score to Keenan Allen. Rivers has thrown multiple touchdown passes in every game this season.

Have yourself a day, Philip Rivers. pic.twitter.com/NGMBWR6uot
— Rotoworld Football (@Rotoworld_FB) November 26, 2018

7. Houston Texans (8-3)

Winners of eight straight and currently the AFC's hottest team, the Texans steamrolled the Titans on Monday Night Football. Lamar Miller did the heavy lifting for the offense, rushing for 162 yards, highlighted by a 97-yard TD dash.

Demaryius Thomas, playing in his third game since being acquired by the Texans, caught two TD passes.

The Texans' elite defense sacked Marcus Mariota six times, increasing the unit's season sack total to 34.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3-1)

Ben Roethlisberger compiled 462 passing yards versus the Broncos, but threw only one touchdown pass and two interceptions—including an awful pick in the end zone to end the contest.

The loss slid the Steelers down to the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoff picture as the Patriots and Texans leapfrogged them in the standings.

9. Minnesota Vikings (6-4-1)

The Vikings' defense put pressure on Aaron Rodgers all night, sacking the Packers QB four times—two from Sheldon Richardson—and allowing no points in the second half.

Kirk Cousins played one of his best games of the year, shredding the Packers' secondary for 342 yards and three touchdowns. Adam Thielen registered his ninth game with over 100 yards receiving (eight receptions for 125 yards and a TD) this season, setting a Vikings franchise record. Stefon Diggs caught eight passes for 77 yards and a score.

10. Seattle Seahawks (6-5)

Spearheaded by quarterback Russell Wilson, who threw for 339 yards and two touchdowns, Seattle handed Carolina its first home loss of the season.

Sebastian Janikowski hit a game-winning 31-yard field goal as time expired.

11. Baltimore Ravens (6-5)

Lamar Jackson has 190 rushing yards in his first two starts—both wins—the most through a QB's first two starts in the Super Bowl era.

In Gus Edwards' first career start, the undrafted rookie tailback ran for 118 yards in the Ravens’ pummeling of the Raiders, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

12. Dallas Cowboys (6-5)

Amari Cooper feasted on the Redskins’ secondary, catching two TD passes—including a 90-yard score—in a 180-yard receiving effort, a Dallas Thanksgiving-record.

13. Indianapolis Colts (6-5)

T.Y. Hilton led the Colts in receiving with 125 yards in the Colts’ 27-24 comeback victory over the Dolphins. Eric Ebron caught five passes for 45 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 12 TDs for the year.

Andrew Luck threw three touchdowns—his eighth straight game with three or more passing scores.

Adam Vinatieri hit a walk-off 32-yard field goal. He has made 28 game-winning field goals in his storied career.

14. Washington Redskins (6-5)

The Redskins have dropped three of their last four contests as quarterback Colt McCoy lost in what was his first start in four years.

15. Carolina Panthers (6-5)

Christian McCaffrey totaled 237 yards, rushing for 125 yards and a score and catching 11 passes for 112 yards and a receiving TD. McCaffrey has been a touchdown machine lately. In his past five games, he has tallied five TDs on the ground and four more through the air for a total of nine (9!) TDs.

McCaffrey’s otherworldly outing was spoiled by the Panthers’ horrific defense, which gave up 30 points in the three-point defeat to the visiting Seahawks.

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

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)

Thursday, December 19, 2013

2014 Pro Bowl Unconferenced Ballot: Offensive Players

The NFL Pro Bowl will no longer be played between the AFC and NFC. Instead, players will be chosen regardless of their respective conference. Each position has a certain amount of players that will be selected, with the hope that the best players will make the game, no what conference they play in.

"The NFL's top two vote-getters on offense and defense become team captains for Deion Sanders' team and Jerry Rice's team. In a fantasy draft style setting, the captains pick from the voted all-stars to form the teams. And when the stars are realigned, it's teammate versus teammate in the new Pro Bowl: Unconferenced."

With further ado, here is my 2014 Pro Bowl Ballot by position (and number of players in parenthesis allowed per position) for offensive players.

Offense:

Quarterback (6)

Peyton Manning, Broncos

Drew Brees, Saints