Defense wins championships and who is to argue? But here are five offensive players that few have been able to cool off as of late.
We understand that the NFL is a “what have you done lately for me” entity. And we won’t disparage some of the great performances throughout this season.
Forget who’s not. This is strictly a list of who’s hot as we spotlight five offensive player currently on major tears.
There’s plenty of room for some honorable mentions such as Kansas City Chiefs rookie wideout Tyreek Hill, Arizona Cardinals’ running back David Johnson (the NFL leader in total yards from scrimmage) and Chicago Bears’ rookie Jordan Howard. The latter is 31 yards away from a 1,000-yard rushing season.
The length of their torrid paces may vary, but all are making big-time impressions on a weekly basis.
5. WR Taylor Gabriel, Atlanta Falcons
We know the Cleveland Browns had quite the housecleaning this offseason. And the fact that they let this big-play performer get away shows that franchise’s ineptitude. Meanwhile, the unsung wideout has to be loving his time with the highest-scoring team in the NFL this year.
Meanwhile, we barely heard a peep from Taylor Gabriel during his first few weeks with his new team. He was inactive for two of the club’s first seven games. In his five appearances, he grabbed eight passes for 107 yards and zero scores.
Then came quite the wakeup call. In the team’s last six contests, he totaled 21 catches for 397 yards and five touchdowns. He also scored on a nine-yard touchdown run in a Thursday night victory at Tampa Bay. Four of his five scoring receptions have covered 35-plus yards. And you wonder why quarterback Matt Ryan is thriving this season.
Dec 12, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) shouts to the sideline
during the first half of a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
4. QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots
How could we leave out a player that’s had a nine-game stretch that has been simply amazing?
We are not going to spend a lot of time going over the whole Tom Brady controversy. We are certainly not going to mention the “D” word.
But if we are going to do the latter, it would stand for determined. Anyone who saw his Monday night performance in a 30-23 victory over the rival Baltimore Ravens would agree. Brady lit up the NFL’s top-ranked defense (entering the weekend) for 406 yards through the air – connecting for three touchdowns opposed to one interception.
Nine outings this year have added up to an 8-1 record as a starter and 2,876 yards through the air. He has thrown for 22 scores and a pair of interceptions. He has fumbled only twice and lost neither miscue. In seven of his appearances this season he’s thrown at least two touchdown passes. In five contests he’s struck for 300 or more yards through the air. And he may be even more dangerous than he was a year ago when he led the NFL with 36 TD passes.
That’s because this is a much more balanced team on offense. Thanks mainly to running back LeGarrette Blount, the Patriots are seventh in the NFL in rushing. Add in the game’s fourth-ranked passing attack and it is little wonder the franchise is closing in on a record eighth straight division title.
Don’t get it twisted. Brady remains the straw that stirs the drink in Foxborough. And he’s in the midst of yet another impressive hot streak.
Dec 11, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs the ball against the New York Giants during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
3. RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
You know when you’re getting ready to jump into a swimming pool and you test the water with your toes.
Welcome to the 2016 season of Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott.
In a Week 1 home loss to the New York Giants, the fourth overall pick in this past April’s draft carried 20 times for a season-low 51 yards and a touchdown.
The former Ohio State Buckeyes star has rushed for at least 80 yards in every game since. Elliott leads the NFL with 1,392 yards on the ground, to go along with a dozen touchdowns. He’s added 28 catches for 322 yards and one score.
So it’s been a nearly season-long hot streak for Elliott, who’s reached the century mark in rushing yards in six of his last 11 outings. And he also leads the NFL with 287 carries this year – totaling at least 20 attempts in all but two contests this year.
It’s his steady performance this season that not only has Elliott in the discussion for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors but league MVP accolades as well. He’s the main reason fellow rookie Dak Prescott has been come along steadily during the season. The Cowboys’ rookie signal-caller has also been in the NFL Most Valuable Player discussion as well and owes a tip of the helmet to the young running back.
In Sunday night’s loss at MetLife Stadium, Elliott was the lone bright spot for the Dallas’ offense. He ran for 107 yards on 24 carries for a team that gained only 260 total yards in a 10-7 loss. With a huge assist from the offensive line, the 21-year-old running back has been the most consistent player at his position this season.
Dec 11, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) passes the ball in the first quarter during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
2. QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Apparently rumors of his demise were greatly exaggerated by those more worried about his private life than his play.
You have to wonder why Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers rubs some people the wrong way. Then again, the only thing that matters is that his current teammates know that he is one of the leaders of the team. And while things were crumbling around him and the injury-riddled Packers during a four-game losing streak, the 12-year pro overcame some early poor play and is certainly back on his game once again.
Suddenly, Mike McCarthy’s team is back in the NFC North title discussion, although they will need some help along the way if they are to overcome the Detroit Lions’ two-game lead with three weeks to play.
And now that the Pack is getting healthier at both running back and in the secondary, the team is looking like a contender again.
Back to Rodgers, who in his last eight outings this season has connected for 22 scores while being picked off just three times. Five games into 2016, he struggled with accuracy and managed just 10 TD passes compared to four interceptions.
In case you’re wondering whether the veteran signal-caller is on the downside of his impressive career, keep in mind that he’s now thrown for 32 touchdowns and served up only seven picks in 13 games this year. You will recall that 2015 was a “down season” for the prolific passer, connecting for 31 scores and eight interceptions during the Packers’ 10-6 campaign.
We should all have some down years like Rodgers, one of the most gifted players of this or any era. And he’s playing his best football when his team need it most.
1. RB Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
Following a strange midseason skid, the Pittsburgh Steelers are suddenly riding a four-game winning streak. Given the structure of the team, common sense says that means some big numbers from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown along the way.
But offensive coordinator has turned loose running back Le’Veon Bell, who missed the first three games of the season due to his latest league suspension. And the four-year pro is on quite the run as of late, racking up real estate in a big way.
The workhorse performer has touched the football 140 times in his last four outings. It’s added up to 620 yards on the ground, another 206 through the air and five touchdowns along the way. All told, it’s an astounding 826 yards from scrimmage during a stretch in which Mike Tomlin’s team has scored at least 24 points in each contest.
On Sunday, Roethlisberger failed to thrown a touchdown pass and was picked off three times. Yet the Steelers still came away with a road win thanks to their patient running back. He’s totaled at least 23 rushing attempts in four consecutive outings and topped the century mark on the ground in each game.
Bell currently ranks fourth in the NFL with 1,053 yards rushing. And only Arizona’s David Johnson () and Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott () have amassed more yards from scrimmage than the young performer (). His 67 catches this season has him second in the league among running backs, trailing on Johnson (69). And to think he wasn’t around the first three weeks of 2016.
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