The Romo or Dak QB controversy is back

Photo from cowboyswire.usatoday.com

Things have been going great for the Dallas Cowboys -- especially on Nov. 14 when Tony Romo held a press conference to address the media regarding his status on the team.
Romo conceded the starting job to rookie Dak Prescott with the intent that it would end the debate on who should start once Romo was healthy.
It actually worked too (for the most part).
Then the New York Giants beat the Cowboys 10-7 on Sunday Night Football to sweep them for the season series, and the "who should start" debate was reopened just enough to stir things up again.
And owner Jerry Jones is probably most to blame when he went on a Dallas radio station to talk about the starting quarterback situation.
"I don't have a definition for it, but you'll know it when you see it," Jones said. "It's kind of like a definition I heard one time of another issue trying to define a negative topic, and they said, 'I don't know how to say it, but it's just something that when you see it, you know it's there.' We'll see it.
Only one person on earth knows what that means.
Certainly, Prescott has impressed and surprised throughout the season, but the last two weeks have led to the gossip emerging once again.
The Cowboys have scored 17 and seven points in the last two games, have failed to get 300 yards total offense and are an abysmal 2-for-24 on third down conversions. Dallas also has five turnovers during that stretch while only committing seven turnovers in the previous 11 games.
Something is wrong, but we can't define it... so let's take a look at the numbers.

Photo from si.com

The Prescott sample size is only 13 games, but to give a more representative sample of Romo, we will use averages from 2010 (since age 30) and statistics from 2014 -- the year when former Cowboy running back DeMarco Murray was having a season very much like rookie Ezekiel Elliot's.
Prescott's yards per attempt is at 7.9, which is good for fourth among qualified quarterbacks. Romo is at 7.7 which would be tied for sixth, but in 2014 Romo was at 8.5.
Prescott's QBR is at 82.8 which is third-best in the league and trumps (sorry for the lack of a better verb) Romo's 63.9 dating back to 2010, but in 2014 Romo had a career-best 83.6.
Touchdown and interception percentage can show if a quarterback is not just scoring efficiently, but how careful he is with every pass attempt. Prescott's touchdown and interception percentages are 5.1 (ranked 9th) and 1.0 (tied for fourth), while Romo's six-season average is 5.7 and 2.5 (7.8 and 2.1 in 2014).
The numbers show that Prescott is a quality starting quarterback in the league and in comparison to Romo's. But the only thing we have for Romo is the "what if" question.

Photo from amarillo.com

When you look at the more commonly-used statistical categories like completion percentage, touchdown-to-interception ratio and passer rating they still tell a story, but can be misleading.
The NFL seems to be moving into a passing philosophy that has affected the dynamic plays fans love to see. More teams are using short passes and checkdowns at a higher frequency than years past.
Prescott's completion percentage (65.8), touchdown-to-interception ratio (5:1) and passer rating (102.7) would lead one to think he is ripping through opposing defenses. In reality, the Cowboys just don't dial up the risky plays they did with Romo, and perhaps we are starting to see why.
Prescott is getting a simple gameplan that can be disrupted with pressure. Romo was allowed to take shots down the field, and often could deliver gains of 20-plus yards. The time needed to let those routes develop could also lead to more sacks.
Since 2010, Romo was sacked on six percent of dropbacks (6.3 in 2014) while Prescott's is five percent. Now, if Prescott is not taking as many chances downfield why is he still getting sacked five percent of the time Dallas is throwing the ball?

It's an interesting thought, but what would you want to trade off; a dynamic offense or an efficient and careful one? It seems as if the Cowboys can't have both.
Apparently, this topic will not go away, and if the Cowboys continue to struggle offensively (or lose) the noise will get louder.
Head coach Jason Garrett will not be able to ignore them if it does happen, and Romo will be ready if need be.
And Jerry will be smiling down from his private suite.

Photo from quotesgram.com

*All stats were found using pro-football-reference.com, the Jerry Jones quote was found in a foxsports.com article (link posted below), all images were credited from the websites they were found and the ESPN First Take video was found from YoutTube.com.

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/dallas-cowboys-jerry-jones-dak-prescott-comments-radio-interview-tony-romo-quarterback-starter-121316

Fantasy football position rankings: Top 10 RBs

Welcome to part two of Informed and Unfiltered's 2016 fantasy football positions rankings series.
Part one featured the top five quarterbacks or this year's upcoming fantasy draft, but part two will be slightly different.
A standard league will require two running backs in a starting lineup so we will double our rankings list top 10. Because the position requires so many players, there will be an honorable mention of 10 more.
This is where drafts can be a little fuzzy since running back value has not been what it what was, but in ESPN mock drafts running backs are still getting picked in early rounds.
Once again we will evaluate ESPN's position rankings using 2015 statistics and 2016 projections.

No. 10 running back: Thomas Rawls

Thomas Rawls has some large shoes to fill in Seattle. The Seahawks are going from an all-pro in Marshawn Lynch to undrafted, second-year player. Photo from cover32.com

Rawls has a lot to prove after an interesting sample from 2015.
When he filled in for an injured Marshawn Lynch for six weeks, Rawls was No. 3 in points among fantasy running backs.
Rawls' running style is very similar to Lynch's as he is used mostly between the tackles for power runs, short-yardage downs and goal line situations.
In 2015, Rawls ran for 830 yards and four touchdowns in 147 carries. The receiving numbers indicate Rawls may not be a dual-threat back as he only had nine catches, 76 yards and one touchdown.
The upside is that Rawls has the opportunity to compile 16 games worth of stats for fantasy owners who take a chance on him.
2016 projections show Rawls running for 1166 yards, six touchdowns and getting 174 points. Receiving expectations are still low as Rawls is only projected to get 22 catches for 174 yards and only one touchdown.
In my opinion, the expectations are something that you should not let you dictate if you want RB 1 in Seattle. The Seahawks love to run the ball, and early on Rawls will get his touches. Just monitor his production.
I would not draft him in the first five rounds, but that is just me. I would rather let somebody else take the chance on Rawls.

No. 9 running back: Mark Ingram

Saints running back Mark Ingram is the primary back in New Orleans, but how much can he give to fantasy owners if he is on a team that throws the ball as much as it does? Photo from blacksportsonline.com

The Saints have a very good running back in Ingram, and he had a disappointing 2015. But maybe the 26-year-old is starting to come into his own.
After rushing for 769 yards, 6 touchdowns and totaling 143 points, Ingram also happened to catch 50 passes for 405 yards.
There is some value with this potential, but be aware of the risk. Ingram has missed at least three games in four of his five professional seasons.
The 2016 projections are a little more optimistic as ESPN has Ingram running for 984 yards, getting 390 receiving yards, finishing with 10 touchdowns total and racking up 195 fantasy points.
Ingram's ceiling has yet to be reached because of his durability issues, but what makes him valuable is his role as a pass-catching back.
He should be in his physical prime, and he is on a team that loves to throw the ball.
Drew Brees is getting older and throwing downfield is going to be less frequent for him. That is where Ingram can be an attractive back.
He should be available in the third round so, but if you want him that bad to take a back earlier, look elsewhere.
He's a fringe RB 1.

No. 8 running back: Doug Martin

Doug Martin has been an attractive fantasy running back since his breakout season in 2012, but injuries have plagued him for half of his young career. Perhaps his value is high in 2016 though. Photo from cover32.com  

The Muscle Hamster (actually do not call him that because he hates it) crashed the fantasy party in 2012 with a surprising season.
2013 and 2014 snuffed him out with nagging injuries, but 2015 was a complete year for Martin as he played all 16 games.
With 1,402 rushing yards and six touchdowns, Martin went on to score 187 fantasy points with the help of 271 receiving yards.
Martin has a nice value for an RB 1, but like almost any good back there is injury risk. Two of his four NFL seasons were full seasons. How reliable is he?
Pretty reliable, but 2016 may not warrant a high pick.
Martin's projections show 1,200 rushing yards, eight total touchdowns, 245 receiving yards and 185 fantasy points.
It is not a surprise these projections expect less from Martin, but one can argue that Martin benefits from having a still very young quarterback in Jameis Winston.
Would I take Martin in the first three rounds? No. But I would think pretty hard about Martin in the fourth.
Once again, proceed with caution.

No. 7 running back: Lamar Miller

Lamar Miller is about to embark on his first year in Houston with Brock Osweiler as his quarterback. It could be scary to some fantasy owners, and could be a sleeper to others. Which one are you? Photo from houseofhouston.com

Fantasy owners should be aware of Miller's production and reliability.
He does not strike you as a great fantasy back, but he does not miss games, and he gives you solid value.
Miami did not know how to use Miller, but he overcame that with 1,269 yards from rushing and receiving. Miller also saw paydirt a total of 10 times, and ended up with 173 fantasy points.
His situation has improved, but with strings attached.
Houston has an unproven quarterback in Brock Osweiler, and Miller will be looked at to carry the load like Arian Foster was in previous years.
2016 projections have Miller accruing 1,227 rushing yards, 319 receiving yards, seven total touchdowns and 198 fantasy points.
Having a back that can produce nearly 200 points is truly valuable in modern fantasy football.
Miller could actually get more if head coach Bill O'Brien knows how to utilize Miller's talents.
It would not hurt to test Miller's durability by giving him the ball as much as possible and relieve pressure on Osweiler.
If Miller touches the ball more than 250 times, there is no telling what the results could be.
The definition of a sleeper could be Miller this year, but do not let him slip away if you want a steal.
Look to him in the third round if he is available, but any earlier may be a reach.

No. 6 running back: Le'veon Bell

The Steelers have a stellar running back in Le'veon Bell, but his off-the-field problems continue, he may be another Aldon Smith. High risk, but high reward. Photo from imageif.com

Bell has proven he has the tools to be one of the best in the NFL, but his personal problems have been a disaster to his career.
A two game suspension and a knee injury killed Bell's 2015 season, and another violation of the league's substance violation policy has put Bell in the four game suspension boat (potentially).
The positive side is Bell had a nice five-game showing with 556 rush yards, 136 receiving yards, three touchdowns and 83 points. In five games.
Bell can be a top RB 1 in fantasy. How many owners are willing to take that risk though?
The positives are that Bell is in a class organization, has an elite quarterback and a playmaker at wide receiver.
2016 could be promising as 904 rushing yards, 449 receiving yards, eight total touchdowns and 185 fantasy points could justify drafting Bell.
The question is when. Bell will be highly valued by most owners so it might be in your best interest to look at him in the third round. Just make sure you loaded up so his absence does not hurt.
If you are desperate, he is not the immediate answer.
Do not rely on Bell to be your early-season savior.

No. 5 running back: Devonta Freeman

The Falcons have a potential star in Devonta Freeman, but could he be a false fantasy god? Atlanta has to at least try to find out if they want to be contenders. Photo from heavy.com

Freeman is a dynamic, skilled back who can give so much to any fantasy owner.
He has an impressive workload in both the rushing and passing game.
2015 proved that as Freeman gained 1,056 rushing yards, 578 receiving yards, 14 total touchdowns (11 rushing) and 230 fantasy points.
Freeman has the luxury of coming off of a hot year, and not having much competition in the backfield. He has the job on lockdown; for now.
2016 may have a dip according to ESPN projections, but Freeman's upside is high. Expectations are set for 965 rushing yards, 548 receiving yards, nine total touchdowns (seven rushing) and 203 fantasy points.
That dip is a small projected dip. Freeman may be the back that helps an owner win a league.
Where should he be drafted? The best round for him is probably third, but if you are lacking an RB 1 at that point, take a shot at Freeman.

No. 4 running back: David Johnson

Arizona's David Johnson may be the biggest unknown running back of all of fantasy. Having an experienced quarterback, wide receiver and smart head coach will help him immensely. Photo from arizonasports.com

Johnson displayed a promising talent during his time as RB 1 for the Cardinals during Chris Johnson's injury, and he did not disappoint.
His 2015 campaign brought fantasy owners 164 points from 581 rushing yards, 457 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns from 161 touches.
That is going to make any fantasy owner have googly eyes.
Now that the backfield is completely his, 2016 brings some new pressure and expectations.
ESPN projects a good season from Johnson with 1,121 rushing yards, 521 receiving yards, 11 total touchdowns (eight rushing) and 225 points.
Johnson has Carson Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd as well-respected decoys to assist in not just the passing game but the running as well.
Arizona's offensive line has also been a solid rock making room for runners in the backfield.
This puts Johnson in the elite status, and should make him a highly sought-after running back. He could very well go in the first round, but it may be better to snag him up in the second should he be available.

No. 3 running back: Ezekiel Elliot

Ezekiel Elliot has yet to take an NFL snap, but the offensive line that blocks for him makes him a super, attractive commodity. Where he goes only depends on a few things. Photo from bloggingtheboys.com

Elliot is a very intriguing pick in many ways. He is a rookie, he is a Cowboy, Tony Romo is his quarterback, his offensive line is among the best in the NFL, etc.
The reasons are numerous and fantasy owners are salivating but also scratching their heads as to when to draft this young prospect.
ESPN projections have Elliot running for 1,157 yards, getting 434 receiving yards, 10 total touchdowns (eight rushing) and 215 fantasy points.
I already went over the positive things that make Elliot a great pick for your RB 1, but this is the NFL and health is more important than anything.
Elliot has to prove that he can get things done at this level, and nothing but questions come from him right now.
That does not mean he is not a worthy option in the second or third round, it just means maybe you could go with more proven options.
He is a gamble regardless.

No. 2 running back: Todd Gurley

Todd Gurley impressed everyone watching during his rookie season, and his upside  is getting better. With a questionable quarterback situation in Los Angeles, Gurley should expect a big workload. Photo from arizonasports.com

Gurley amazed people when he was a Georgia Bulldog, but his rookie campaign did not let anybody down.
When he started the season on the injury list from an ACL injury in college, few expected anything from him. But he still produced.
Once he became a featured back for St. Louis in week 4, Gurley displayed an amazing prowess as a running back.
1,106 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns and 176 fantasy points later he made everyone a believer that he was an NFL running back.
The receiving part of his game is not his fault solely as the Rams lacked a competent quarterback that could get him the ball in the passing game.
2016 should be more promising as Gurley has proven to his coaches that he can be trusted with the ball.
ESPN projections have Gurley getting 233 fantasy points from 1,364 rushing yards, 311 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns.
Head coaches with quarterback problems like the Rams have, only think one thing; run the ball.
Gurley will see an increased workload, and it should pay off.
Picking Gurley in the second round is not unreasonable, but how an owner values him is a huge factor. Someone will probably take him in the first round.
He is a fantasy star in the making.

No. 1 running back: Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson is yet again the king supreme. Fantasy owners still value him as the best running back option in the NFL. The 31-year-old continues to dominate as a rushing threat as the league has evolved into a passing league. Photo from christianpost.com

If there is anyone who belongs to No. 1 running back, it is Adrian Peterson. He has been nothing but a platinum weapon for any fantasy owner, and he is worthy of a first round pick.
Trepidation with Peterson is futile. He plays pretty much every game, and he produces virtually all of the time.
Peterson had 217 fantasy points in 2015 that came mostly from 1,485 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Peterson will not give an owner much in the passing game so it is wise to have a back who gives that production.
ESPN projects Peterson to get 223 fantasy points from 1,422 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns and a little cushion from receiving yards.
Peterson will get the ball on early downs, short yardage plays and goal line situations. He will most likely deliver since he has shown no signs of slowing down.
If there ever was a sure thing as a running back in fantasy football, Peterson is the guy. He may have to go in the first round, but if he is sitting around in the second, do not hesitate.

*Honorable mentions for running backs 11-20 include Eddie Lacy, Jamaal Charles, LeSean McCoy, Jonathan Stewart, Carlos Hyde, C.J. Anderson, Matt Forte, Dion Lewis, Jeremy Hill and Latavius Murray

Fantasy football position rankings: Top 5 QBs

As the NFL preseason approaches, so does the draft day for fantasy football leagues everywhere. With that, it is important to all owners to have the information to help plan out a draft. So Informed and Unfiltered is here to break down all the text into the top five players at each position using ESPN's player rankings.
Before we get into that, let's go over a couple of things.
Number one: fantasy football is unpredictable. Surprises happen all of the time so the experts try to tell you what they think is probable. Berry said that nobody saw Kirk Cousins being a better player than Aaron Rodgers or Andrew Luck, but it happened in fantasy football last year.
Number two: The rankings is specifically for a standard league so those of you in a point per reception league must dig a little deeper.
So now that you are a little prepared, we will basically go down the draft sheet from top to bottom. That means quarterbacks will be first today. The list will be a top five with five honorable mentions. You will have to find more details on honorable mentions on your own time.

No. 5 QB: Tom Brady

Despite being out for the first four games of the season, Tom Brady is projected as a No. 5 fantasy quarterback. Photo from downtrend.com

It is pretty unbelievable to think that Brady could be in the top five of Berry's rankings since he is missing the first fours weeks, but before we go there let's look at 2015 first. Of the top performers in fantasy last year, Brady had 4,770 pass yards (only Drew Brees had more), 36 touchdowns, seven interceptions and had a total of 335 points (good for second of all fantasy players).
Brady's suspension could be a spark for revenge that could make him still be in the top five, but of course it would take some serious production to get higher than five, but this ranking is plausible.
If his yards drop by 1,000 and his touchdowns drop by eight, that is still good enough to be top 10. I am not buying this ranking personally, but even a top 10 quarterback is good enough to be competitive.
Brady's 2016 projections are 3,324 pass yards, 26 touchdowns, seven interceptions and 229 points. Good for eighth of all quarterbacks.
Drafting Brady before the fourth round is a reach in my opinion, so try to take him anywhere from fifth to seventh. Of course this would depend on how many teams are in your respective league.

No. 4 QB: Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson has been a solid fantasy quarterback since his rookie year, but there could be some questions on Wilson's production with Marshawn Lynch's retirement. Photo from sportsonearth.com

 Wilson has been an nothing but productive, and he had a phenomenal 2015 since he was the third best fantasy player. Wilson threw for 4,024 yards, 34 touchdowns (third most), eight interceptions and 322 points. Fantasy owners also get a juicy bonus from Wilson as he ran for 553 yards.
Now any person who pays attention to the NFL can tell you Wilson benefited from having Marshawn Lynch in his backfield. Defenses had to respect Lynch as a threat and it helped open up the rest of the offense for Wilson. That said, Wilson still had to make plays; and he did.
Wilson's 2016 projections are 3,689 pass yards, 34 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 495 rush yards and 302 points. Some of these numbers are down, but Wilson could be a top three quarterback according to ESPN.
Looking at these numbers still makes me wonder if it is realistic or if Wilson is actually due for a bad year.
Wilson does not have to be a pick earlier than the third round depending on the size of the league, and could be available in most 10 or 12 team leagues by the fourth round.

No. 3 QB: Andrew Luck

Andrew Luck is coming off of an injury-plagued 2015, and the weight will still be on his shoulders to lead the Colts to the playoffs in 2016. Photo from nytimes.com

Let's face it; Luck had a horrendous 2015. He played in seven of the nine games the Colts had before their bye week, and never came back as he sat the rest of the season out.
But Luck deserves a pass for that because his offensive line did him no favors, and the Colts use a vertical passing offense so he was running for his life. He also threw a lot of interceptions (12), but to be clear he had no time to let plays develop.
You try playing with a lacerated kidney and see what happens. You probably would not even get on the field. Luck played a few games with it.
It is safe to expect more than 15 touchdowns from Luck as long as he stays healthy, but the interceptions will have you pulling your hair out.
Luck is still worth the risk though because his 2016 projections justify it. ESPN estimates 4,207 pass yards, 33 touchdowns, 19 interceptions, 265 rush yards and 292 points.
Do not be surprised if Luck can cut down on the interceptions and add more rushing yards/touchdowns for some extra value.
Still, it may be wise to not take Luck earlier than the fourth round (depending on the league). Waiting later would be risky, but there may be some who will not want to risk investing their QB 1 slot on him. Maybe someone will get lucky (no pun intended, seriously).

No. 2 QB: Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers is arguably the best quarterback in the NFL and in fantasy football. 2015 was a tough year without his favorite target Jordy Nelson, but Nelson is ready for 2016. Photo from sportsrapport.com

Rodgers has been a perennial top quarterback pick in fantasy football for several years, and it is no secret that he is considered to be one of the best in the NFL.
2015 was a difficult season for Rodgers as the biggest news of the preseason was Jordy Nelson's injury that kept him out the whole regular season.
Rodgers was ranked seventh of fantasy quarterbacks with 3,821 pass yards, 31 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 344 rush yards and 286 points. And that was a down year for the all-pro.
His favorite target (Nelson) is back, Eddie Lacy is expected to have better year after dropping some weight and that is enough to help Rodgers in his 2016 fantasy campaign.
There are some questions about the offensive line, but they have been there for years past and Rodgers still found a way to produce.
His 2016 projections show 4,236 pass yards, 33 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 238 rush yards and 312 points. Those extra points will help anybody who drafts Rodgers to win every week (and maybe a shot at a league championship.
If there is any doubt Rodgers cannot live up to the expectations they would be injury related.
The guy is very reliable, so if you have him on your draft board make sure to not let him go to the third round in your league.

No. 1 QB: Cam Newton

Cam Newton proved that he deserves to be in the conversation of top quarterback in the NFL and in fantasy football with his 2015 season. Can he improve -- or at least repeat -- his MVP season?

Newton was unbelievable last season, and the Panthers are hoping there is more where that came from.
Last year's MVP also ended the drought of Heisman underachievers -- at least the ones who won it before him. The verdict is not in the ones who won after him yet.
Newton's 2015 delivered 3,837 pass yards, 45 touchdowns (10 rushing), 10 interceptions, 636 rush yards and the most points of any fantasy player (373).
Matching those numbers will be tough -- especially the rushing touchdowns -- but it does not mean it is impossible. His physical prowess is obvious, and he showed he can make he offensive teammates better.
I am no longer a doubter, but even if his points take a 50 point dip a fantasy team can still win with Newton as QB 1.
ESPN's 2016 projections for Newton include 3,781 pass yards, 34 touchdowns (5 rushing), 13 interceptions, 682 rushing yards and 335 points.
Newton will be like every other top fantasy player coming off of a season like the year before. He will be highly coveted, and will be on every person's draft board.
I would not recommend picking him in the first round, but someone in your league will -- and it is logical. It is truly a judgment call for every person drafting.

*Honorable mentions for quarterbacks 6-10 include Drew Brees, Carson Palmer, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning and Phillip Rivers

Tom Brady's submission is not a guilty admission

New England's quarterback Tom Brady ended his fight against the NFL with a loss, and he is not used to losing.
He's been a target of the league for several months after the DeflateGate scandal that still has no conclusion, but needed a scapegoat.
Might as well be Tom as the league looked like amateur night trying to find out how deflated footballs were in the Patriots' equipment.
The league took its time trying to find any evidence that proved Brady to be involved in the controversial game that eventually led to a championship.
In my opinion, they failed. And they knew it.
The NFL behaved liked the scorned ex-girlfriend who was ready to claim their relationship was never fulfilling.
It constantly pushed to get Brady at any cost; even if it meant looking foolish and appearing babyish.
In the end, the NFL got what they wanted, even if it meant assassinating one of the greatest stars the league has.
Cheating was the No. 1 claim of this situation, but cheating happens on every play.
The league wants you to believe that Brady cheated by having footballs that were below league standards for PSI, but Aaron Rodgers expressed his desire to have footballs that were over the PSI limit.
Has he been investigated? The answer is no.
The NFL needed a scapegoat, much like MLB needed Alex Rodriguez to be the fall guy for P.E.D. use.

Photo by cbssports.com - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has made it his career goal to take down Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. In the end, all he did was hurt the shield.

The NFL has prided itself on being the most progressive league in professional sports, but this comes across as a pissing contest that Goodell was not willing to lose.
Be careful players. The league made a line. And what was traditionally practiced and preached will no longer be tolerated. DO NOT CHEAT...

Cam dabs on them for first trip to a Super Bowl

Photo from smpicks.com
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (No. 1) led an offensive assault on the Arizona Cardinals for a 49-15 victory in the NFC championship game on Jan. 24. The Panthers are the eighth team in the Super Bowl era to win by at least 30 points in a conference championship game.

    It is official. The Carolina Panthers are Super Bowl bound as they drubbed the No. 2 seed Arizona Cardinals 49-15 at Bank of America Field at the NFC championship game. Quarterback Cam Newton had a game for the ages as he proved to so many doubters that he is in fact a superstar in the NFL.
    Newton passed for 335 yards and two touchdowns while adding two rushing touchdowns as Carolina has punched their ticket to meet with the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl L at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Feb. 7.
    All season long the Panthers have dealt with doubters and non-believers who either criticized their strength of schedule or just plain did not buy into their winning ways. None of that criticism seemed to have any effect on Carolina -- or Newton -- as they just kept winning in a rather impressive manner. The Panthers have lost twice in their last 24 games.
    Many expected a more competitive game -- especially from Arizona -- as the Cardinals also showed critics of their own that they could be a contending team. The result was nothing but that as Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer had a game many Arizona fans would rather forget than relive from seeing reminders on highlights on tv. Palmer spent nearly the entire evening fighting for his life as the Arizona offensive line could not protect him from the Panthers front seven. Palmer turned the ball over six times (four interceptions and two fumbles) to tie an NFL postseason record, was sacked three times and finished with a QBR of 5.0 on the loss.
    "I kept digging us in a hole and we just couldn't come out of it," Palmer said in a post-game interview.
    Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who had a breakout performance in the divisional round versus the Green Bay Packers, was virtually non-existent as Carolina did not look to make the mistakes the Packers made. Fitzgerald had four receptions and 30 yards in the loss.
    "We wanted to come out and play a complete game," Panther linebacker Luke Kuechly said, "there was pressure all day." Kuechly was the star on defense as he had eight tackles (three for a loss), recovered a fumble and returned an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
    The Panthers will now turn their focus to the Broncos who were victorious in their AFC championship game with the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots 20-18. The last time Carolina and Denver met was in the 2012 regular season as the Broncos won easily 36-14.
    With so much more on the line and more experience behind them, the Panthers are a 56 percent favorite to win the Super Bowl. Newton has a chance to make history as well as he is one win away from becoming the only quarterback to win a Heisman trophy, an NCAA National Championship, the NFL MVP and a Super Bowl in a career.

*All information was borrowed from espn.com, @ESPNStatsInfo and @JohnHayesESPN.
 

Peanut butter and jelly: NFC and AFC championships

Photos (from top left clockwise) by seattletimes.com, nfl.com, charlotteobserver.com and zimbio.com

                                           .

    For nearly every football fan, the Super Bowl is the most important game of the entire season, but at times that is the game that has let NFL fans down with large margins of victory. Some would argue that the best games are in the round before the Super Bowl; the week of both the NFC and AFC conference championship games. This is the week that will tell fans what to expect come Feb. 7 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. 

    In 2016, the NFL has the top two seeds from both conferences meeting to compete for an opportunity at winning a Super Bowl since 2004. In the NFC, the Carolina Panthers will host the Arizona Cardinals for a rematch between two teams that met in the wild card round in the 2015 playoffs. The AFC will feature another chapter in the Tom Brady versus Peyton Manning saga that may be the denouement of this well-marketed rivalry between two sure-fire hall of fame players.

    Carolina is a team that despite only losing once in their last 17 games is somewhat of a dichotomy. It is not necessarily a polarizing effect, but the consensus is that the Panthers are the favorites against the thought that they are a product of a weak schedule. Carolina has done what has been asked of them; beat whomever your opponent is. The sample size is there and the mid-term exam (as far as importance goes) was passed when the Panthers defeated the defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round last week.

    The Arizona Cardinals have also been an unpredictable team, but mostly because of the history of the franchise. Ever since the Cardinals moved to Arizona, it has been a laughingstock of poor management up until the time the organization opened their new stadium in 2006 to spark excitement in the fan base. This season has been the best in franchise history as the team has a top offense and defense, and it was the most wins for the organization since moving to Arizona in 1988.

    The Panthers' strengths are their ability to run the football with Cam Newton, Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert as well as their stellar defensive play anchored by Luke Kuechly and Josh Norman. Newton is the star and face of the franchise, but this game will determine if doubters will either buy, question or sell Newton. Arizona is a team that is not afraid to throw the ball downfield, and use numerous defensive packages to pressure opposing quarterbacks with the likes of Calais Campbell, Deone Bucannon and Patrick Peterson. The theme of this game may just be, "who will make more mistakes." Many will look to see if Newton can pull off the big win against another tough opponent, and others may be cheering for veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald to chase down that elusive Super Bowl ring some thought he could have won in 2009.

    On the AFC side, the New England Patriots will visit the Denver Broncos, and Brady and Manning have been and will be the focus of the game. It will mark the 17th time the two have competed against each others respective teams, and it will be the fifth time the two future hall of fame quarterbacks will try to eliminate one another from advancing in postseason play (it is 2-2 as of now). Both quarterbacks are not what they once were, but Manning has been the target in an onslaught of criticism since his health has deteriorated over the last few years. Brady has faced questions of his viability as recently as last season, but another Super Bowl victory over Seattle silenced some of those critics for now.

    The Broncos have arguably the best defense in the NFL as they allow the fewest points and create pressure with a front seven that many would say is also the best. Brady can still be a very dangerous passer, especially when he has his favorite targets on the field to force opposing defenses to respect the Patriots' attack. Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman are key to how much success the offensive unit may or may not have. New England are also weak at offensive line as they have used the most starting offensive lineup combinations in the league, but Manning faces a similar red flag with opposing defenses pressuring the Denver offensive line to force Manning to make plays.

    New England is not really a team to have a philosophy that continually is in their game plan. The Patriots play football like a game of poker; they do not play the cards they play the man. Head coach Bill Belichick devises a game plan that is all about taking advantage of weaknesses or mistakes he finds by studying opponents. Denver is a more formulaic offense now that Manning is not as dangerous as he was in his prime. The Broncos have used a running attack that is designed to relieve some of the pressure from Manning. Eyes will be on whether Manning can make throws on critical downs in cold weather in the high-pressured moments that are expected in the playoffs.

    

    Predictions: The Cardinals and Panthers have been playing complete football as both have been able to score and prevent scoring from the opposition. Weather will be a factor for both teams as winter storm Jonas will affect the passing game. Arizona will struggle if they cannot at least have balance, but Carolina very well could lean on their running game since that is what they do best. Because both defenses are dangerous, this game very well could be low-scoring. I did pick Arizona to go to the Super Bowl (via Twitter), and though I am less certain, I will still stick with the Cardinals to win 20-16. (Carolina is favored on most betting lines at -3)

                          New England and Denver is a less intimidating match in my opinion because I am one of the doubters of Manning's arm strength. Denver's defense has also raised a question in me that maybe there is a vulnerability since Pittsburgh was able to put a scare into the Broncos in the divisional round a week ago. Picking against Brady and Belichick is not something I can have much confidence in. I do not expect New England to have much difficulty scoring somewhere around 27 points, but I am not sure Manning can help the Broncos score as much as 20 points in this match up. I did pick New England to go to the Super Bowl as well so I will be comfortable to stick with the Patriots winning 30-20. (New England is favored on most betting lines at -3)  

    

    

    

Cam Newton is not a top MVP candidate yet

                                                                                                     Photo by AP    
                                          Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has been
                                          mentioned in the race for league MVP as his team
                                          continues to win.

     As the season has reached its halfway point, The Panthers remain one of the league's unbeaten teams at 7-0, and quarterback Cam Newton has been thrown into the MVP debate.
     Certainly, Newton has improved since his rookie season from five years ago, but league MVP may be a conversation people are only including his name in because Carolina is still undefeated. When you hear various sports media personalities -- like ESPN First Take's Stephen A. Smith -- or people on social media praise Newton, the first qualifier that is cited is the team's record. The second is his ability to be an effective rusher.
     Those are things that are factual, but for a league MVP there needs to be more, and Newton does not have enough to win that award right now unless he improves in these statistical categories:
   
     No. 1 - Total QBR (not to be confused with passer rating)
     Newton ranks 26th (46.9) in this category among qualified starting quarterbacks, but here are just a few of the quarterbacks ranked ahead of him: Ryan Fitzpatrick (78.4), Brian Hoyer (69.4), Blake Bortles (61.4), Kirk Cousins (58.8), Jameis Winston (58.7), and Colin Kaepernick (47.6) just to name a few. One could argue that Newton has incredible talent (and he does) over this list of quarterbacks ahead of him, but how can an MVP candidate be this bad in QBR? And on another note, only one game did Newton have a QBR over 50.0, and that was in week 3 (86.0).
    (This statistic is one that uses an algorithm that configures how much a quarterback does or does not contribute towards points for their respective team in any given game. Having this low of a QBR in Newton's case is an indicator that he technically is not the one directly involved in scoring points on plays he throws and runs personally. Fortunately, it also factors in if he hands off the ball on plays that score points so in theory this number could actually be lower by removing that from the algorithm.)

     No. 2 - Protecting the ball
     As a quarterback, limiting turnovers is one of the most important responsibilities. Newton currently has 15 total touchdowns (including four rushing), but has turned the ball over 10 times (eight interceptions and two fumbles). Newton has the third highest interception percentage rate in the league (among quarterbacks with at least 200 pass attempts) with 3.70 percent of his pass attempts getting intercepted -- only Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck have a higher percentage rates.

     No. 3 - The overall passing game
     Newton leads a Carolina passing game ranked 30th in total yards, and eight teams have less first downs than the Panthers from pass plays. Newton's individual numbers do not put him among the better half of quarterbacks in the league as he is 22nd in yards per attempt (7.05) and 32nd in completion percentage (54.2 percent) -- which also happens to be the worst in his career so far. To be fair, Newton's teammates have dropped the fifth most passes in the league with 15. Out of the 215 attempts, that comes out to 7 percent of those attempts are drops which is the worst in the league.

     None of this analysis is to prove Newton is not talented or a good quarterback, but rather just an argument that proves he is not an MVP as of now. A better finish to the regular season could change the perception of those who are not on the "Cam for MVP" campaign. Newton is second to Russell Wilson in rushing yards for quarterbacks, but among all rushers Newton is tied for fourth in touchdowns -- which is remarkable. Newton has also shown better leadership this season as that was a criticism in the past from reporters and analysts. Newton has improved, and that is part of the reason why Carolina is 7-0 right now. But Newton also is not the most valuable player in the NFL... yet.

*All statistics were borrowed from ESPN.com, pro-football-reference.com and sportingcharts.com