A Sleeper for MVP

 

After a huge win at home over the New Orleans Saints, Matthew Stafford has quietly entered the NFL MVP conversation. Stafford has led the Los Angeles Rams to a 6-2 record, with their two losses coming by just one score each. 

Back in 2021, Matt Stafford was dealt to the Los Angeles Rams after spending his first 11 years in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. This trade ended up being the best possible situation for Stafford's career as he immediately brought home the Lombardi Trophy to LA in his first full season with the Rams. 

This past Sunday, Stafford threw for four touchdowns which was good enough for his fourth game this season with at least three touchdown passes. In his last two games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints, Stafford threw for a combined 9 touchdowns compared to 0 interceptions. 

He currently leads the NFL in passing touchdowns with 21 through 8 games and has only thrown 2 interceptions as well. The next closest quarterback to 21 touchdowns is Justin Herbert who has 18 and at the same time has played one more game than Stafford as well. 

In addition, Stafford is one of nine quarterbacks who has eclipsed the 2000 passing yards mark and currently ranks 5th in the NFL even with already having his bye week in Week 8. 

Since he entered the NFL back in 2009, Matt Stafford has been one of the most consistent players throughout the league. The accolades don't necessarily back it up, but each and every year Stafford always puts on a show, consistently bringing this Rams team to the playoffs. 

Somehow Stafford has never been named to an All-Pro team, has never won an MVP, and has only made the Pro Bowl twice in his 16 year career. However, what he does have is a Super Bowl under his belt which most other quarterbacks in the present day NFL cannot say. 

Stafford is slowly climbing the ranks and turning a lot of heads this season. As of now, he's only focused on bringing back another Super Bowl to Los Angeles, but an MVP wouldn't be too bad either for the veteran quarterback. 

An Unbelievable Start for JT

After another phenomenal performance this past Sunday, Wisconsin's very own Jonathan Taylor has cemented himself as the NFL's best running back this season. 

When it comes to touchdowns, JT is well accustomed to them as he currently leads all running backs with 12 rushing touchdowns and 14 total touchdowns for the 7-1 Indianapolis Colts. Not only does Taylor lead the touchdown category, but he also leads all running backs with 850 rushing yards as well. 

After JT's three touchdown performance against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, he became the first player in NFL history to score three times in three consecutive games against the same team. Only 8 weeks into the NFL season, Taylor is on pace to shatter a lot of other records as well. 

Taylor's superb start to the season has entered his name into the MVP conversation which is very rare for a running back. Since the NFL started awarding the MVP in 1957, only 16 running backs have taken home this trophy compared to a whopping 50 quarterbacks.  

The last running back to be awarded the MVP was Adrian Peterson with the Minnesota Vikings back in 2012. Taylor has a chance to break the 13 year long drought if he keeps up his unbelievable start to the 2025 NFL season. 

Jonathan Taylor also has a chance to be the first Indianapolis Colt to win the Most Valuable Player award since Peyton Manning back in 2009. Additionally, this is the best start to the season for the Colts since they also started 7-1 in 2009 when Manning was awarded the MVP. 

While these MVP conversations are worth noting, Jonathan Taylor is focused on bringing home the Lombardi Trophy to Indianapolis for the first time since 2007. Indianapolis will head to Pittsburgh this Sunday to take on the Steelers and try to improve their AFC-best record to 8-1. 

Pandemonium in Seattle

The Seattle Mariners are just two wins away from their first ever World Series appearance. The run they have been on throughout 2025 has been inspiring and is giving the city of Seattle hope for their first major championship since 2014. 

How did the Mariners get here? They got here by winning their first AL West title since 2001, when they won an MLB record 116 games. After a gritty series against the Detroit Tigers, the Mariners boarded a flight to Toronto and stole the first two games of the ALCS from them. 

They are lead by potential AL MVP Cal Raleigh, who racked up 60 home runs during the season. Their pitching staff has been unbelievable and has done a great job for them at all times. There aren't many better pitching trios than Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, and Luis Castillo. Oh and by the way they also have George Kirby who is the Game 3 starter tonight. 

In my opinion, Seattle is a much better all around team than Toronto is, and this is what is going to propel them to their first World Series appearance. To add a cherry on top, Seattle is doing all of this in their first full season with their manager Dan Wilson.

Wilson was first hired as the Seattle manager in August of last season assembled his American League leading squad in no time. In addition, Seattle did a great job during the trade deadline as they bolstered both corners of the infield. 

They got Josh Naylor from the Guardians to take over first basemen duties and re-acquired Eugenio Suarez to take the other corner over at third. The middle of Seattle's lineup at one point wasn't the best, but the addition of these guys has taken it to a new level.

It is fair to say that Seattle is pretty excited. To go from not seeing your team win their division in 24 years to now competing for a chance to play for the World Series. The sky is the limit for the Mariners as they head into Game 3 tonight. 

                                                              

Through 3 Weeks: The AFC's Best

 

The Indianapolis Colts have been arguably the hottest team in the NFL through the first three weeks of the season.  With a new quarterback, dominant running back, and a stout defense, it is going to be hard to stop the Colts anytime soon. 

The reincarnation of Daniel Jones is real folks. After he was released by the Giants a season ago, it seemed like Jones was entering the end of his career in the NFL. Jones was signed by the Vikings and  sat behind Sam Darnold, watching him revive his career in Minnesota. 

Indianapolis decided to take a shot on Jones and signed him to a one-year deal this offseason. It was decided by Shane Steichen before the season that Jones earned the starting job and he hasn't looked back since. 

Jones currently has the third most passing yards in the NFL, has yet to turn the ball over, and has lead the Colts to a combined 103 points to start the 2025 campaign. It's clear that Jones used Darnold's career revival as inspiration and motivation for this season and the rest of his career. 

It also helps out when you have the best running back in the league at your side in Jonathan Taylor. Taylor currently leads the NFL in carries and rushing yards after his three touchdown performance in the Colts domination of the Titans on Sunday. 

Since entering the league in 2020, Taylor has always been amongst the league's best, but he was constantly overshadowed by others. Now in his sixth NFL season, Taylor looks like the most dominant back in the NFL and is only going to get better as the season progresses. 

Along with JT, Jones has utilized his other weapons in Michael Pittman, Tyler Warren, and Alec Pierce very well. Pittman, after a bit of a down year in 2024, has turned it up in 2025. Alec Pierce continues to be a constant deep threat to opposing defenses, and rookie Tyler Warren is turning into one of the league's premier tight ends right before our very eyes. 

To make things better for Indianapolis, the AFC South division favorites coming into the 2025 season, the Houston Texans, are currently 0-3. A three game lead to start the season over the back to back AFC South champs is a pretty hefty advantage to say the least. 

I'm excited to see if Daniel Jones can continue his unreal production as the season progresses. The Colts will face a real test this upcoming Sunday as they take their undefeated record to Los Angeles to take on the 2-1 Rams.  

The New Look Jets

 

This past Sunday, the New York Jets kicked off their 2025 NFL season at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The game ended in a loss for New York, but there were a ton of positive takeaways from this showdown. 

In years past, the usual highlights for the Jets have been on the defensive side of the ball, but that couldn't be further from the truth on Sunday. Gang Green's offense showed out in Justin Fields' debut in East Rutherford. 

Justin Fields accounted for over 260 scrimmage yards and 3 touchdowns as well. For a quarterback that was wrote off by a lot of people throughout the NFL, that is a pretty good debut with his new team. 

Fields was able to get his two top weapons heavily involved as Breece Hall went for over 100 rushing yards and Garrett Wilson got in the end zone and nearly hit the century mark as well. 

The offensive line played great and the debut of Armand Membou could not have gone any better. In a tough task against the league's best, TJ Watt, Membou absolutely dominated and lived up to the first round selection the Jets thought they were getting. 

Tbe offense accounted for 32 points which is the most points the Steelers defense has let up since 2022. In addition, it is also the most points the Jets have ever scored in their matchup history with the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

While the offense showed out, the defense unfortunately did not do its job. The main weak point in the defense was the secondary. Cornerback Brandon Stephens and safety Andre Cisco were the main targets for Aaron Rodgers and he succeeded almost every time. 

Rodgers threw for four touchdowns in his first game against his former team. While the secondary didn't do its job, the interior of the defense did almost all they could. The Williams brothers and Will McDonald especially all balled out. 

But the question is can the Jets put it all together? In a huge upcoming matchup against the Buffalo Bills, the Jets will once again face another future hall of fame quarterback in Josh Allen. If the secondary is unable to perform, it is going to be a long day for Gang Green this upcoming Sunday. 

Team Preview: Dallas Cowboys

 

After an extremely underwhelming 7-10 season for the Cowboys in 2024, Dallas looks to make a statement to kick off the 2025 season against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. 

Recently, Dallas was involved in a blockbuster trade that sent their superstar, Micah Parsons, to the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys and Parsons had not been on good terms for some time now and the final straw fell once Jerry Jones decided to deal him to Green Bay. 

Parsons, one of the best if not the best, defensive player in the game will now receive $47 million per year from the Green Bay Packers after Dallas refused to negotiate that high with him. Parsons is now the highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL. 

Many people around the league question the Cowboys decision to not give Parsons what he wanted. Was it stubbornness on Jerry Jones' end, or was there more to it behind the scenes? I suppose only time will tell and the truth will come out eventually. 

After five years and three playoff appearances with head coach Mike McCarthy, Dallas decided to look a different way this offseason. The Cowboys decided to remain in house and promoted their offensive coordinator to the head coaching position.

Brian Schottenheimer is the guy that is taking over for Mike McCarthy. Under Schottenheimer, the Cowboys have had a pretty efficient offense and for Jerry Jones, it was good enough to promote him to become the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. 

After finishing third in the NFC East in 2024, the Cowboys will have to trek their way up the division once again in 2025. Being in a division with the two teams that were in the NFC Championship a year ago will be no cakewalk for Dallas. 

Dallas did bring in star wide receiver George Pickens to pair with CeeDee Lamb. Pickens' time in Pittsburgh was all but up until the Cowboys traded for him this offseason. Lamb and Pickens will come into the new season as one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. 

The Cowboys are hoping and praying for a healthy season for their quarterback Dak Prescott. It sounds cliche as a quarterback, but Dak really is the glue that keeps this team together. In the seasons in which Prescott sustained bad injuries, the Cowboys season went the same way. 

After the reunion with Ezekiel Elliott went not so well, Dallas decided to revamp their running back room. For the time being it seems that Javonte Williams will be the RB1 in Dallas followed by Miles Sanders and Jaydon Blue. Since Tony Pollard's departure, the rushing production has not been anywhere near good for Dallas. 

Dallas ranked as one of the worst teams in defensive production back in 2024. And to make matters worse, they lost their best defensive player in Micah Parsons. So where to go now? I don't really see the plan for this Cowboys defense. 

In years past, their high scoring offense has outweighed their lackluster defense but is that really sustainable in today's NFL? Dallas hasn't made the NFC Championship in almost 30 years. Maybe it's time for a new mindset and face in the front office. I know Cowboys fans will agree with me on that one. 

Team Preview: Philadelphia Eagles

 

The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles will officially kick off the 2025 NFL season on Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys. Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley will look to continue the Eagles prowess in 2025. 

After capturing a Super Bowl title, it's pretty hard for a team to get better. The best the Eagles could do this offseason was maintaining the core that they have had so much success with. 

In fact, most of the Eagles offense remained intact over the 2025 offseason. The dynamic duo of AJ Brown and Devonta Smith will enter yet another year together in Philadelphia. 

No one is happier than Jalen Hurts and the Eagles that the tush push is back for another season. There was a vote to take the overpowering play out of the game itself, yet it was not passed by the number of teams necessary. 

After racking up over 2000 rushing yards and having one of the best rushing seasons ever, Saquon Barkley earned himself a two year contract extension with the Eagles on top of his remaining two years on his current contract. 

As the Eagles decided to extend the anchor of their offense, they did the same for their defense when they extended Zack Baun. Baun's contract was extended another three years just a day after the Eagles spent another $40 million on Saquon Barkley. 

Baun had a career season in 2024 after racking up the third most tackles in the NFL and forcing five fumbles as well. Surrounded by such a young linebacker core, Baun is the perfect guy to have in the middle of that group. 

Philadelphia put it all together last season after ranking #1 in total defense throughout the league. The Eagles defense let up an average of 278 yards per game. To put this in perspective, the next closest team allowed over 311 yards per game.

This type of production will most certainly get the Eagles back to the promise land which they were in not too long ago. The quest for a back to back will kick off on Thursday Night at Lincoln Financial Field against the Dallas Cowboys.