NFL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER LOOKS LIKE A FOUR-MAN RACE
The 2017 NFL Most Valuable Player race figures to be contentious to the wire.
Right now, it looks like a four-man contest. Here are my leaders (in order of preference) through 12 games:
1—Tom Brady (New England; 10-2 record) – He leads the NFL in yards passing (3,632), yards per pass attempt (8.29; excluding sidelined Deshaun Watson) and passer rating (109.7). He’s tied for second in TD passes (26). Only 4 INTs. He’s obviously an inspirational leader on the field. He’s a two-time league MVP (2007 and 2010).
2—Carson Wentz (Philadelphia; 10-2 record) – He was the clear frontrunner until Sunday night’s 24-10 loss in Seattle. He had big numbers but he wasn’t at his best, missing some deep throws he usually makes and fumbling at the goal line. 3,005 yards passing (10th); 7.53 yards per pass attempt (10th); .607 completion percentage NFL-most 29 TD passes; 6 INTs. Contributes more with his legs (71 for 432 and 3 TDs) than the immobile Brady (21 for 24) yards).
3—Le’Veon Bell (Pittsburgh; 9-2, plays Monday night at Cincinnati) – The NFL’s most versatile running back. Leads the league in carries (252) and yards rushing (981). 5 rushing TDs. 61 catches (15th in the NFL) for 396 yards. NFL-most 1252.2 yards from scrimmage per game. Quarterbacks have won the league MVP award 9 of the past 10 years but he might buck that trend.
4—Russell Wilson (Seattle; 8-4 record) – Back in the MVP race after a sensational performance in Sunday night’s upset home win over Philadelphia. Outplayed Wentz by a considerable margin. Often carries the Seahawks on offense. He leads the team in rushing (76 for 442 yards; 6.1 yards per carry and 3 TDs). Passing: 276-of-442 (.624) for 3,256 yards (6th); 26 TD passes; 8 INTs; 96.9 passer rating (11th).
BRADY-TO-GRONK IS LIKE PLAYING CATCH IN THE BACKYARD
Does anyone think Sunday’s 23-3 Buffalo Bills home loss to New England was a fluke?
On defense, Buffalo quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor and Nathan Peterman looked like freshmen playing against the varsity. New England’s future Hall-of-Fame of combo of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski looked like they were playing catch in the backyard.
The Patriots outgained Buffalo 435-268 and it seemed worse.
The Bills have to be one of the luckiest 6-6 teams in NFL history. I guess that is a credit to their resourcefulness. The Patriots are 10-2 and the gap between the two teams seems much wider than the four games in the standings.
I still think Buffalo can beat Indianapolis and Miami twice and finish this regular season 9-7. It would help if the Bills were healthier. It would help a lot more if they were better.
...MORE THOUGHTS ON THE BILLS
Gronkowski obviously will be fined and probably will be suspended for his cheap-shot dirty hit on Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White after the rookie intercepted a pass late in the game. The punch to the back of the helmet by pro-wrestling-lover Gronk sent White to concussion protocol. I know the NFL seldom works this way, but if White has to miss any games, the league should make Gronk miss those games, too.
Sure, Tyrod Taylor was lousy Sunday. His knee was hurting. His throwing arm looked like it was hurting, too. If it is time to go to rookie Nathan Peterman, OK. But how is any QB supposed to look good with a weak offensive line and a below average group of receivers?
Here’s why I think the Bills are one of the NFL’s all-time worst 6-6 NFL teams Updated NFL rankings entering Monday night): 26th in total offense (296.4)...27th in total defense (361.6)...:yardage differential minus 65.2 yards per game...30th in pass offense (174.4)...24th in pass defense (241.2)...25th in rush defense (120.4)...23rd in scoring offense (18.9)...19th in scoring de4fense (23.6)...28th in first downs (203)...31st in opposing first downs (262)...83 penalties for 706 yards; opponents 72 penalties for 638 yards. Buffalo remains a relatively healthy +6 in turnover differential (20-14) – thank goodness.
NEXT UP FOR BROCKPORT GOLDEN EAGLES FOOTBALL: DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
The high-flying College at Brockport Golden Eagles reached the NCAA Division III semifinals for the first team in school history with a 31-28 victory Saturday at Delaware Valley.
Next up is the defending national champion Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders, this Saturday, 7 p.m., in Belton, Texas.
Mount Union will play University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in Saturday’s other semifinal.
The championship game will be Friday, December 15 in Salem, Va.
In the final Division III rankings for this regular season, Mary Hardin-Baylor was 1st, Mount Union 2nd, UW-Oshkosh 3rd and Brockport 10th.
The Crusaders can’t match the gaudy offensive stats of the rest of Division III’s Final Four, but they’re a very stingy defensive team and they’re huge. The roster has 28 players listed at 275-pounds or more, Brockport has 15 players in that beefy category.
I assume many of the Mary Hardin-Baylor players are guys who weren’t quite good enough or quite big enough to be recruited by the big-time football schools in their home state.
Mary Hardin-Baylor beat powerhouse Mount Union 14-12 at home in last year’s semifinals and then beat UW-Oshkosh 10-7 in the championship game.
Here’s how Brockport and Mary Hardin-Baylor measure up (stats include playoffs; Division III ranking in parentheses):
Records – both teams are 13-0.
Scoring offense – Brockport 39.8 PPG (17th)...MH-B 39.2 (20th)
Scoring defense – Brockport 13.5 PAPG (15th)...MH-B 7.5 (1st)
Point Differential per game – Brockport +26.4...MH-B +31.7
Total offense – Brockport 467.6 (21st)...MH-B 383.8 (113th)
Yards per play/OFF TDs – Brockport 6.69; 64...MH-B 5.98; 53
Yards passing per game – Brockport 264.5 (44th)...MH-B 226.3 (101st)
Yards rushing per game – Brockport 203.1 (49th)...MH-B 157.5 (112th)
First downs – Brockport 309...MH-B 249
Total defense – Brockport 249.8 YAPG (10th)...MH-B 219.5 YAPG (3rd)
Rush defense – Brockport 41.8 YAPG (2nd)...MH-B 46.0 YPG (3rd)
YAPR/Rush TDs allowed – Brockport 1.50/10...MH-B 1.36/4
Opp yards per play; DEF TDs allowed – Brockport 4.09/24...MH-B 3.36/13
Takeaways/giveaways – Brockport 32/16 +16...MH-B 26/17 +9
Sacks by/times sacked – Brockport 59/12 +47...MH-B 42/31 +11
Penalties/yards – Brockport 97/1001...MH-B 80/824.
NOT TOO EARLY TO SAY THESE AMERKS ARE PRETTY GOOD
The Rochester Amerks might not be the best team in the 30-team American Hockey League, but they’re in the running. One of the most impressive things about coach Chris Taylor’s team is that they don’t have a weakness.
Rochester has some firepower on even the third- and fourth lines. The defense is sound and deep and relatively experienced. Linus UIlmark is one of the AHL’s best goalies and obviously Buffalo’s goalie-in-waiting.
The Amerks are 12-5-3-2 (3-0-2-1 in the last six games) and have 29 of 44 possible points. Their .659 points percentage is sixth-best in the AHL.
Another positive sign is the way Rochester plays on the road: 6-1-3-1. They’ve earned at least one point in 10 of the 11 road games. Four of the next five games are on the road. The next home game is Wednesday, December 13 versus the Utica Comets.
...IT’S NOT TOO EARLY TO SAY THE SABRES ARE PRETTY LOUSY
The highlight of last week for the NHL Buffalo Sabres was scoring a goal in the third period of a 5-1 loss in Pittsburgh Saturday night to avoid being shut out for a fourth straight game.
Buffalo has the NHL’s worst record (6-17-4; 16 of 54 possible points), including 1-9-2 in the last 12 games. The Sabres rank last in scoring (2.07 goals per game), 30th out of 31 teams in scoring defense (3.44 goals allowed per game) and last in goal differential per game (-1.37 and on the power play (11.6 percent, 10-for-86 while allowing 7 short-handed goals).
And...I hope this note is not getting too boring...the 11 defensemen have yet to score a goal in 27 games.
Four of the next five games are on the road, including Tuesday at Colorado, Friday at Chicago and Sunday at St. Louis. The Sabres have been better way (3-8-3) than at home (3-9-1).
IS SYRACUSE U. A BASKETBALL GANG THAT CAN’T SHOOT STRAIGHT?
The Syracuse men’s basketball team is 6-1 – no complaints about that – but the shooting percentages so far this season are very worrisome.
Here they are entering Tuesday night’s game against Connecticut, with rank among the 351 Division I teams in parentheses:
Field-goal percentage – 43.3, 185-of-427 (244th)
3-point FG percentage – 27.7, 36-of-130 (332nd)
Free-throw percentage – 64.9, 100-of-154 (t301st).
SHORT SHOTS
I am happy to note that demoted quarterback Eli Manning outlasted head coach Ben McAdoo (fired Monday morning) on the New York Giants.
The Philadelphia Eagles lost Sunday night in Seattle to “drop” to 10-2, tied with New England for the NFL’s best record. Eagles QB Carson Wentz struggled for most of the game and I believe Tom Brady is the new pacesetter for NFL Most Valuable Player.
Baker Mayfield has a pretty good week. Oklahoma’s quarterback was the cover subject for Sports Illustrated, passed the Sooners to a 41-17 victory over TCU in the Big 12 championship game and probably clinched the Heisman Trophy (the voting deadline is Monday).
The Rochester Knighthawks open their National Lacrosse League season Saturday. 7:30 p.m., against the Calgary Roughnecks at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. The K-hawks should be fine on defense and in goal with Matt Vinc. The big question mark will be offense. Rochester allowed the third-fewest goals in the nine-team league last season but ranked last in goals scored.
Buffalo Sabres captain Ryan O’Reilly not only has the worst plus-minus rating on the team (goals for and against at even strength) at minus-19. He is tied for worst in the NHL among 667 players. In 27 games, he has 7 goals and 9 assists
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Monday, December 4
Andre Roberson (26)...Phil Varone (27)...Carlos Gomez (32)...Joe Thomas (33)...Anke Huber (43)Corliss Williamson (44)...Jeff Blake (47)...Sergey Bubka (54)...Frank Reich (56)...Lee Smith (60)...Bernard King (61)...Rick Middleton (64)...Slip Bayless (66). Former Red Wings pitcher and NBA Royals forward Dick Ricketts was born on this date 84 years ago (1933) and died in Rochester in 1988 at age 54.
Tuesday, December 5
Christian Yelich (26)...A.J. Pollock (30)...LaGarrette Blont (31)...Justin Smoak (31)...Olli Jokinen (39)...Charlie Batch (43)...Cliff Floyd (45)...Kevin Haller (47)...Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards (54)...Art Monk (60)...Bill Swaggerty (61)...Art Still (62)...Larry Zbyszlo (64)...Lanny Wadkins (68)...Jim Plunkett (70).