Rookie Glory
The AFC embraced defense, while the NFC leaned into offense. The 2017 postseason was shaping up to be a fascinating spectacle, full of intrigue and anticipation.
With the playoff bracket fully set, the picture was clear—
In the AFC, the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers earned first-round byes.
In the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings secured the top seeds and a week of rest.
After a grueling regular season, a bye week was an invaluable advantage. These teams could sit back, watch their future opponents battle in the Wild Card round, and prepare to strike from a position of strength.
For the rest, there was no such luxury. With no break after Week 17, the Wild Card round kicked off immediately.
On January 6, the Kansas City Chiefs would host the Tennessee Titans, while the Los Angeles Rams would face the Atlanta Falcons at home.
On January 7, the Jacksonville Jaguars would welcome the Buffalo Bills, and the New Orleans Saints would meet their division rival, the Carolina Panthers, for the third time this season.
The drums of war had begun to beat.
There was no time for adjustments, no space to breathe—teams had to be ready to fight the moment the whistle blew. This was where the Chiefs' strategic decision to rest their starters in Week 17 could prove invaluable. Without an official bye, they had still managed to get their top players some much-needed rest, storing energy for the upcoming war.
But before the playoffs officially began, there was still time to reflect on the regular season.
Statistical leaders emerged, revealing the most dominant performers of the year. The playoff picture was crucial, but the entire season deserved recognition—after all, it wasn't just playoff teams that had shaped the year's storylines.
As always, quarterbacks commanded the spotlight—
And this season was no exception.
Tom Brady led the league in passing yards with 4,577, narrowly edging out Philip Rivers' 4,516.
In passing touchdowns, Russell Wilson claimed the crown with 34, just ahead of Brady's 32.
And then, there was quarterback rating—an advanced metric that accounted for completion percentage, yardage, touchdowns, and interceptions, with a perfect score being 158.3.
With Aaron Rodgers sidelined due to injury, the leaderboard took a surprising turn.
Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith posted a league-best 104.7 rating, barely surpassing rookie sensation Deshaun Watson's 103.0.
Looking at these numbers, one thing became clear—
There was no single dominant quarterback.
The passing yards leader, touchdown leader, and efficiency leader were all different players.
There were no 5,000-yard passers. No 50-touchdown seasons. No record-breaking performances.
And worse—
Many of the top quarterbacks statistically had failed to lead their teams to the playoffs.
For a position that was supposed to define leadership, this year's class lacked the presence of a true commander.
This was a year of mediocrity for quarterbacks.
Which made the MVP conversation more chaotic than ever.
There was no consensus pick.
Arguments raged, with every name thrown into the mix facing skepticism. No candidate could truly separate from the pack.
And to make matters worse, even the defensive stars weren't shining.
J.J. Watt suffered a season-ending injury. Khalil Mack's production dipped. Von Miller was plagued by injuries. The dominant defensive forces of the past three years had all struggled.
Aaron Donald of the Rams had a fantastic season, but he stood alone. His brilliance lacked the support needed to define an entire season.
So, when the dust settled on the regular season, media and fans eagerly dissected the numbers—
Only to find nothing electrifying.
Nothing inspiring.
No undeniable greatness.
No clear-cut MVP.
But as history often proves—when the usual heroes fail to emerge, new ones are born.
The conversation naturally shifted.
With quarterbacks and defenses failing to capture the spotlight, attention turned to a group that had long been overlooked—
The running backs.
And once that shift began, there was no stopping it.
Rushing yard leaders:
Lance – 1,888 yards Todd Gurley – 1,305 yards Le'Veon Bell – 1,291 yards LeSean McCoy – 1,138 yards Mark Ingram – 1,124 yards
With Adrian Peterson sidelined due to injury, Marshawn Lynch struggling in his comeback, and last season's rushing leader LeGarrette Blount fading into mediocrity, the leaderboard saw a complete shake-up.
At the top stood Lance.
The rookie had dominated the league, capturing the rushing title in his very first season.
Rushing touchdowns:
Lance – 20 Todd Gurley – 13 Mark Ingram – 12
No other running back had even reached double-digit touchdowns.
Lance wasn't just leading—he was obliterating the competition.
Not only had he shattered a 30-year-old rookie rushing record, but he had also made every other back in the league look second-tier by comparison.
And what made it even more incredible?
While every other running back on the leaderboard had played all 16 games, Lance had done it in just 15.
Rested in Week 17, he had still finished with a commanding lead.
This wasn't just dominance—this was a complete takeover.
But numbers alone didn't tell the full story.
Running back performance isn't just about total yardage or touchdowns. Two other key metrics define a truly great back—
1. Yards per carry.
A running back could rack up 1,000 yards, but if it took 400 carries to get there, averaging just 2.5 yards per attempt, that would be a disaster. A great running back had to be efficient.
2. Fumbles.
Turnovers kill teams. If a back couldn't hold onto the ball, no amount of talent could make up for it. A single fumble could cost an entire game.
So before the league could fully anoint Lance as its new king, the experts took a step back.
Yes, he had dominated the stat sheets.
Yes, he had broken records.
But was he efficient? Was he reliable?
Had he truly cemented his place as the league's next great running back?
The debate continued—
But one thing was undeniable.
From a young boy training in mixed martial arts to an Alabama standout, and now, to the NFL's brightest rookie star—
Lance had arrived.
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Powerstones?
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