MVP for every AFC team during the 2017 regular season
As the 2017 NFL season winds down, each team had its own bright spots. In this article, we look at who made the biggest impact on each team.
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills- LeSean McCoy
LeSean McCoy led the Bills to the playoffs this season, ending their 15 year playoff drought. Taking advantage of the Bills strong offensive line, the six time Pro Bowler rushed for another 1,000 yard season.
Miami Dolphins- Jarvis Landry
Jarvis Landry steered the Dolphins offense this season leading the team with 987 receiving yards with 9 touchdowns. Catching 70 percent of his targets, Jarvis Landry proved to Dolphin fans that he is the real deal.
New England Patriots- Tom Brady
This is an obvious answer as Brady once again led the reigning champs to a 13-3 record and secured a first round bye and home stadium advantage for the entire playoffs. Tom Brady threw for 4,577 yards and 32 touchdowns, showing his long-lasting youth. Once again, he is a front runner for this years MVP honors.
New York Jets- Josh McCown
Josh McCown was one of the brightest spots of the Jets squad this year. Despite exceptional seasons from Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, exceptional play by McCown led the Jets to a good season until he broke his leg. Almost beating the Patriots, Josh McCown revitalized himself until he got injured.
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos- Von Miller
Von Miller continued to perform at an elite level while the Broncos, on the other hand, did not. Miller recorded 10 sacks and forced 2 fumbles this season, while showing his versatility by starting every game for the Broncos. Von Miller has continued his dominance for the past couple of years and would surely be rewarded if the Broncos could rebuild and improve for next season
Kansas CIty Chiefs- Kareem Hunt
Despite a slump during the middle of the season, Kareem Hunt impressed fans as a rookie, becoming one of the most exciting players to watch in the entire NFL. He led the Chiefs to a 5-0 record and was a main catalyst for their division title and playoff berth. By eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark not only does it show that Kareem Hunt is a workhorse back, but was a leader for this Kansas City team.
Los Angeles Chargers- Philip Rivers
Rivers pulled the Los Angeles Chargers from an 0-5 start to a playoff contender, until all hope was lost when the Titans beat the Jaguars in Week 17. Although Rivers did have great receiving help from Keenan Allen, Rivers was 2nd in the league with 4515 yards passing and 28 touchdowns while sporting a passer rating of 96. His resurgent season might have raised some eyebrows, but was definitely the MVP for the Chargers. Philip
Oakland Raiders- Khalil Mack
A disappointing season for the Raiders overshadowed the dominance of Khalil Mack. Mack ruthlessly attacked quarterbacks and recorded 10.5 sacks, while having a career high 78 tackles. His season was not as good as the 2016 campaign, but he was still a force to be reckoned with.
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens- Terrell Suggs
Like his stats suggest, Suggs was a dominant force over the course of the season. He recorded 11 sacks and forced 4 fumbles throughout the campaign. He played a crucial role in the dominant Raven offense. He recorded a game-saving sack that led to a fumble, which ended the game against the Texans. As a veteran, the Ravens all-time sacks leader has been vital to this young and voracious defense.
Cincinnati Bengals - Andy Dalton
Although this may surprise most people, Dalton kept away opposition and tried his played his best this season. Although he underperformed this season, he was successful and put up impressive numbers
Cleveland Browns- NO ONE
The Cleveland Browns absolutely disappointed this season and underachieved, despite many high standards. After declaring that going 1-15 was bad last season, going 0-16 is unacceptable. There is a bright future, although, as the Browns have 2 top-10 picks in a very talented and star-studded draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers- Antonio Brown
Antonio Brown played like an MVP all season, until he suffered a calf injury against the Patriots. His dominance continues to impress. Brown's work ethic and intelligence on the field has made him one of the most difficult receivers to defend.
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans- DeAndre Hopkins
DeAndre Hopkins, like Antonio Brown, put together an ultimate and unforgettable year. The beginning of the year look extremely bright with Deshaun Watson under center. But many pundits predicted his downfall after Watson's record-breaking season came to an end. But Hopkins did not stop and continued to prove his excellence under Tom Savage and T.J. Yates
Jacksonville Jaguars- Calais Campbell
Calais Campbell is playing at an elite level and has take the Jaguars defense to a completely new level. Although Campbell has been backed by Malik Jackson, A.J. Bouye, and Jalen Ramsey, his dominance has been remarkable. Ending the regular season with 14.5 sacks and 67 tackles, Campbell has shown fans that his expensive contract was worth it. His dominance can make trips to playoffs routine for the Jaguars.
Indianapolis Colts- Jacoby Brissett
After being traded in the beginning of the season to the Colts, Brissett came in and took charge of the team, leading to a meagerly 4 wins. He led the team with 3000 yards and 13 touchdowns passing. He also was involved in the running game with 260 yards rushing with 4 touchdowns. Although the Colts finished with a losing record, Brissett played his hardest day in and day out
Tennessee Titans- Kevin Byard
Although the Titans clinched a playoff berth, they entered the season with lofty expectations. Their offense had young and talented quarterback, Marcus Mariota and had selected Corey Davis with the 5th pick in the NFL Draft. Their offense struggled and did not live up to expectations. But one player that did perform well was safety Kevin Byard. He notched a league-tying 8 interceptions, while also getting 87 tackles. His superb play was a major boost for the Titans defense.