MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – On all fours in the west end zone, he needed a moment or two to catch his breath.

Not one of the 66,612 in U.S. Bank Stadium could blame him. After all, he did just save the season.

—

Stefon Diggs wasn’t supposed to be here. The six-foot wide receiver out of Maryland was drafted in the middle of the fifth round back in 2015 and came into a 7-9 Minnesota Vikings squad as the sixth receiver on the depth chart.

He overcame adversity to become the Vikings’ go-to guy by the start of the 2017 season. However, Minnesota-native Adam Thielen stole the spotlight midway through the regular season while Diggs was either nursing an injury or busy handling opponents’ best cornerbacks. The attention shifted to the undrafted fan-favorite while Diggs was seemingly left behind.

Thielen ended up with nearly 30 more receptions than Diggs and eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, something Diggs was unable to do. However, no matter the statistics or hype of Thielen, Diggs continued to draw the attention of the opponents’ most talented defensive backs. He commanded their respect.

—

Trotting toward the huddle, it was third-and-10 with 10 seconds remaining. Stefon Diggs and the Minnesota Vikings were staring a one-point loss straight in the face while the Saints covered the sidelines and the defensive backs were content giving up 15 yards.

—

It was the first playoff game ever hosted in U.S. Bank Stadium, the shiny new building in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. On a snowy afternoon, the Vikings were favored to beat the New Orleans Saints, revenge from the 2009 season fresh in the minds of many. With the upcoming Super Bowl to be hosted in the Twin Cities for the first time in 26 years, the mantra of ‘#BringItHome’ covered the walls, towels, columns and nearly every open space in the dome.

—

As the huddle assembled for the final play, undrafted quarterback Case Keenum kneeled and looked at his guys.

“Buffalo Right, Seven Heaven.”

—

The Minnesota Vikings have had no problem assembling regular season successes in the past 20 years. Playoff success, however, has been hard to come by in that time span.

In 1998, Randall Cunningham and Randy Moss led the NFL’s best-ever offense to a 15-1 record and a place in the NFC Championship Game. Kicker Gary Anderson hadn’t missed a single field goal all year, but when he lined up to ice the game with just over two minutes left, it sailed wide left. The Atlanta Falcons sent the game to overtime and ultimately won.

In 2009, Brett Favre joined the Vikings to lead another exceptional offensive attack highlighted by Adrian Peterson and Sidney Rice. Favre broke personal bests and franchise records en route to the NFC Championship Game in New Orleans, but the Saints pummeled him all game, leading him to throw a late-game interception. Turnovers plagued Minnesota all game, but the later-discovered ‘Bountygate’ program by coaches Sean Payton and Gregg Williams pushed New Orleans to an overtime victory and a controversial Super Bowl berth.

Now in the 2017 season, the Vikings capped off a 13-3 season with the two-seed in the playoffs. This success occurred despite Minnesota playing with their third-string quarterback and second-string running back for most of the season, but much of it was due to the stout defense that led the league in numerous categories. Now that the postseason is here, heartbreak is typically in the back of the minds of many fans, but this year brings a strange, new sense of optimism.

—

The huddle broke off for perhaps the final play of the game, with Adam Thielen out wide left and three receivers bunched to the right, one of which was Stefon Diggs.

Case Keenum slowly stepped back into the shotgun, put his hands up and called for the snap. Diggs began his corner route to the right sideline and Keenum watched him the whole way. As the ball was released, a collective tension covered the stadium.

—

The failure of 2009 rang in the ears of Vikings fans for long after the loss to the Saints. It may have quieted down in 2012 when Adrian Peterson nearly broke the all-time rushing record, but it was clear as day when the Vikings were crushed by the Packers that year in the playoffs. It was at a near silence in 2015 when Teddy Bridgewater led the Vikings to their first NFC North division title in six years, but it was louder than ever as Blair Walsh’s 27-yard kick sailed wide left against the Seahawks that January.

Minnesota’s home opener in 2017 saw New Orleans come to town with blank slates for both teams. The Saints still employed Sean Payton and Drew Brees from that 2009 Super Bowl winning team, but they had a new addition: Adrian Peterson. The Vikings beat the Saints for the first time since 2008, yet a resounding regular season victory wasn’t enough to completely hush the ringing.

Both the Vikings and Saints went through complete transformations between September and January, yet both found their way into the playoffs, meeting for the first time in the postseason since that night in New Orleans back in 2009. As the stadium filled to capacity, the ringing was steady in fans’ minds, ready to be deadened once and for all.

Jumping out to a 17-0 halftime lead, Vikings fans had to really strain to hear that ring, but those who have lived through what this franchise has had to offer know that no lead is safe. Brees and the Saints reeled off three touchdowns to grab the lead and, other than the now piercing ringing, the stadium fell silent.

—

Stefon Diggs crossed the Saints’ 40-yard line and turned his head. No longer in stride, he backpedaled toward the ball, soaring right toward him. Approaching the 35, he leapt into the air, both hands reaching for the pass.

—

However, late in the contest, Drew Brees and the Saints drove into enemy territory and set up the go-ahead field goal with only 25 seconds left on the clock. For the first time all game, the stadium fell silent; the 66,612 fans in attendance watched in awe as a far-too-familiar scene began to unfold. With virtually no time left on the clock, a once 17-point lead dissipated into a seemingly gut-wrenching loss for a 13-3 Vikings team only two games away from hosting its very own Super Bowl.

—

Lofted where only he could catch it, Diggs secured Keenum’s pass and landed safely at the 35-yard line. Fans across the stadium screamed furiously for Diggs to safely get out of bounds for Kai Forbath to attempt the game-winning field goal.

—

Stefon Diggs wasn’t supposed to be here. Catching passes from three different quarterbacks in his three seasons in the pros, Diggs lacked consistency from his play caller. Diggs brings just as much flair and uniqueness to the game as Antonio Brown or Julio Jones, but he didn’t end the season with the most receiving yards on his team, let alone near the top of the league.

—

Despite the cries of many, Diggs stumbled as he turned to look upfield and there was no one in sight. The Saint’s corner took a bad angle and completely whiffed, leaving him with nothing but green grass ahead. Diggs sprinted toward the east end zone, ball outstretched, giving the Vikings the lead for good as time expired.

—

However, none of that matters. Once the playoffs begin, the past is meaningless. Where he played in college, where he was drafted, where he was on the depth chart then and where he is now – none of it has any weight in the hearts of Vikings fans.

All that matters is that he made the play.

—

As he crossed the goal line, Diggs put out his arms, taking in the raucous Minnesota crowd. Before his teammates managed to reach him, he took off his helmet and tossed it aside. In that moment, there was no noise; there was no ringing. They’d done it.

The post Stefon Diggs for Gold: The Minneapolis Miracle appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: TJ Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers

Younger brother of future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt. Same college, Wisconsin, as elder brother J.J. Watt. Similar draft hype as J.J. Watt coming into 2017, as we see at midseason, the hype was not misplaced. 7 games into the season, T.J. Watt has put up tremendous numbers. 21 solo tackles, 5 additional assisted tackles, 4 sacks, and 1 interception. Very strong start from his first outings as a professional, looking forward to seeing this young man grow into the monster that T.J. Watt can become.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans

This may be a controversial pick for some, but a tough decision for me nonetheless. Running back Kareem Hunt and Quarterback Deshaun Watson will battle to the end of the season for the award.

However, Deshaun Watson appears to be more elite. Starting merely 5 games, Watson has still thrown for 1,297 yards, 15 touchdown, 5 interceptions, completing passes at a 61.5 percent clip. Deshaun has even rushed for an additional 202 yards with two touchdowns on the ground to compliment. Despite all this, an even more impressive stat is Watson’s total QBR at 80.8. This rating leads league, higher than the likes of household names such as Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and even defending MVP Matt Ryan. This earns him the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

Comeback Player of the Year: Rob Gronkowski, New England

Playing a mere 8 games last year, Rob Gronkowski had yet another injury riddled season. Despite playing only half the season, in two of the eight games, Gronkowski was nowhere to be seen with no receptions. His season ended with back surgery, putting Rob on the shelf for good. Entering the 2017 regular season, Gronkowski’s health and durability had become a large question mark for the New England offense. Nonetheless, the Gronk has bounced back in a way few experts projected. With 452 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns on 29 receptions, Rob Gronkowski has nearly surpassed the entirety of last season’s output. 25 receptions, 540 yards, and only 3 touchdowns was the 2016 statline among his eight outings. Barring another injury, *knock on wood* Rob Gronkowski should own this year’s Comeback Player of the Year award.

Coach of the Year: Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams

The Rams may just be the surprise of the year. Following a miserable 4-12 record, the 2017 offseason did not show many roster changes, expecting to repeat the previous season’s failures.

Despite only notably adding wide receivers Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods, the Los Angeles Rams has made unbelievable changes moving forward. Their 5-2 record can be accounted due to the mindset of Head Coach Sean McVay. Following up the abomination of a coaching job completed by Jeff Fisher, McVay continues the dominant march of the defense. Additionally, Sean McVay has made the necessary changes to turn around the offense from a piddling 14.0 points per game in the 2016 to an astonishing 30.3 points per game, the highest scoring offense in the league. Coach Sean McVay is the difference moving this Rams football team past its previous mediocrity, earning McVay the 2017 Coach of the Year award.

Defensive Player of the Year: Melvin Ingram, Los Angeles Chargers

Bringing in a mighty 8 and a half sacks and 25 solo tackles, the LA Chargers have a beast at linebacker. The six-season veteran has made strides from an already elite level. Melvin Ingram has also forced two fumbles, recovering one. Ingram seemingly steps up his game daily, with the best of his outings coming within the last three games. Incoming offenses must be wary when moving the ball in his direction, giving space for other elite defenders to make plays. Defensive ends Joey Bosa and Chris McCain, cornerbacks Casey Hayward and Desmond King, and the entirety of the Charger defense benefit from his mere presence on the field.

Offensive Player of the Year: Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

Prior to this week, Alex Smith was the frontrunner for this season’s MVP award. Despite this, Smith is being thwarted by a younger, more mobile quarterback. However, do not dare take anything away from Alex Smith. Twelve years into the league, Smith is seemingly putting up his best numbers yet. Passing for 1,979 yards, 15 touchdowns, and zero turnovers. All of this coming on a 72.4 completion percentage, enabling the Chiefs a hot 5-2 start. This record not only leads the the AFC West, but also leads the entire AFC. Their record matched only by the Patriots and Steelers. Capping off his impressive numbers, Alex Smith leads the entire league in passer rating at 120.5, solidifying him as the Offensive Player of the Year.

MVP: Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles

Quite possibly the most difficult move was the decision to give the MVP nod to Carson Wentz. Despite having overall worse numbers by a slight margin, Wentz tops Alex Smith in a much more important category: Wins. The Eagles have soared high to grab the best record in the NFL, winning six of their first seven. Aided by the struggles of their NFC East rivals, as well as key injuries to top NFC contenders, such as Aaron Rodgers, Dalvin Cook, and Josh Norman, the Eagles seem to have a smooth ride to a first-round playoff bye. Wentz is passing for a remarkable 1,852 yards and 17 touchdowns, and completing 61.6 percent of his passes, with only 4 interceptions to rebut. Maintaining a total QBR of 72.7, a league wide third best, the impressive numbers by Wentz will be the determining factor for deep postseason success.

The post NFL Midseason Honors 2017 Edition appeared first on KRUI Radio.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – After the typical 8-8 season from the Dallas Cowboys in 2013, America’s Team is 5-1 in 2014.

Yes, you read that correctly. The Dallas Cowboys are 5-1, after defeating the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks 30-23 in Seattle.

How ‘bout them Cowboys?

This marks a five-game winning streak for the Cowboys who, after going 0-4 in preseason, dropped their regular season opener to the San Francisco 49ers.

Things didn’t look good for Dallas week one against San Francisco. DeMarco Murray fumbled on the opening drive, which was recovered and taken back for a touchdown by 49ers cornerback, Chris Culliver.

With three Tony Romo interceptions, the Cowboys had four total turnovers that against the 49ers and were unable to comeback 28-3 halftime deficit, losing 28-17.

Since then, Dallas has powered its way to a 5-1 record with wins over Tennessee, St. Louis, New Orleans, Houston, and Seattle.

What’s with the turnaround you ask?

Defense.

The Cowboys entered this season with many questions after displaying what was supposed to be an NFL defense in 2013.

How bad was it? Bad. The Cowboys ranked dead last in defense in 2013 and had no answer when it came to halting the passing game. In 2013, NFL teams combined for 4,800 yards through the air, sending the Cowboys to a third straight 8-8 record. (Not to mention allowing a franchise record 6,645 yards in 2013).

Well America: Not this year.

The Cowboys defense currently sits 12^th in the league in passing yards allowed and 17^th in rushing yards allowed this season. The Cowboys haven’t allowed a single wide receiver to gain over 100 yards and have only allowed one running back, Arian Foster, to gain over 100 yards in a week five overtime-win against the Texans.

A lot of the success on defense is accredited to the promotion of Rod Marinelli to defensive coordinator for the Cowboys. Prior to Marinelli, Monte Kiffin looked to rejuvenate the Cowboys defense by switching from a 3-4, to a 4-3, with little to no avail (please see Cowboys/Broncos 2013 box score).

The biggest difference for the Cowboys defense is the play of their linebackers and in the secondary. Many wondered if Dallas could bounce back after middle-linebacker, Sean Lee, suffered a torn ACL prior to the 2014 season. The play from guys like Barry Church, Justin Durant, Rolando McClain, J.J. Wilcox, and Bruce Carter have made the Dallas defense a much more respectable group. Dallas now boasts the 15^th ranked defense in the league, a far cry from the 2013 ranking of last.

The defense allows for Dallas to open up the playbook offensively too. In 2013, there were too many times where opposing teams new that the Cowboys would abandon the run game early, because they had so much ground to make up.

How about that Cowboys offense?

It’s hard to believe that I have gone this long about the Cowboys 5-1 record without mentioning the dominance DeMarco Murray has displayed. The offensive game plan for the Cowboys this season has been simple:

Run the ball. A lot.

Murray, in his fourth season with the Cowboys, has rushed for league-leading 785 yards and is averaging 26.5 carries through six game. That average is  ten yards more than in his 14-game average in 2013. Murray is tied with Jim Brown at six for most consecutive games with 100+ yards to start a season.

The fact that Murray leads the league in rushing gives Tony Romo plenty to be happy about.

Romo underwent surgery last December to repair a herniated disc in his back. He’s coming off a great 2013 campaign where he chucked 31 touchdowns and threw only ten interceptions. He’s off to a fast start in 2014 with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions and just outside the top ten in passing yards.

The running game for the Cowboys gives Romo the ability to not screw things up. While I’m a firm believe that Romo isn’t always to blame for the unfortunate fourth quarter interception, it’s hard to take the blame away from someone holding the smoking gun. Am I right?

Romo has been a beneficiary to the dominant ground game due to the fact he isn’t dropping back to pass all the time, which is keeping him out of dangerous situations with potential for injury.

Holding steady

While it’s all high-fives and happy times in Arlington, Texas; the Cowboys still have a lot of hard work ahead of them.

Dallas has a week 11 bye, but prior to that they face the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

While the NFC East has a left a lot to be desired (who really knows what the New York Giants are going to do this year?), the Cowboys will look to capitalize on the next four games.

While winning four more in a row could be tough, there is a strong possibility Dallas goes 3-1 over the next four weeks. That means the Dallas Cowboys could be sitting at 8-2. If the Cowboys could go 8-2, they would just need one more win to avoid another 8-8 season.

This team has higher aspirations thought.

The Dallas Cowboys have a legitimate shot to win the NFC East and make the playoffs this year. America’s Team has a chance for something special this year, let’s just hope they can continue what they’ve been doing so far in 2014.

And let’s face it, a Cowboys team in the playoffs provides for better television than a Cowboys team not in the playoffs.

The post Why are the Dallas Cowboys 5-1? Let’s find out! appeared first on KRUI Radio.