The Lofton Files: The Mid-season Loftys

10/30/2013

Lofton Files LoftysWeek 8 is in the books and that means it’s time to hand out the Mid-Season Loftys. If you’re new to The Lofton Files, the Loftys are awards that go to players, teams or coaches that have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

Our first Lofty has to go Big Red and the Kansas City Chiefs. After a 2-14 season, most fans would have thought an eight-win season would be a really nice improvement over 2012. But wouldn’t you know it, old Andy Reid (aka Big Red) has done that already and he still has eight more potential wins sitting on the schedule. With an 8-0 start, the Chiefs are ready to pass go and head straight to the playoffs.

Lofty #2 keeps us right in the AFC West – right behind the Chiefs. The Denver Broncos were supposed to be good, but who predicted we were talking record-breaking good? The mile-high Bronco offense gets this prize. On an off day, the ponies run up 35 points. Peyton Manning and his mates have scored 343 points through the first eight games. That’s more points than 11 teams managed in the WHOLE of the 2012 campaign.

If you’re drafted in the second round you’re supposed to be a pretty good player. But when you’re a running back bound for the the pass-happy Green Bay Packers you’re not supposed to be the savior. Who would have thought that Eddie Lacy would provide a much needed life preserver for the wounded Packer offense? Minus receivers James Jones and Randall Cobb and tight end Jermichael Finley, Lacy has rushed for 99, 120, 80 and 94 yards in his last four games. You know what else happened in those four games? The Pack won every time. That’s no coincidence.

Above and beyond expectations is a lot to ask for a first-round pick, but Minnesota’s Cordarrelle Patterson is pulling it off. Patterson had a 105-yard kickoff return in Week 2 and produced an NFL record that won’t be broken – unless Rodger Goodell expands the field – with a 109-yard return on Sunday Night Football. Patterson’s hefty average of 39.1 yards per return gives Viking fans something to look forward to on each and every kick off return. And if the Vikings stick to their average of giving up more than 32 points a game, he’ll get plenty of chances.

So you think I’ve totally ignored the defensive side of the ball?  Well, here are three who have gone above and beyond over there on the dark side.

Lots of focus in New England has fallen on Tom Brady and his new receivers, but corner back Aqib Talib has four picks on the year and has put anyone who’s played the Pats into shutdown mode. Just ask Vincent Jackson, AJ Green, Julio Jones or Jimmy Graham, to name a few.

It might be hard to notice with the Lions racking up 600-plus yards of offense on a regular basis, but linebacker DeAndre Levy is all over the field. He’s great at the line of scrimmage and is the team leader in tackles and he’s also outstanding in pass coverage with four interceptions. Levy makes an impact on a much-improved defense that has put the Lions in the hunt at 5-3.

It took Rob Ryan about five minutes to land a job after the Cowboys let the long-locked defensive coordinator go at the end of last season – and it’s not surprising why. The 2012 Saints gave up more yards that anybody. Ever. You can look it up. After allowing an NFL-record 7,042 yards (that’s a couple times back and forth, up and down, and sideways on Bourbon Street), New Orleans needed a new defensive guru. A 6-1 mark heading into Week 9 has a lot to do with the new swagger Rob brought to the French Quarter. Plus, he looks like he can handle himself in front of a bowl of gumbo.

Congrats to all the winners of the Mid-Season Loftys! Hit me up on Twitter (@Lofton80) with those that you think are deserving of a Lofty, and of course, don’t forget that I’ll be back with end-of-season awards later in the year.

– James Lofton

James Lofton is the analyst for WestwoodOne’s coverage of Sunday Night Football. This week James will be scouting for the end-of-season Loftys in Houston, where the Texans face the division-leading Indianapolis Colts. Coverage begins with NFL Sunday at 7:30 PM Eastern.

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