NFL Season Recap

photo by Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

On February 12th, 2023 , Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs defeated Jalen Hurts’ Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl 57. Mahomes earned his 2nd Super Bowl Trophy along with his 2nd MVP Award and Super Bowl MVP award, all in the same season. To pair with the breathtaking Super Bowl, came an astonishing NFL Regular Season. 
by Drew Caraway

NFL Awards

• NFL MVP: Patrick Mahomes (5,250 yards, 42 TD, 12 INT)
• NFL OPOY: Justin Jefferson (1,890 yards, 8 TD, 128 REC)
• NFL DPOY: Nick Bosa (51 TCK, 41 Solo TCK, 18.5 Sacks)
• NFL OROTY: Garrett Wilson (1,103 Yards, 4 TD, 83 REC)
• NFL DROTY: Sauce Gardner (75 TCK, 51 Solo TCK, 2 INT)
• NFL CPOTY: Geno Smith (4,282 Yards, 30 TD, 11 INT, led Seattle Seahawks to Playoff Berth)
• NFL COTY: Brian Daboll (Led NY Giants to 10-6-1 Record, won first playoff game for NYG since 2011 Super Bowl Victory)

Super Bowl 57
Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts showed out for SB57, throwing for a combined 486 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Mahomes reigned victorious, overcoming the star studded Eagles team, winning 38-35. The Super Bowl victory would be the Chiefs 3rd in Franchise History, 2nd in the last 5 years, and 3rd appearance in the last 5 years.

​However, many fans (mainly Philadelphia Eagles fans) believe that the game winning play for the Chiefs was RIGGED by the referees and was a horrible call. The flag was called on James Bradberry (CB, #24) for a defensive holding call. The call would give the Chiefs a new set of downs, ultimately setting up for the Game Winning Field Goal. 

NFL Standings & Playoffs
AFC:
1 - Kansas City Chiefs (14-3)
2 - Buffalo Bills (13-3)
3 - Cincinnati Bengals (13-3) 
4 - Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8)
5 - Los Angeles Chargers (10-7)
6 - Baltimore Ravens (10-7)
7 - Miami Dolphins (9-8)
​
NFC:
1 - Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
2 - San Francisco 49ers (13-4)
3 - Minnesota Vikings (13-4)
4 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
5 - Dallas Cowboys (12-5)
6 - New York Giants (9-7-1)
7 - Seattle Seahawks (9-8)

Damar Hamlin
On January 2nd, 2023, the Bills faced off against the Bengals in an extremely important game to determine Playoff Seeding. With 6:12 left in the 1st Quarter, Joe Burrow threw a pass to Tee Higgins. Damar Hamlin went to tackle Higgins and got hit. After Higgins was brought down for a first down, Hamlin was shaken. He stood up, took two steps, collapsed to the field, and did not move (Damar Hamlin Collapse). Hamlin had gone into cardiac arrest.

His heartbeat had to be revived by the Bills CPR team. Hamlin was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center to be treated immediately. The game was postponed indefinitely, and would soon be canceled, hence why the Bills and Bengals have one less game than other teams.

On January 11th, nine days after the incident, Hamlin was released from Intensive Care to be sent home. The sports world rejoiced. It is said to be believed that in the Bills’ Week 18 matchup against the New England Patriots, the team returned 2 kickoffs for touchdowns. The entire league wore something to represent Hamlin, t-shirts, hoodies, jersey patches.

On April 18th, Hamlin got the announcement the whole world wanted to hear. Doctors told Hamlin he was cleared to return to football.