From the 2016 NFL Playoffs that crowned a Super Bowl champion to the first 15 weeks of the 2017 NFL season, here are the top 5 NFL moments in 2017.
New England Patriots win Super Bowl LI after historic comeback. The entire city of Atlanta was ready to celebrate a Super Bowl win after the Falcons took a 28-3 lead in the third quarter. But Tom Brady and the Pats scored 31 unanswered points to win the Super Bowl and give the Falcons and their fans the Crying Jordan Face.
Dallas Cowboys youth movement. Led by rookies Ezekiel Elliott, a running back, and Dak Prescott, a quarterback, America’s team lost a competitive NFL Playoff game to the Green Bay Packers. But the playoff performance was a glimpse into the future. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, off-the-field issues by Elliott led to a six-game suspension. The Cowboys are not a lock for the NFL Playoffs, but the return of Elliott this week makes them a formidable foe if they earn a playoff berth.
New England Patriots win over Pittsburgh Steelers in week 15. The road to Super Bowl LII became a lot easier for the Pats, as they defeated the Steelers in Pittsburgh after a controversial reversal of a touchdown yesterday. The Steelers could have clinched the best record in the AFC with a win and only would have needed to win two playoff games at home to advance to the Super Bowl. Now, the Steelers need to win and hope for a Patriots loss in the final two weeks of the season. Otherwise, they will need to defeat the Patriots in Foxsborough.
Philadelphia Eagles defeat Los Angeles Rams in week 14 shootout. In one of the more entertaining games of the season, the Eagles won a high-scoring game in Los Angeles against the Rams that may lead to Philadelphia clinching the best record in the conference. The game wasn’t without consequences for the Eagles, as they lost quarterback Carson Wentz for the season with a torn ACL.
Carolina Panthers upset New England Patriots in Foxsborough. In what could be a preview of Super Bowl LII, two of the NFL’s top quarterbacks connected in this week 4 matchup, and they didn’t disappoint, as both threw for over 300 yards. But Cam Newton and the Panthers defeated Tom Brady and the Pats. With Panthers owner Jerry Richardson announcing he will sell the team due to misconduct, perhaps Carolina has extra motivation this season to win a title.
