Final Statistical Leaders for the 2014 NFL Season

Well, folks, there you have it. Another fascinating NFL regular season has reached its dramatic conclusion.

With the playoffs now looming for 12 teams, it's time to take a look back at the top performers in each major statistical category and marvel at what they accomplished.

The categories chosen to review break down like this: On offense, we're looking at passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing yards, rushing TDs, receiving yards, receptions and receiving TDs.

Defensively it's all about tackles, sacks and interceptions.

Don't wait a moment longer. Start the slideshow, and let's find out who made waves in 2014.

Passing Yards

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

T1. Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, 4,952 yards

In his final game of the 2014 regular season, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns.

That yardage total tied him with New Orleans Saints signal-caller Drew Brees for the best in the NFL. What are the odds of that?

Roethlisberger's single-season yardage total is now the best in franchise history. He was brilliant from the get-go, guiding his Steelers back to the postseason in the process.

Traditionally a "running" team, the Steelers took to the skies this season, and it worked to perfection.

Roethlisberger is an elite quarterback; there's no doubt about that. What he accomplished in 16 games under center shouldn't be taken lightly.

T1. New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees, 4,952 yards

We all know that the Saints didn't have a great 2014. In their attempt to return to the playoffs, the team fell apart in a weak division, finishing with 7-9 record.

Brees wasn't always sharp, but he still managed to throw for 4,952 yards. The catalyst of head coach Sean Payton's proverbial passing attack, the veteran QB was able to thrive yardage-wise once again in that system.

It's disappointing that Brees and his Saints couldn't take advantage of the flaws in their division. But that's football.

At 35 years of age, he isn't the same quarterback he was during the team's Super Bowl run in 2009. That being said, he still threw for nearly 5,000 yards and added 33 touchdowns on top of that.

Contingency plans need to made for the future, but Brees isn't done yet. Watch for him to try and right the ship next season.

3. Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck, 4,761 yards

4. Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning, 4,727 yards

5. Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan, 4,694 yards

Passing Touchdowns

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1. Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck, 40 touchdowns

The Indianapolis Colts are headed back to the playoffs for the third year in a row, and Andrew Luck helped lead the way. In other words, what else is new?

Luck's third season in the league saw him finally topple his predecessor, Peyton Manning, for the most touchdowns thrown on the year. The 40 bombs he laced into the end zone helped the Colts offense finish the as the third-best total yardage-wise.

Since he walked into Lucas Oil Stadium in 2012, Luck has helped the Colts win 11 games each season. He's not only winning football games, but he's putting up gaudy numbers along the way.

In that same span the team has reached the playoffs, the ex-Stanford Cardinal has amassed 12,957 yards through the air and 98 total TDs.

The numbers are there. Now the question is, can he lead the Colts toward postseason success?

2. Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning, 39 touchdowns

3. Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, 38 touchdowns

4. Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo, 34 touchdowns

5. New England Patriots QB Tom Brady, 33 touchdowns

Rushing Yards

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1. Dallas Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray, 1,845 yards

Since he scampered his way for 118 yards against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray has literally ran away with the rushing title this season.

Behind one of the best offensive lines in football, Murray became the weapon the Cowboys needed in order to with the NFC East and break their four-season playoff drought.

Murray's big season wasn't just the best in the NFL this year. By rushing for 1,845 yards, he passed Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith's single-season total.

Smith's mark of 1,773 yards in 1995 finally fell, although his 25 rushing TDs that season are still 12 more than Murray had.

Without Murray plugging away behind that punishing line, it's hard to imagine the Cowboys winning 12 games. The balance this offense displayed was simply beautiful to watch.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell, 1,361 yards

3. Philadelphia Eagles RB LeSean McCoy, 1,319 yards

4. Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch, 1,306 yards

5. Baltimore Ravens RB Justin Forsett 1,266 yards

Rushing Touchdowns

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T1. Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch, 13 touchdowns

"Beast Mode" was in full effect once again this season as Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch destroyed his foes.

Lynch's 13 rushing touchdowns tied him with DeMarco Murray for the league lead.

What else can you say about Lynch? Ever since he arrived in Seattle, he's been one of the NFL's most productive tailbacks.

Production aside, no one has created as much chaos as Lynch has. Rumbling for ridiculous TDs, at times he looks invincible.

The highlight of his 2014 season had to be the 79-yard touchdown run he ripped off against the Arizona Cardinals. In a must-win contest, Lynch obliterated just about every Cardinals player on the field.

No matter what the contract situation is heading into next year, it's tough to picture the Seahawks offense without Lynch manning its backfield.

T1. Dallas Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray, 13 touchdowns

The masterful season Murray put together wasn't limited to a ton of yards on the ground. He also found the end zone 13 times for the Cowboys.

When Murray is healthy, he's proved to be a game-changing presence. With Dez Bryant and Tony Romo also out there playing at MVP-like levels, it's tough to stack the box and slow Murray down.

Without that luxury, he's been able to destroy every defense he's played in 2014.

T3. Minnesota Vikings RB Matt Asiata, nine touchdowns

T3. Kansas City Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles, nine touchdowns

T3. Cincinnati Bengals RB Jeremy Hill, nine touchdowns

T3. New Orleans Saints RB Mark Ingram, nine touchdowns

T3. Green Bay Packers RB Eddie Lacy, nine touchdowns

Receiving Yards

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1. Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown, 1,698 yards

You won't find many wide receivers out there who can get open and pick up swaths of yardage like Pittsburgh Steelers star Antonio Brown.

Brown's 1,698 yards receiving on the season isn't surprising when you factor in his skill set with the 181 targets he picked up on the year.

The chemistry he's developed with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been tremendous to watch. Dating back to Week 17 of the 2012 season, Brown hasn't caught less than five passes in a single game.

Drink that in for a second. In two years, he's caught at least five balls in every game he's dressed for.

When you can put up those kinds of numbers in a pass-friendly offense like Todd Haley's, you're going to wind up at the top of many statistical categories.

2. Denver Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas, 1,613 yards

3. Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones, 1,593 yards

4. Green Bay Packers WR Jordy Nelson, 1,519 yards

5. Denver Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders, 1,404 yards

Receiving Touchdowns

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1. Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant, 16 touchdowns

Good lord, the Dallas Cowboys are going to have pay Dez Bryant this offseason. The 26-year-old wide receiver went ballistic in 2014, serving as Tony Romo's most reliable target.

His 16 receiving touchdowns led the NFL by three scores. The best part was Bryant's brilliance was consistent. In fact, he scored double-digit TDs in four separate games this season.

Like his teammate DeMarco Murray, Bryant's big numbers set a franchise record for the 'Boys. Those 16 scores passed former Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens' 15 in 2007.

The more you watch Bryant play, the more you understand why it's fitting he wears the iconic No. 88 number. There are few players in this league who can dominate like Dez can.

He's just too big, too strong and too explosive to be contained. Now that the Cowboys are headed to the playoffs, they're going have to lean on him for even more production.

T2. Green Bay Packers WR Jordy Nelson, 13 touchdowns

T2. Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown, 13 touchdowns

T3. New York Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr., 12 touchdowns

T3. Green Bay Packers WR Randall Cobb, 12 touchdowns

T3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans, 12 touchdowns

T3. San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates, 12 touchdowns

T3. New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski, 12 touchdowns

T3. Denver Broncos TE Julius Thomas, 12 touchdowns

Receptions

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1. Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown, 129 receptions

There's that guy again.

Earlier we talked about the obscene amount of yards Brown finished the season with and how he accomplished that total. The same theory can be applied to his league-leading 129 receptions.

When you're targeted as many times as Brown was and you're supremely talented, colossal numbers are bound to follow you around everywhere you go.

You could legitimately build a case for Brown being the best wide receiver in the game today, and it would be hard to poke holes in.

That streak of back-to-back seasons catching at least five passes in every game is remarkable. Not only that, but it also allowed Brown to finish with the most receptions in the NFL by a comfortable margin.

Brown's Pro Bowl bid was very much deserved. He's an important piece of this Pittsburgh offense, and the Steelers are going to need him to continue to step up come playoff time.

2. Denver Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas, 111 receptions

3. Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones, 104 receptions

4. Chicago Bears RB Matt Forte, 102 receptions

5. Denver Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders, 101 receptions

Sacks

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1. Kansas City Chiefs OLB Justin Houston, 22 sacks

Outside linebackers who can rush the quarterback in a 3-4 scheme are the lifeblood a successful defense. The Kansas City Chiefs have the best one in the game of football in Justin Houston.

Houston's huge 2014 season ended with a remarkable performance against the San Diego Chargers. Playing spoiler to the Chargers' playoff hopes, Houston had himself a day in front of the Kansas City faithful.

A constant valve of pressure, he sacked Philip Rivers four times and brought countless pressure all game long. His play was a big reason why the Chiefs finished their season off with a 19-6 victory.

Falling 0.5 sacks short of Michael Strahan's all-time record, Houston carried the Chiefs defense during his contract year. Barring something unforeseen, he's going to get a serious payday this offseason.

Pro Football Focus' (subscription required) grading system has been praising Houston all year. Before his monster day against the Chargers, he was the site's No. 1 3-4 outside linebacker by a generous margin.

The Chiefs can't afford to let him walk. Since 2012 he's sacked opposing quarterbacks 43 times.

2. Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt, 20.5 sacks

3. Baltimore Ravens OLB Elvis Dumervil, 17 sacks

T4. Philadelphia Eagles OLB Connor Barwin, 14.5 sacks

T4. Buffalo Bills DE Mario Williams, 14.5 sacks

Tackles

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1. Carolina Panthers ILB Luke Kuechly, 153 combined tackles

The NFL has a new leading tackler, and his name is Luke Kuechly.

Serving as Carolina's Pro Bowl-worthy inside linebacker, Kuechly helped the Panthers defense find its stride late as the team wound up making the playoffs despite its 7-8-1 record.

The name of the game for Kuechly has been consistency. Throughout the two years he's spent in the league, he's been a force in the middle of the Panthers defense.

With 156 combined tackles last year and 153 more this season, it looks like we can expect those numbers on a consistent basis from the young linebacker.

Tackles can be a misleading stat at times, but from PFF's point of view, those tackles reflect how effective he was on the field. Not counting the team's blowout, division-winning 34-3 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, the site had him ranked as the NFL's No. 2 inside linebacker.

Panthers fans have a lot to get excited about. Their team is hot entering the playoffs, and Kuechly has quickly become one of the league's top defensive players.

2. Detroit Lions OLB DeAndre Levy, 150 combined tackles

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers OLB Lavonte David, 146 combined tackles

4. New Orleans Saints ILB Curtis Lofton, 145 combined tackles

5. Atlanta Falcons ILB Paul Worrilow, 143 combined tackles

Interceptions

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1. Detroit Lions S Glover Quin, seven interceptions

Thanks to seven interceptions and 73 combined tackles, Detroit Lions safety Glover Quin was selected to the 2015 Pro Bowl.

A six-year veteran who's spent time with the Houston Texans as well as the Lions, Quin was by far the best player in Detroit's secondary.

PFF was magnanimous with its grading when it came to Quin's seasonal performance. Without Week 17's data in front of us, Quin was PFF's second-ranked safety, behind only Eric Weddle of the San Diego Chargers.

With the Lions set to face off against the Dallas Cowboys and their outstanding aerial attack on Wild Card Weekend, Quin will have to make an impact if his team wants to advance.

2. Cleveland Browns S Tashaun Gipson, six interceptions

T3. Indianapolis Colts S Mike Adams, five interceptions

T3. Dallas Cowboys OLB Bruce Carter, five interceptions

T3. San Francisco 49ers CB Perrish Cox, five interceptions

T3. Miami Dolphins CB Brent Grimes, five interceptions

T3. Minnesota Vikings S Harrison Smith, five interceptions

Unless noted otherwise, all game scores, stats and information come courtesy of NFL.com.