NFL: 8 Reasons Why This Has Been One of the Strangest NFL Seasons

This season is far from over but it's already been quite a strange trip, with bizarre and unusual events seemingly occurring every week. But this is why we love the game, right?

Without further ado, here are eight reasons why this season has started off and continues to be one of the strangest NFL seasons in history.

The Lockout

This season is the season that almost didn't happen. 

There were times last year that it looked as if we were not going to have an NFL season.  Although the cancelling of the season never happened, the lockout still has had a significant impact on the league and many fantasy leagues.  Teams have lost significant time practicing together and players have had less time to get in ideal NFL shape.

The Rookies

Rookies in the league this year have made significant impacts at all different positions.

Cam Newton

Newton has almost 4,000 total yards and 26 total touchdowns through Week 13.  He also broke the record for most rushing touchdowns in a season by a quarterback.  While Newton’s surprisingly good play has not translated into wins, he has given Panther fans hope for the future of the franchise.

Andy Dalton

Nobody expected much from the Cincinnati Bengals this season but rookie QB Any Dalton has put the team on his back and led them success.  If the season ended after Week 13, the Bengals would be in the playoffs.

A.J Green

Andy Dalton’s top target this year and many years to come is A.J Green.  The talent of Green has never been in question, but expectations were not high when was drafted by the Bengals because of the question mark at the quarterback position and the team in general.  The Bengals success has a lot to do with their star rookie WR who is tied for the fourth most TDs in the NFL with seven and is 15th in the league in receiving yards.

Von Miller

Selected second overall by the Denver Broncos, Von Miller has been a force on defense.  Just like the second overall pick last year, Ndamukong Suh, Miller has reached double digits in sacks and significantly helped make the Denver Broncos a playoff team.  He leads all rookies in tackles, and along with Elvis Dumervil gives the Denver Broncos one of the best pass-rushing duos in the league.

Other notable offensive rookies this year: Torrey Smith and DeMarco Murray

Other notable defensive rookies this year: Patrick Peterson (four return touchdowns), Ryan Kerrigan and Aldon Smith.

No Returns from Retired Veterans

“Don’t call it a comeback.”

With all the odd things going on in the NFL this season, the fact that retired veterans have not made a comeback makes it even odder. 

Randy Moss

When Moss announced his retirement from the NFL, many felt that it was just a bluff and he would be back in the league.  Surprisingly, he has not and there has not been much talk about a possible return. 

Terrell Owens

T.O. has at least tried to get back in the NFL.  After a successful knee surgery, Owens held his own workout to show teams he is capable of playing.  Unfortunately no teams have showed interest in the drama-prone receiver even after a successful season last year.

Brett Favre

Unfortunately, Favre has to be mentioned here.  With all the quarterbacks going down this year, the chance for Favre to come back into the league in a Roger Clemens-like return were pretty high. Teams like the Texans and Bears, who are playoff teams that lost their QBs, have stuck with the guys on their roster or turned to other veterans not named Favre.  

The Injuries

Injuries this season may have something to do with the lockout or they could just be from some bad luck. 

Peyton Manning

When talking about MVPs for this season, Peyton Manning’s name should be at least discussed.  Manning has undergone two neck surgeries this year and he has been unable to play at all.  The four-time NFL MVP’s absence has caused the Colts to lose every game this year and 0-16 is not out of the question.  The Colts have only lost a total of 15 regular-season games in the past four seasons combined.

Other QBs

Along with the Colts, many teams have lost significant playing time from their quarterbacks this season, including the Dolphins’ Chad Henne, the Texans Matt Schaub, the Chief’s Matt Cassel and Kyle Orton, the Bear’s Jay Cutler, the Eagles' Michael Vick, the Raiders' Jason Campbell and the Ram’s Sam Bradford.

Other notable key players that have missed significant time include:

Peyton Hillis, Jahvid Best, Miles Austin, Jeremy Maclin, Arian Foster, Adrian Peterson, Ray Lewis, Ahmad Bradshaw, Andre Johnson, Matt Forte and many more.

The Upsets

This season has been one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory and filled with inexplicable upsets.  Teams that were projected to walk over their opponents have failed to do so many times this year.  The Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants are all playoff-caliber teams that have had their hiccups this year.

Baltimore Ravens' upset losses: Jaguars and Seahawks

New England Patriots' upset losses: Bills and Giants

Dallas Cowboys' upset losses: Eagles and Cardinals

New York Giants' upset losses: Redskins, Seahawks and Eagles

The Underachievers

Coming into the season, certain teams were supposed to take the next step and become legitimate contenders but have failed to do so.  These teams include the Eagles, Chargers and Rams. 

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles' offseason stirred a lot of buzz and led many to consider them as possible Super Bowl contenders.  However, after a slow 1-4 start and some key injuries the Eagles have not been able to turn their season around.  It is all but certain that the Eagles will miss out on the playoffs this year. 

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers have been a strong team in the AFC for the past several years, and with Vincent Jackson playing from the start of the season and Philip Rivers continuing to improve, the sky was the limit for this team.  The only problem is Philip Rivers has played the worst football of his career and leads the league in interceptions. 

St. Louis Rams

The Rams were supposed to win what was projected as the worst division in football.  However, Sam Bradford has been unable to continue the same success that he had had in his rookie year.

The Surprise Teams

As there are teams that have failed to live up to their hype, there are teams that have had some surprise success.  The Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos have shocked the NFL with their success this season. 

Cincinnati Bengals

The aforementioned success of the rookie quarterback and wide receiver of the Bengals have put them right in the playoff hunt.  It will be interesting to see if they are able to ride their rookies into the playoffs. 

San Francisco 49ers

Jim Harbaugh should win coach of the year as his 49ers have clinched their division and are currently second in the NFC conference.  This team came out of nowhere and found some serious success in the “old-school” style of football they are playing. 

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos sit atop the AFC West division even after a 1-4 start on the season.  Denver’s defense has suddenly become a dangerous force and they have turned their season around completely with a spark from...

Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow has stunned everybody by continuing to do what he does best…win. 

He has blown up the media and caused people to literally “Tebow” all around the world.  It is truly strange, weird, bizarre and baffling how every game comes down to Tim Tebow getting the ball with two minutes or less and a chance to drive down the field and win the game. 

In seven starts at QB this year, he has four fourth-quarter comebacks and four game-winning drives.  This guy has been strongly criticized by his team owner, his coach, NFL analysts along with every living human being. But this criticism is justified because he has thrown some of the ugliest "wounded-duck" passes to receivers that were wide open. 

If there is one positive about Tebow’s play, it is that he does not turn the ball over.  He has 10 touchdowns this year and only one interception. When all is said and done if Tim Tebow continues to find ways to win, his name should be discussed in the MVP talk and he could lead the Broncos to many successful seasons.  Only (Tebow) time will tell!