Dominate the Super Bowl

Looking back at the 2019 season, when people discussed the Defensive Player of the Year, names like Los Angeles Rams' Defensive Tackle Aaron Donald, New England Patriots' Cornerback Gilmore, Arizona Cardinals' Defensive End Chandler Jones, and Pittsburgh Steelers' Defensive End TJ Watt easily popped into mind.

From this, it is clear that in an era where passing is king, the role of the defensive line continues to dominate, while the roles of cornerbacks, linebackers, and safeties are diminished, just as the value of tight ends and running backs is vastly underestimated. This is a common phenomenon and a structural outcome.

So, after the era of JJ Watt and Aaron Donald taking turns dominating the league, who can continue the momentum?

For this, Gilmore boldly spoke to the media without fear.

"I believe my performance has proven the value of cornerbacks. For the past two years, the league has been discussing whether we have underestimated the value of running backs. In my opinion, cornerbacks are also undervalued."

"I believe I should be considered a candidate for the regular season MVP."

Confident, expressive, and direct.

Gilmore was on full fire, "It's hard to believe the last time we had a defensive player win the regular season MVP was more than thirty years ago."

"So, what's wrong with defensive players? I'm tired of being underestimated, ignored, misunderstood, and treated coldly. I think JJ and Aaron need to stand up and tell everyone that defensive players are also an indispensable part of football and deserve higher recognition."

"It's not just about the defensive line."

A spark ignited the gas station.

Since running back Le'Veon Bell and the Pittsburgh Steelers had a falling out over salary, the wind in the league has been swaying, with more and more players rallying behind Li Wei, trying to gain more attention for positions other than quarterbacks. Now Gilmore has dropped a bombshell.

However, Gilmore still doesn't like Li Wei. He mentions Watt and Donald but refuses to talk about Li Wei, revealing his stubbornness.

Naturally, the debate about whether defensive players are worthy of the regular season MVP title once again spread and began to burn brightly.

Unfortunately, Gilmore chose the wrong season. If it had been at the peak of Watt and Donald, the debate would have been more intense; but this season, offensive players delivered a perfect answer sheet that was competitively relevant at any time. They demonstrated their value through actions without the league being biased in their favor.

In the discussion of the Offensive Player of the Year, Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Jackson, Kansas City Chiefs Running Back Levi, Carolina Panthers Running Back McCaffrey, New Orleans Saints Wide Receiver Michael Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Mahomes, and Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Wilson stood out.

McCaffrey, a third-year player, finally opened up this season. Despite Carolina Panthers' terrible season record, this young running back became the team's only hope, rushing for 1,387 yards, receiving for 1,005 yards, achieving a double thousand-yard season, emerging out of nowhere, and showcasing the limitless potential of running backs.

Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints' 13-3 outstanding season performance is closely related to the explosion of this fourth-year player, who completed a thousand yards for four consecutive full seasons in his career so far. This season, he led the league with 1,725 receiving yards, but his real prowess lies in his average of 11.58 yards per catch, showcasing not only precision in short pass catching but also the ability to continue advancing after the catch.

According to the data, Thomas averages 3.9 yards of advancement per catch, far from comparable to players like Levi and Hill who break through for long runs; but the point is, on average, Thomas catches the ball 7.7 yards from the line of scrimmage, meaning he stands among the heavily guarded short pass area, capable of stationary catches and continuous advances, perfectly balancing the solidity of a tight end and the agility of a wide receiver.

No wonder Thomas was unsurprisingly selected for both the Pro Bowl and the All-America First Team, and even became a strong candidate for this year's Offensive Player of the Year.

Imagine, with such performances from McCaffrey and Thomas, for Gilmore-led defensive groups to overthrow their splendid performances is unimaginably difficult; after all, despite Gilmore's excellent performance this year, it still cannot compare to the peak times of Watt and Donald.

Moreover, McCaffrey and Thomas are still not the strongest offensive players this year.

In another year, McCaffrey and Thomas would undoubtedly be the top contenders for Offensive Player of the Year, completely rewriting the game. Even quarterbacks like Mahomes and Wilson appear dim in comparison to their stats. Not to mention the regular season MVP, in the discussion of Offensive Player of the Year, quarterbacks are no longer the hot topic, with running backs and wide receivers stealing the spotlight.

Both McCaffrey and Thomas have ushered in the most brilliant seasons of their careers.

However, in the 2019 season, they encountered even more formidable and extraordinary opponents.

Lamar Jackson, 3,127 passing yards, 1,206 rushing yards, making him the first quarterback in history to achieve such a grand feat.

Before him, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick had completed 2,474 passing yards and 1,039 rushing yards in the 2006 season, marking the inaugural year of mobile quarterbacks. But Vick's average passing ability limited his ceiling, unable to reach the league average in passing yards, until Jackson's comprehensive upgrade finally ushered in a breakthrough.

Over 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards signify a complete refresh of the double threat of quarterbacks.

Additionally, with a 66.08% pass completion rate, an average ground advance of 6.85 yards, thirty-six passing touchdowns, and six rushing touchdowns, the stats exploded across the board. Whether as a quarterback passing the ball or as a running back rushing, Jackson reached the top tier at each position in the league.

How incredible is the average ground advance of 6.85 yards?

For a side-by-side comparison, McCaffrey's average ground advance this season was 4.83 yards, while Levi's MVP-winning data last season was 5.6 yards.

Of course, such side-by-side comparisons are meaningless because running backs focus on running, carrying the ball often, with tactical intentions easily figured out, making the advance difficult, whereas Jackson as a quarterback choosing ground advance presents a completely different situation, the two cannot be compared directly.

But without a doubt, Jackson's series of performance metrics is impactful and intimidating, turning the entire league inside and out into scorched earth.

Not to mention defensive players like Gilmore, even outstanding quarterbacks like Mahomes and Wilson admit defeat. Offensive players like McCaffrey and Thomas, who deliver one amazing highlight after another, also fade away. All eyes are on Jackson.

No wonder everyone exclaims that Jackson is the new king and the ultimate development model for quarterbacks, a super quarterback with natural talent that commands awe from everyone.

So, at the regular season's end, all exclaim, "Regular Season MVP!"

But... is it really so?