The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1285691
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 ■ 47 1. QB Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks Wilson may have had the best season of his already impressive professional career in 2019. Earning his first Associated Press All-Pro selection as the second- team quarterback — behind only Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, the league MVP — Wilson threw for the third-most touchdowns and second- fewest interceptions among NFL quarterbacks that started at least 15 contests. Wilson finished with 4,110 yards and 31 touchdowns through the air with only five interceptions. He added 342 rushing yards and three touchdowns to lead the Seahawks to the franchise's seventh playoff appearance in Wilson's eight seasons as the starting quarterback. His individual performance played a big role in the team's 11-5 regular-season record. Wilson tied for the most fourth-quarter comebacks (four) and game- winning drives (five) in the league. He's also the only NFL quarterback to have thrown for over 30 touchdowns in each of the past three seasons — nobody else has done it more than once in that same time frame. Wilson was voted No. 2 by fellow players on the NFL Network's annual Top 100 countdown of the league's best — once again, trailing only Jackson — while Pro Football Focus named him the No. 1 quarterback and No. 3 overall athlete in its ranking of the NFL's top-graded players in 2019. 2. OG Joe Thuney, New England Patriots The two-time Super Bowl champion has already had quite the career in his four NFL seasons with the New England Patriots, and 2019 may have been his best individually. Thuney, a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft after becoming the first Wolf - pack offensive lineman to earn All-American honors since Jim Ritcher in 1979, has started in every regular-season and playoff game the Patriots have played since he joined the team. Thuney earned a second-team All-Pro selection from the Associated Press last season, the first of his career. New England placed the 27-year-old guard under a franchise tag for 2020, which is expected to pay him $14.78 million this fall. 3. QB Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers Rivers was one of eight quarterbacks in 2019 to throw for over 4,000 yards and the second oldest to do so at age 38 behind only former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (42). In his 14th consecutive year starting all 16 regular-season contests, Rivers threw for 4,615 yards and 23 touchdowns. He did struggle with turnovers, how- ever, tossing 20 interceptions and losing three fumbles. The turnovers, in part, led to the Chargers' 2-9 record in one-possession games last season. Los Angeles finished the year 5-11 overall despite having the sixth-most productive passing offense in the league and moved on from Rivers at the end of the year. 4. QB Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts Brissett was the Colts' starting quarterback for the second time in three years and threw for 2,942 yards and a career-best 18 touchdowns on a 60.8 comple- tion percentage. Brissett was also one of the best at the position in limiting turnovers. His six interceptions in 2019 were tied for third-lowest total among quarterbacks who started at least 15 contests, behind only fellow NCSU alum Russell Wilson and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The former Wolfpack quarterback had the Colts in great position at 5-2, in - cluding a 30-23 win over the Houston Texans in week seven, in which Brissett was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his 326-yard, four-touchdown performance. However, key injuries on offense, including one to Brissett, led to a disappointing 2-7 finish with the Colts missing the playoffs at 7-9 overall. 5. C Garrett Bradbury, Minnesota Vikings The 18th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft was the starting center for the Vi- kings in all 16 of its regular-season games and both playoff contests. He became the first rookie in franchise history to start all 16 games at center and was named the team's Rookie of the Year. Bradbury was a part of one of the best offensive line groups in the league last year. The Vikings only allowed 28 sacks in 2019, good for the fifth fewest in the NFL. — Justin H. Williams Top Five Seasons In 2019 Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was voted No. 2 by fellow players on the NFL Network's annual Top 100 countdown of the league's best, while Pro Football Focus named him the No. 1 quarterback and No. 3 overall athlete in its ranking of the NFL's top-graded players in 2019. PHOTO COURTESY SEATTLE SEAHAWKS