2005 NFL

1. Shaun Alexander: Was the MVP of the NFL. He set the NFL record scoring 28 touchdowns, including a record 27 on the ground.

He was Offensive Player of the Year and first team All-Pro. He was offensive player of the week three times.

Alexander had the ninth most yards in a single season after leading the league with 1,880. He also topped the league with 370 carries.

The MVP scored a TD in 14 of 16 games and rushed for over 100 yards in 11 contests (six of those 140+).

In the NFC Championship game, he carried Seattle to its first Super Bowl with 34 carries and 132 yards and a pair of one yard scoring runs. The Seahawks crushed Carolina 34-14.

In Super Bowl XL Alexander ran 20 times for 95 yards (4.75 yards/carry). Seattle fell 21-10 to the Steelers. 

The Seahawks went 13-3 and had the best record in the NFC by two games.

They led the NFL in scoring at 28.2 PPG and was 3^rd in rushing yards.

2. Steve Smith: Became the third player ever to win the receiving Triple Crown. He led the league in receptions, yards and touchdowns. Only Jerry Rice in 1990 and Sterling Sharpe in 1992 have done it.

He finished with 103 catches, for 1,563 yards and 12 TDs.

This season came a year after missing nearly all of the 2004 season with a broken leg.

He was named Comeback Player of the Year. He was named first team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler.

Smith amassed over 130 yards in six games, including 201 in a win over Minnesota.

Including his return yardage, #89 finished 6^th in the NFL in all-purpose yards with 1,940.

In the wild card round, the Panthers’ receiver caught 10 balls for 84 yards. His 22 yard score put Carolina up 7-0. His twelve yard end around put his team up 17-0 in a 23-0 victory of the Giants in New York.

The Panthers became the first team to earn a shutout on the road in the playoffs in 25 years.

 The next round, Smith had his signature game with 12 catches for 218 yards and two scores.

His 218 yards were, at the time, the 4^th most in a post season game.

On 2^nd play from scrimmage Smith 58 yards to the end zone to put Carolina in front. His 3^rd quarter TD extended the Panther lead to 23-14. They would hold on 29-21 to advance to the NFC title game.

He had 5 catches for 33 yards in a 33-14 loss to Seattle. He ran back a punt 57 yards for the Panthers first touchdown.

The Panthers went 11-5 and went to their 2^nd NFC championship game in three years.

3. Peyton Manning: He was first team All-Pro (for the third straight season) and finished 2^nd in the MVP voting.

He was named NFL Man of the Year.

The 29 year old QB led the Colts to a 13-0 start and a 14-2 record. During that streak, Manning had eight straight games with at least two TD passes and a 100+ QB rating.

He was second with 28 touchdown tosses. He also was 6^th in completions (305) and 7^th in yards (3,747), and third in completion % (67.3).

The two time reigning MVP sat out most of the last two games to rest.

Manning led the NFL in passing for a second straight year with a rating of 104.1.

In the divisional round Manning threw for 290 yards, a TD and 2 point conversion. The Colts trailed 21-3 in the fourth quarter until Manning led Indy on two scoring drive to close the gap to 21-18.

The Steelers would upset the Colts on their way to a Super Bowl title.

Indianapolis was 2^nd in the NFL in scoring (27.4 PPG), and 3^rd in yards.