Countdown Friday: Top 5 Surprises of the NFL Season

We are quickly approaching a sad day in the NFL season: the last Sunday with multiple football games. I know. It hurts. But eventually, we'll have to accept the fact that another year of football is coming to an end. Why not take a look back at the things that everyone was talking about this season? Here are my top 5 surprises from the NFL regular season:


5. A Sub .500 Team Makes the Playoffs - I hope we never see this happen again. It was a disservice to the league to even allow NFC West teams to play games this season. No, I haven't forgotten that the Seahawks won a playoffs game. But still. The division was an absolute atrocity.


4. The Return of Mike Vick - No judgments on morality here. It's hard to say whether or not we should forgive Vick. Many people believe his actions were too reprehensible for the quarterback to be allowed in the NFL again. Others argue for second chances. I can understand both sides, and don't feel this is the time to offer my own opinion. However you feel, you had to be surprised by his play this season.


3. The Chiefs Win the AFC West - San Diego had won the division every year since 2005. And they usually did it quite convincingly. But that was not the case this season, as Kansas City nabbed its first AFC West title since 2003.


2. The Cowboys and Vikings Disappoint - Preseason hype for these two teams was enormous. Many expected the Cowboys to be participants in their own stadium for Super Bowl XLV. And Brett Favre enthusiasts were sure that the QB would at least come close to his 2009 numbers. Both teams, however, stalled at the start. By week 10, it was clear that neither team would make the playoffs.


1. Arian Foster Runs Wild - Who saw this coming??? Arian Foster, nuclear during most fantasy drafts, wound up being the hero for most fantasy owners. Foster led the league in rushing yards 1,616 and in TDs with 16. And he did it on a mediocre team. Arian Foster is, without a doubt, the biggest surprise of the 2010 NFL season.