NFL Mid-Year Report: The Movers, The Shakers, and The Heartbreakers of the 1/2 Season

Darren Sproles running roughshod for the Saints
(image via zimbio.com)

We're just pass the midway point of the 2011-12 NFL Season, so let's take a look at some of the biggest stories of the year so far:

Midseason Most Valuable Offensive Player: Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay Packers
The League's Best Quarterback continues to put up video game-type numbers, leading the pack to a 9-0 record, and they happen to be the defending Super Bowl Champs. Rodgers caught fire at the start of last year's championship run, and has not looked back since.

Midseason Most Valuable Defensive Player: DeMarcus Ware - Dallas Cowboys

Ware's leading the league with 12 sacks and is on pace to break Michael Strahan's single season sack record. After 7 great seasons, he is probably playing the best football of his career.  Ware's the undisputed leader of this team on the defensive side of the ball, as he's the unit's lone star.

Five Things We've Learned from NFL Week 1

photo via ca.ibtimes.com

These are 5 things we've learned after Week 1 of the 2011-12 National Football League season:

#5 - The Buffalo Bills look like they'll be a competitive team this season:

Incumbent starting QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is continuing to display great leadership skills for this squad, and he has them starting the season with a lot of confidence.  Sure, it is only the first game of the year, but I like how the franchise made a commitment to sticking with Fitzpatrick, as they did not draft a quarterback to compete for his job this season.