The NFL Honors are this Saturday, and awards will be given out to some of the most notable players around the league. Who was the best rookie? Who was the MVP? We’ll found out Saturday night. For now, let’s take a look at who we can be expecting to win these awards.
Play of the Year
This play hurts to watch, but any time there’s a miracle last-second play, it’ll be up for the award. Miami’s last-second play is no different. The “Miami Miracle” was probably the most surprising sequence of the season for more than one reason. Watching from a Patriots’ perspective, it was perplexing to see Rob Gronkowski back on defense. Ryan Tannehill was injured in the game, and there was no way he was throwing a “Hail Mary” to the end zone. Kenyan Drake broke a tackle, and with a hundred different cut moves, took it to the house, making Gronk look foolish.
Comeback Player of the Year
Just think back to last offseason. We were all unsure Andrew Luck would ever play again, much less return to a Pro-Bowl form. He hadn’t picked up and thrown an NFL-size football in a year. Despite these issues stemming from a shoulder injury, Luck threw for 4,593 yards, 39 TDs (2nd), and 15 INTs (t-2nd most) in 2018. This may have been the question mark that kept Josh McDaniels from heading to the Colts. However, Indianapolis seems to be on the right track under coach Frank Reich and Captain Andrew Luck.
Offensive Player of the Year
Hopkins has been considered a top-10 WR since he entered the league back in 2013. This year, however, he took a definitive step into the top-3 discussion. He finished the year with 115 receptions (3rd), 1,572 yards (2nd), and 11 TDs (5th). Even more impressive than the numbers listed above was his number of drops: ZERO. Hopkins’ hands were something to behold this season, as he consistently made incredible catches that not many others could. Without Hopkins, who knows where the Houston Texans would be right now.
Defensive Player of the Year
It’s clear at this point that Rams DT Aaron Donald is the most dominant defensive player in the league. I’m not sure we’ve ever seen a more dominating presence in the interior of a defensive line. Some may mention Warren Sapp, but, to me, he’s better. This year, Donald took another HUGE step, leading the league with 20.5 sacks. From the interior, that number is impossible. Donald is the best of the best, dethroning J.J. Watt and Von Miller.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
This one is a bit of a toss-up for me. There were two rookies who really stood out among the rest. The two clear options for me were Browns QB Baker Mayfield and Giants RB Saquon Barkley. While Baker really helped improve the Browns this season, Barkley’s season was the better of the two, statistically.
The 21-year-old rushed for 1,307 yards (2nd) and 11 TDs (5th). He added another 91 receptions (2nd for RBs) for 721 yards (4th for RBs) and four touchdowns (t-6th for RBs) in the passing game. Barkley effected the game every time he touched the ball, and he’ll be doing that for years to come in the Meadowlands.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
This award was another one that was up in the air. Two players were really deserving, but we had to make a choice. Those two players were Colts LB Darius Leonard and Los Angeles Chargers S Derwin James. While both were deserving, I decided that Leonard was just a little bit more so.
As a rookie, Darius Leonard led the league in tackles (111 solo and 163 combined). He also led all rookies with four forced fumbles and was second in all rookies with seven sacks. Those are pretty impressive numbers from a guy who fell to the second round.
Coach of the Year
Coach of the Year may be the most debated award of them all this season. There are so many deserving candidates that they could with any one of them and I wouldn’t be mad. I could see the candidates being Sean McVay, Sean Payton, Andy Reid, Anthony Lynn, and Matt Nagy.
To me, I think you have to give it to the boy-genius in Los Angeles. McVay has completely changed the culture in LA and has gotten the most out of Jared Goff. Think back to two years ago before McVay, Goff was a shell of himself under Jeff Fisher. This year, Goff and company to an even bigger step to the second seed in the NFC.
The hype around McVay has grown so much that anybody that’s ever come in contact with him is getting a job offer. Look back in your old pictures in your house. If Sean McVay happens to be in the background of any of those pictures, you’re qualified to be at least an Offensive Coordinator.
MVP
What Patrick Mahomes did this year was simply astounding. He was hitting guys left and right, with his left and right arms, to lead the Kansas City Chiefs to the number one seed in the AFC. With the help of Tyreek Hill, Kareem Hunt (for a bit), and Travis Kelce Mahomes dominated the rest of the conference.
In his second-year in the NFL (and his first starting), Mahomes threw for 5,097 yards (2nd), 50 TDs (t-2nd ALL-TIME), and 12 INTs. He set up a solid base for the rest of his career that looks to be one of the most promising in all of the NFL. If there’s any doubters left after this season that Mahomes had, they’re just being stubborn.