This Season's NFL Awards

The Eagles and Chiefs have landed in New Orleans and Super Bowl Week has begun.  And among all of the Super Bowl Week activities is the annual NFL Honors on Thursday night.  It used to be on Saturday, but they moved it to Thursday in 2022, which was a great decision.  And, since the NFL Honors includes two major announcements (this season's award winners, as well as the Hall of Fame class), I've got to break them down into two separate posts.  I'll start with the NFL Awards.

This season, they took a page out of Baseball's book and announced finalists for each of the awards.  In baseball, there are three finalists for each of the awards.  In football, there are five, and there's virtually no overlap.  For a while, the MVP and Offensive Player of the Year almost always went to the same player.  This season, only Saquon Barkley, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson are finalists for both.  Burrow's actually a finalist for three, since he's up for Comeback Player of the Year, too.

After Joe Flacco controversially won Comeback Player of the Year over Damar Hamlin last year, they changed the criteria for the award.  Now they actually spell it out instead of leaving it up to each voter's interpretation.  The Comeback Player of the Year should go to a player who overcame "illness, physical injury, or other circumstances that led him to miss playing time the previous season."  Not just somebody who no longer sucks.  I'm curious to see who it'll end up going to.  Because I think the top two candidates fit different definitions.  One the old (Sam Darnold), one the new (Joe Burrow).

That isn't the only award where I really have no idea who'll win.  I'm confident in a few, but for others, no clue.  But I'll give it my best shot anyway...

Assistant Coach of the Year: Ben Johnson, Lions-Detroit was the highest-scoring team in the league this season.  They scored 40 or more points six times, including two games where they had 52.  They also had the highest average scoring margin in the league and finished second in the NFL in passing.  That offense was something to behold, and it's a big reason why Johnson is now the Bears' head coach.

Coach of the Year: Dan Quinn, Commanders-A case could be made for all five finalists.  Washington's success was the most unexpected, though, which is why Quinn gets the nod here.  The Commanders weren't supposed to be good.  They ended up winning 12 games, made the playoffs, and completely changed the culture around the franchise.

Comeback Player of the Year: Joe Burrow, Bengals-I can easily see Sam Darnold winning.  Under the previous definition, I think that would be a no-brainer.  But Darnold is coming back from being a backup for the 49ers.  Burrow missed most of last season with an injury, then had the best season of his career this year.  I also think they'll want to make sure he gets something, and this seems like the most likely.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jared Verse, Rams-It's really incredible to think that there are two Rams and two Eagles among the five finalists.  Four of the five best defensive rookies in the league this season were on the field in the same playoff game.  As for who'll win, I've gotta think it'll be Rams linebacker Jared Verse.  He had 66 tackles and 4.5 interceptions for the NFC West champs.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Jayden Daniels, Commanders-Probably the easiest one of them all.  In any other year, Brock Bowers would be the favorite after putting up ridiculous numbers.  Unfortunately, those numbers pale in comparison to what Jayden Daniels did this season in Washington.  His heroics breathed new life into the Commanders, who may have finally found their franchise quarterback at long last.

Defensive Player of the Year: Zack Baun, Eagles-Baun has one of the best stories of anyone in the NFL.  We'll probably hear it plenty this week.  He went from a backup/special teamer with the Saints to a starter and Defensive Player of the Year finalist for a team that's playing in the Super Bowl.  Baun had 151 tackles this season (third in the NFL), 82 of which were solo.  He's the biggest reason for that defense's improvement this season.

Offensive Player of the Year: Saquon Barkley, Eagles-Offensive Player of the Year and MVP are not the same thing.  Saquon Barkley isn't the MVP.  But he's absolutely the Offensive Player of the Year!  He became just the seventh running back in NFL history to run for 2,000 yards, and he could've gone after Eric Dickerson's single-season record, but was held out of the Eagles' final regular season game instead.  And how many explosive, long runs did he have?  Without question, the best free agent signing of this offseason (and one of the best of all-time), and making the Giants look worse and worse for that Hard Knocks clip they won't be able to live down anytime soon.

MVP: Josh Allen, Bills-Most of the time, you have a general idea who's gonna be the MVP.  This year, I have absolutely no clue!  It really comes down to Josh Allen vs. Lamar Jackson, and the argument can be made for each.  Lamar had 4,000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards.  He threw 41 touchdown passes and only four interceptions.  Allen's numbers weren't as gaudy, but he had 12 rushing touchdowns and led his team to the AFC Championship Game (with a win over the Ravens in the Divisional Playoffs).  However, the Ravens had so many more weapons, including Derrick Henry.  Allen did less with more.  That, to me, is the difference that swings things in his favor.

Finally, there's the NFL's signature award: the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.  Travis Kelce won the Nationwide Charity Challenge, which I'm sure fans who are tired of the Chiefs are super excited about.  Fortunately for those fans, winning the Charity Challenge doesn't guarantee winning the award.  And I don't think Kelce will.  I think it'll go to...

Man of the Year: Mike Evans, Buccaneers-Mike Evans is so revered in Tampa that they put him in at the end of the game in Week 18 so he could catch one more pass and get 1,000 receiving yards on the season.  He's spent his entire 11-year career with the Bucs and has become just as beloved in the community as he has on the field.  His foundation awarded 15 college scholarships this year and has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships since 2021.  Evans also makes a donation to families or children in need for every yard gained and touchdown scored.  He donates tickets and holds camps/clincis, too.  Evans exemplifies everything the Walter Payton NFL Man of Year Award represents.