When the NFL started handing out all their awards in one shot the night before the Patriots Game, I wasn't sure it would last. Well, now we're eight years in, so I think it's safe to say the NFL Honors is here to stay. And, since this year's game is in Atlanta, that means Steve Harvey is hosting. Because, well, you can't have an event in Atlanta without Steve Harvey.
It's really annoying not to find out the Hall of Fame selections during the day, but it's cool that they get recognized on the big stage during the show. As for the others who'll get recognized during the show...
MVP: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs-For most of the season, I thought it was two-way race between Mahomes and Drew Brees. But, by the end of the year, it was clearly Mahomes' to lose. His numbers were simply staggering. In his first season as a starter, he had 50 touchdown passes (compared to just 12 interceptions) and 50,000 yards while leading the Chiefs and that dynamic offense to the best record in the AFC. And let's not forget that performance in the second half of the AFC Championship Game, which doesn't count for MVP voting, but was still mighty impressive. You kinda got the feeling that 2018 was just a sign of things to come.
Offensive Player: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs-The MVP and Offensive Player of the Year don't always go to the same player, but this year I think they probably will. Brees was sensational. He threw just five interceptions all season and had a QB rating of 115.7. But the numbers that Mahomes put up were simply absurd. I can see the voters splitting it and giving Offensive Player to Brees as a consolation prize. But Mahomes deserves both.
Defensive Player: Aaron Donald, Rams-He won it last year, and it seems like a virtual certainty that he'll make it two in a row. Donald is simply the best defensive player in football. Period. The Rams' offense gets all the credit, but Aaron Donald and that defense is the reason LA made it to the Patriots Game. Last year he won this award despite missing two games. This year his numbers were even better. A league-leading 20.5 sacks, 25 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and a countless amount of intimidation.
Offensive Rookie: Saquon Barkley, Giants-Both teams picking at the top of the draft completely nailed it with their picks. The Browns finally found their franchise QB, and suddenly became contenders with Baker Mayfield under center. The Giants, meanwhile, got potentially the next great NFL running back. He led the league with more than 2,000 scrimmage yards and made the Pro Bowl. Barkley already won the Pepsi Rookie of the Year, and he should add AP honors. As great as Mayfield was, he only played a half-season. Saquon was great from Week 1.
Defensive Rookie: Darius Leonard, Colts-There were five finalists for Pepsi Rookie of the Year, and Leonard was the only defensive player on the list. It's fairly obvious that Defensive Rookie of the Year is his to lose, just like it has been since about Week 10. He had the most tackles in the league and set a Colts franchise record. He twice won Defensive Player of the Month. Defensive Player. Not Defensive Rookie. This will likely be unanimous.
Coach: Matt Nagy, Bears-This one is a toss-up between Nagy and Frank Reich. Neither one would be a bad choice. Reich took the Colts to the playoffs after a 1-5 start. But what Nagy did with the Bears all season was downright impressive. He turned Mitchell Trubisky into a legitimate NFL quarterback and led Chicago to its first division title in eight years. The Bears started 3-3 and finished 9-1, with a win over the Rams and a sweep of the Vikings.
Comeback: Andrew Luck, Colts-Easy one. There's plenty of credit to go around for Indy's return to the playoffs, but having a healthy Luck back was one of the biggest reasons. He missed all of 2017 after shoulder surgery and some thought he might not ever be able to play football again. Well, he was able to. He started every game, had career-highs in completions in passer rating, was one touchdown pass shy of his career-high, and was selected to the Pro Bowl. In short, he was the Andrew Luck of his first three seasons.
Man of the Year: Kyle Rudolph, Vikings-As always, all 32 candidates for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year are incredibly deserving. This is such an outstanding award, and it's the biggest honor of the night. Last year, it was pretty obvious J.J. Watt was going to win for his work in Houston after the hurricane. This year's winner isn't as obvious, but Kyle Rudolph was the fans' choice, and that's good enough for me. He paid for a wing at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital where the kids can just be kids.
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