2013 NFL Picks and Predictions: Midseason Awards Favorites: The 2013 NFL season is in full swing, and for teams that haven’t had their bye weeks yet, the regular season is halfway in the books. As usual, the season has already seen everything from wild finishes, record-setting performances and a rash of major injuries. More importantly, the 2013 season has reinforced that parity exists in the NFL more than any other professional sport. One year after having the worst record in the league, the Kansas City Chiefs are the only remaining undefeated team. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons are sitting at 2-5 after finishing with the best record in the NFL last year. There have also been some surprises among the performances of individual players, and at the halfway point of the year, the frontrunners for the major player honors are a mix of big names and new faces.
Most Valuable Player: Peyton Manning, Quarterback, Denver Broncos
New England QB Tom Brady definitely deserves to be in the mix for keeping the Patriots atop the AFC East amid all rash of injuries to the team’s offense and defense, but Manning’s numbers are simply too overwhelming. He currently leads the NFL with 2,919 passing yards and a 119.4 QB rating for a Denver team that is 7-1 and averaging 42.9 points per game. Meanwhile, his 29 touchdowns are on pace to shatter the NFL single-season record and are currently 10 more than any other QB. The best numbers don’t always guarantee a player the MVP Award, but in Manning’s case, they certainly have him at the top of the list of candidates.
Defensive Player of the Year: Robert Mathis, Outside Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts
For really the first time in his career, Mathis is the unquestioned top pass-rusher for the Colts defense, and he is thriving in the role. His 11.5 sacks in seven games are currently the most in the NFL, and the total already ties his career high. Mathis is also on pace for a career high in tackles, and his 21 solo stops this year are just one shy of his total from all of last season. Throw in three forced fumbles, and Mathis is having an award-worthy season thus far for an Indianapolis team that looks like a contender in the AFC.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Giovani Bernard, Running Back, Cincinnati Bengals
Green Bay’s running back Eddie Lacy is bulldozing his way back into the conversation since returning from injury, but for now, Bernard has the edge. The speedy back has carved out a nice role in the Cincinnati offense, totaling more than 500 yards from scrimmage and scoring four times. Bernard has served as a change-of-pace back in the ground game and has been an explosive option out of the backfield in the passing game. Overall, he has 26 catches and is averaging 5.3 yards whenever he touches the ball.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Kiko Alonso, Inside Linebacker, Buffalo Bills
Alonso has been head and shoulders above the rest of the rookies on the defensive side of the ball thus far. Heck, he is actually tied for second in the entire NFL with 81 tackles, and his four interceptions are currently tied for the league lead. Alonso has also recorded a sack, a forced fumble, four passes defensed and five tackles for loss so he has been stuffing the stat sheet. If he continues to be a reliable, high-volume tackler while mixing in some big plays, he should have no trouble winning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Comeback Player of the Year: Terrell Suggs, Outside Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens
He missed half of last season with an Achilles injury, and he played injured in the eight games he did take the field. Back at full strength, Suggs has been a one-man wrecking crew for a Baltimore defense that lost a ton of leadership and talent in the offseason. He has 53 tackles and 8.0 sacks through seven games after managing 22 tackles and 2.0 sacks in eight games last year. Heck, Suggs is on pace to surpass his total in tackles and sacks from 2011 when he was named Defensive Player of the Year.
Coach of the Year: Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
Reid got run out of Philadelphia and took over a Kansas City team that went 2-14 last year and finished with the worst record in the NFL. With Reid at the helm, the Chiefs are off to an 8-0 start and are the only undefeated team remaining in the NFL. Granted, they have not faced a brutal schedule, but when you help a team quadruple its win total from the previous season just halfway through the year, it’s safe to say that Reid is doing something right.
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