NFL Awards
With one week left in the NFL’s regular season, almost the entire playoff field is set, but that does not mean that there is nothing left to play for. Many of the league’s most prestigious awards are coming down to the wire. Here is how I think they will play out.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints. The rookie running back out of Tennessee has been dynamite paired with Mark Ingram in the New Orleans backfield. Kamara has over 1,400 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns. Had Deshaun Watson stayed healthy or Kareem Hunt maintained his early season surge, this award would be much closer in my eyes, but it’s not. Alvin Kamara deserves it.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Tre’Davious White, Buffalo Bills. Sean McDermott’s defense has been stout this year and White has been a key piece to the puzzle. He has been asked to cover the oppositions top receiver and has thrived in doing so. White has four interceptions to his name, but that doesn’t even begin to tell the story. Marshon Lattimore, a cornerback for the Saints, has been just as spectacular as White, but because Lattimore has had to miss multiple games with a lingering hamstring injury, I do not feel as though he can receive the award.
Coach of the Year: Mike Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings. Who would’ve thought with Case Keenum under center that the Vikings would be the favorites in the NFC? Not me. Zimmer has kept the team from capsizing despite a multitude of injuries. For that he should be commended. Sean McVay with the Rams is a close second, but even turning the Rams around isn’t as impressive as what Zimmer has done with the Vikings.
Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams. Remember Ndamukong Suh in college? That is how dominant Donald has been in the NFL this season. Think about that. Donald has only 11 sacks, but he is seemingly in the backfield pressuring the quarterback or terrorizing the ball carrier on each and every play. No one is really even a close second.
Most Valuable Player: Tom Brady, New England Patriots. Brady wins this award almost by default. Carson Wentz was in the conversation and then he got hurt. Same with Antonio Brown. I think Todd Gurley deserves some serious consideration, but ultimately Brady, at age 40, will snare his third NFL Most Valuable Player award.
