The NFL regular season is now an 18-week schedule which means that each team plays 17 games. A few teams have played their 10th game, but most teams have played nine games and so it can be considered the proverbial mid-season point. The season has been a roller coaster, and the sample size is enough for us to declare the unofficial winners of the NFL Midseason Awards.
5. Biggest Surprise Team-the 2022 season so far is filled with teams that have destroyed preseason expectations. Four teams come to mind: the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, New York Jets, and the Seattle Seahawks. However, the biggest surprise for me are the Giants. The New York Giants were a lost cause last season with a 4-13 record. The team hired Brian Daboll, who arrived after coaching Josh Allen in Buffalo. Daboll has been outstanding in changing the culture of this team to a tough-minded group. Saquon Barkley has been brilliant and enjoying a healthy season with 961 yards, 198 rushes, and six touchdowns. Daniel Jones has been put in a position to succeed and has proven to be a reliable signal caller. At 7-2, the Giants look like a dangerous team to face in the postseason.
4. Biggest Disappointing Season-the candidates to win this category include the Los Angeles Rams, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, and Green Bay Packers. If you had asked me this last week, I would probably say the Packers because the team was 13-4 last season but are now 4-6 this season. The Rams’ struggles can be attributed to injuries, and it is tough to repeat as Champions. The Raiders were a 10-7 team last season, made the playoffs, and seemed to improve the roster but tumbled to a 2-7 record to date. However, the winner in this category is the Denver Broncos. The Broncos traded for Russell Wilson in the offseason for three active players and five future picks including two first-round picks. The team is currently at 3-6, and the offense led by Wilson has been awful. The team came off their bye week and could only muster 10 points with Wilson getting outplayed by Ryan Tannehill. The Mile High has reached a new low!
3. Best Game-the winner of this category up until last week would probably have been the Miami Dolphins’ improbable comeback against the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens led the game 35-14 entering the fourth quarter, but Tua and the offense mounted a ferocious comeback to outscore the Ravens 28-3 in the fourth quarter to win in the last minute of regulation. However, the winner of this category has to be the Minnesota Vikings’ thrilling overtime win against the Bills. Buffalo led the game 27-10 but Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson combined to make a comeback. The Vikings’ number 18 made a one-handed snag on a 4th and 18 to keep the drive alive. However, the Bills’ defense remained stout to keep the Vikings out of the end zone on 4th and Goal to preserve the 27-23 lead. Shockingly, the Bills fumbled the ball in their end zone and recovered by the Vikings for a touchdown to give them the lead. In 39 seconds, Josh Allen made amends by marching the team down the field with no timeout to get off a field goal to tie the game. In overtime, the combination of Cousins and Jefferson had the Vikings in position to score the touchdown, but again the Bills produced a goal-line stand that led to a field goal. On the next drive, with the ball at Minnesota’s 20-yard line, Josh Allen took a big risk to go for the juggler only to get intercepted by Patrick Petterson to seal the victory. Wow, what a game!
2. Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year
My pick for Offensive of the Year is Kenneth Walker of the Seattle Seahawks. Walker is a focal point in a resurgent Seattle Seahawk team having rushed for 587 yards on 121 carries for 4.9 yards per rush. Walker has seven rushing touchdowns which is tied for 4th most in the NFL. My pick for Defensive Player of the Year is Sauce Gardner of the New York Jets. Gardner was drafted fourth in the 2022 NFL Draft and has exceeded expectations. Gardner has proven to be a foundation piece for the surprising Jets defense and has propelled them to an impressive 6-3 record in a tough AFC East. Gardner has made only two interceptions, but his 13 passes defended is the highest in the NFL despite having to face top wideouts including Stefon Diggs and Tyreek Hill. The sky is the limit for these rookies!
1. Defensive player of the year and MVP
If you asked me last week, I would probably tell you that Micah Parson should win the DPOY. However, the Cowboys’ defense collapsed against the Packers after giving up 14 points in the fourth quarter. Therefore, my mid-season Defensive Player of the Year is Matt Judon of the New England Patriots. Judon has 11.5 sacks, made 35 tackles, and is a constant nightmare for quarterbacks in the league. If Judon does not star for the Patriots, then they would not be in a position to contend for a playoff because the team has one of the league’s worst offenses.
Finally, my mid-season MVP is Patrick Mahomes. I know, Tua Tagovailoa is playing unbelievably this season with a 71% completion rate, 2265 yards, 18 touchdowns, and three interceptions. However, Mahomes has slightly been better and under the most pressure to deliver without Tyreek Hill. Mahomes has completed 66.9% of his passes, 2,936 yards, 25 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Mahomes has propelled his team to a 7-2 record, and his 63 yards of grit against the Titans shows his mindset has become whatever it takes to get the job. Mahomes has his team set to be THE AFC number-one seed and in a position to host another conference championship game.