NFL Awards 2018 Predictions

With the 2018 NFL regular season completed and the playoffs kicking off this weekend, there is no better time to give picks for the MVP, defensive player of the year and all the other major end-of-season awards.

The Associated Press (AP) will announce the individual NFL awards the night before the Super Bowl in Atlanta in the 8th Annual NFL Honors on Feb. 2. Here are my selections.

MVP: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

Leading the Kansas City Chiefs to the No. 1 seed in the AFC and throwing 50 passing touchdowns, Mahomes is the runaway favorite for the league's most valuable player award. Forced to make up for his team's less-than-adequate defense—which ranked 24th in points allowed per contest—Mahomes put up historic numbers to secure home-field advantage for the Chiefs throughout the AFC playoffs. He had two 6-touchdown games, racked up 5,097 passing yards and was the most dominant player in football.

Runner-Up: Drew Brees, Saints

The NFC playoffs run through New Orleans and Brees is the biggest reason why. The best player on the best team, Brees led the league in completion percentage (74.4) and passer rating (115.7). He threw 32 touchdowns against just five interceptions, spearheading the New Orleans Saints to 13 wins. Unlike Mahomes, however, Brees had a competent defense to compliment his excellent quarterbacking. Furthermore, Brees threw only three touchdown passes in the Saints’ last five games (he sat out the fifth).

Offensive Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes

Only two quarterbacks in NFL history have thrown for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a single season: Peyton Manning in 2013 and Mahomes in 2018. That makes Mahomes this season's OPOY.

Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald, Rams

Donald is set to win his second consecutive DPOY Award, despite missing training camp over a contract dispute. The defensive tackle had 20.5 sacks—just shy of Michael Strahan's NFL-record of 22.5—and led the league in QB hits (41) and tackles for loss (30).

Aaron Donald is the league's most dominant defensive player. (Getty Images)

Runner-Up: Khalil Mack, Bears

Mack transformed the Chicago Bears into the best defense in football. The Bears' defense finished first in takeaways (36) and interceptions (27) and No. 3 in points off takeaways (107).

The engine of the defensive unit, Mack was tied for second in the league with six forced fumbles. The linebacker accumulated a team-high 12.5 sacks and was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month in September.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Baker Mayfield, Browns

Mayfield threw more touchdown passes, 27, than any rookie in NFL history. He reached that total despite not seeing any action until Week 3 and not starting until the following game. More importantly, he turned the Cleveland Browns into a legitimate franchise again, leading them to a 7-8-1 record after the team finished 0-16 a season ago. The Browns were in playoff contention until Week 16, something that seemed unfathomable based off how bad things were for the team at this time last year.

Baker Mayfield threw 27 passing TDs, a rookie-record. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Runner-Up, Saquon Barkley, Giants

In just about any other year, the New York Giants running back would take home the OROY crown. Barkley, a transcendent talent, had seven 100-yard games and 89 receptions—catching nine or more passes in four games—and logged over 2,000 all-purpose yards.

But Mayfield had a far bigger impact on the Browns than Barkley had for the Giants, who only improved their win total (5) by two games from the prior season.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Darius Leonard, Colts

Leonard led the NFL in tackles (163), totaling 19 more than the next closest player. The linebacker had 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Last season, the Indianapolis Colts' defense ranked 30th in points and yards allowed. But with Leonard on board this year, the unit rose to 10th in scoring defense and 11th in yards allowed.

Runner-Up: Derwin James, Chargers

One of the most versatile defenders in the league, James, primarily a safety, played multiple positions for the Los Angeles Chargers this season. He appeared in all 16 games and registered 105 tackles, three interceptions and 3.5 sacks.

Coach of the Year: Matt Nagy, Bears

Nagy led the Bears to 12 wins and a division championship. Chicago had finished in last-place in the NFC North four years in a row before Nagy came to town. The Bears' record in the four seasons prior to his arrival: 5-11, 6-10, 3-13 and 5-11. The Bears rose to the No. 3 seed in the NFC under Nagy and closed with a 5-1 division record.

Runner-Up: Frank Reich, Colts

Despite losing five of their first six games, the Colts made the playoffs with a 10-6 record. Reich, a first-year head coach like Nagy, helped guide the franchise to a huge turnaround season after the team finished 4-12 last year.

Comeback Player of the Year: Andrew Luck, Colts

After missing the entire 2017 season, Luck returned and completed a career-high 67.3 percent of his passes for 4,593 yards, 39 touchdowns with 15 interceptions. Luck went eight straight games with at least three touchdown passes and has the Colts in the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Runner-Up: J.J. Watt, Texans

The AFC South champion Houston Texans returned to a formidable defense with Watt back in the fold. He missed 24 games over the last two seasons with back and leg injuries before his incredible 2018 campaign. The defensive end had 16 sacks and seven forced fumbles to reassert himself as one of the NFL's most dominant defensive players.

Executive of the Year: Chris Ballard, Colts

In his first season as Colts GM, Ballard emphasized the offensive line in the draft. He selected guard Quenton Nelson in round one and tackle Braden Smith in the second round. Both players helped transform the Colts into one of the best O-lines in football, as the unit surrendered just 18 sacks all season.

Ballard nabbed the aforementioned Leonard in round three and made the prudent choice to hire Reich to be the head coach.

Runner-Up: Ryan Pace, Bears

Pace traded for Mack days before the start of the season and the results of the acquisition speak for itself. He hired Nagy, the likely winner of Coach of the Year, and has the Bears back in the postseason for the first time since 2010.

NFL MVP Rankings

With four weeks remaining in the season, the NFL MVP race looks to be a two-man battle between Drew Brees and Patrick Mahomes.

Entering Week 14, Mahomes appears to have the edge on Brees, who had one of the worst games of his storied career in the New Orleans Saints' primetime loss to the Dallas Cowboys last Thursday night. Mahomes, on the other hand, is coming off a four-touchdown performance versus the lowly Oakland Raiders, extending his NFL-high passing touchdown total to 41 as he immediately stepped up for the Kansas City Chiefs in the absence of the recently-released Kareem Hunt. Mahomes is the third player in NFL history to throw 40+ TDs through 12 games, as Peyton Manning accomplished this feat twice (2004 and 2013) and Tom Brady achieved it in the New England Patriots’ perfect regular season in 2007.

Mahomes has led the Chiefs to a 10-2 record. (AP Image)

Below are all the MVP candidates worth mentioning.

10. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans

Watson, the second-year QB who tore his ACL last season after beginning his career in historic fashion, has led the Texans to nine consecutive victories after the team started 0-3. He has logged 21 passing touchdowns, two rushing scores and eight interceptions.

9. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts

Luck, who missed the entire 2017 season, has transformed the Colts into playoff contenders after consecutive years of being bottom-feeders. Before the Colts were shut out by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Luck had a stretch of eight straight games with three or more passing scores.

8. Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams

Gurley is the most explosive player on the best team in the league. Gurley leads the league in rushing and has already set a Rams single-season franchise record with 15 rushing touchdowns, also a league-high.

7. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams

Under center for the 11-1 Rams, Goff has 28 total touchdowns (one rushing score) against just seven interceptions with a 109.9 passer rating, the fifth-best mark in the NFL. Even with Gurley in the backfield in what is sometimes a run-first offense, Goff still ranks fourth in the NFL in passing yards.

6. Khalil Mack, Chicago Bears

Under the tutelage of Mack, the NFC North-leading Bears feature the best defense in football. Chicago’s outside linebacker—traded by the Raiders just before the start of the NFL season—has five forced fumbles, nine sacks and an interception, which he returned for a touchdown.

5. Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams

The best player on the best team in the NFL, Donald is on pace to win Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year. He leads the NFL in sacks with 16.5.

4. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Seattle, but Wilson and the young 'Hawks (7-5) have surpassed expectations. The remarkably efficient Wilson has thrown the fourth-most passing touchdowns (29), despite ranking 24th in pass attempts in the Seahawks’ run-centric offense.

3. Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers

Rivers is having arguably the best season of his legendary career, making the Chargers (9-3) one of the most feared teams in the league. A 28-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio with the third-best passer rating (115.7) in the league places Rivers behind only Brees and Mahomes in the MVP race.

2. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Brees has never won NFL MVP—an award that would further cement his loaded career résumé—but that could change with a strong finish to the 2018 season. Brees holds the NFL’s best passer rating (123.2) and best completion percentage (75.5) with 30 passing scores against just three interceptions.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Mahomes has guided to the Chiefs to the top record in the AFC. He is having one of the best seasons ever by a quarterback, currently on pace for 55 passing touchdowns, which would tie Manning's record set in 2013. Mahomes, who has two rushing scores, has accounted for 43 total touchdowns, which is more than 28 teams in the NFL have scored this season. In addition to leading the league in touchdowns, he also ranks second in passing yards and second in passer rating. Mahomes is easily the most dangerous player in football.

NFL Power Rankings Week 13

1. New Orleans Saints (10-1)

Drew Brees threw four touchdown passes to four undrafted players in Thursday night's win over the Falcons. Receivers Tommylee Lewis and Austin Carr each caught a touchdown pass, as did rookie tight end Dan Arnold and rookie wideout Keith Kirkwood.

The Saints’ defense logged a season-high six sacks, 13 quarterback hits and an interception. The Falcons lost three fumbles inside the Saints’ 20-yard line and were held to 26 yards rushing.

The victory lifted the Saints into the No. 1 seed in the NFC and eliminated the Falcons (4-7) from contention in the NFC South. New Orleans has outscored opponents 130-38 over its last three games.

Drew Brees tossed 4 touchdown passes in the Saints' win. (AP Photo)

2. Los Angeles Rams (10-1)

Coming off the bye, the Rams can clinch the NFC West for the second year in a row with a win at Detroit on Sunday.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-2)

The Chiefs return from their bye week to play the lowly Raiders in an AFC West matchup.

4. New England Patriots (8-3)

Rookie Sony Michel ran for a career-best 133 yards and a TD. The Patriots accumulated 216 rushing yards in their 27-13 victory against the Jets.

5. Chicago Bears (8-3)

Eddie Jackson collected his second pick-six in a five-day span, intercepting an errant Matthew Stafford pass and returning it 41 yards to the house, which turned out to be the game-winning touchdown in the Bears’ Thanksgiving Day win at Detroit.

Backup quarterback Chase Daniel—filling in for injured Mitchell Trubisky (shoulder)—threw for career-highs in completions (27), yards (230) and touchdowns (two).

6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-3)

Philip Rivers completed 28 of his 29 passes for 259 yards and three TDs in the Chargers’ rout of the Cardinals, logging the highest completion percentage (96.6%) in a single game in NFL history. He completed all 19 of his first-half pass attempts for 187 yards and two TDs.

Rivers set an NFL record with 25 consecutive completions to start the game. His 25th completion came on a four-yard score to Keenan Allen. Rivers has thrown multiple touchdown passes in every game this season.

Have yourself a day, Philip Rivers. pic.twitter.com/NGMBWR6uot

— Rotoworld Football (@Rotoworld_FB) November 26, 2018

7. Houston Texans (8-3)

Winners of eight straight and currently the AFC's hottest team, the Texans steamrolled the Titans on Monday Night Football. Lamar Miller did the heavy lifting for the offense, rushing for 162 yards, highlighted by a 97-yard TD dash.

Demaryius Thomas, playing in his third game since being acquired by the Texans, caught two TD passes.

The Texans' elite defense sacked Marcus Mariota six times, increasing the unit's season sack total to 34.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3-1)

Ben Roethlisberger compiled 462 passing yards versus the Broncos, but threw only one touchdown pass and two interceptions—including an awful pick in the end zone to end the contest.

The loss slid the Steelers down to the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoff picture as the Patriots and Texans leapfrogged them in the standings.

9. Minnesota Vikings (6-4-1)

The Vikings' defense put pressure on Aaron Rodgers all night, sacking the Packers QB four times—two from Sheldon Richardson—and allowing no points in the second half.

Kirk Cousins played one of his best games of the year, shredding the Packers' secondary for 342 yards and three touchdowns. Adam Thielen registered his ninth game with over 100 yards receiving (eight receptions for 125 yards and a TD) this season, setting a Vikings franchise record. Stefon Diggs caught eight passes for 77 yards and a score.

10. Seattle Seahawks (6-5)

Spearheaded by quarterback Russell Wilson, who threw for 339 yards and two touchdowns, Seattle handed Carolina its first home loss of the season.

Sebastian Janikowski hit a game-winning 31-yard field goal as time expired.

11. Baltimore Ravens (6-5)

Lamar Jackson has 190 rushing yards in his first two starts—both wins—the most through a QB's first two starts in the Super Bowl era.

In Gus Edwards' first career start, the undrafted rookie tailback ran for 118 yards in the Ravens’ pummeling of the Raiders, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

12. Dallas Cowboys (6-5)

Amari Cooper feasted on the Redskins’ secondary, catching two TD passes—including a 90-yard score—in a 180-yard receiving effort, a Dallas Thanksgiving-record.

13. Indianapolis Colts (6-5)

T.Y. Hilton led the Colts in receiving with 125 yards in the Colts’ 27-24 comeback victory over the Dolphins. Eric Ebron caught five passes for 45 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 12 TDs for the year.

Andrew Luck threw three touchdowns—his eighth straight game with three or more passing scores.

Adam Vinatieri hit a walk-off 32-yard field goal. He has made 28 game-winning field goals in his storied career.

14. Washington Redskins (6-5)

The Redskins have dropped three of their last four contests as quarterback Colt McCoy lost in what was his first start in four years.

15. Carolina Panthers (6-5)

Christian McCaffrey totaled 237 yards, rushing for 125 yards and a score and catching 11 passes for 112 yards and a receiving TD. McCaffrey has been a touchdown machine lately. In his past five games, he has tallied five TDs on the ground and four more through the air for a total of nine (9!) TDs.

McCaffrey’s otherworldly outing was spoiled by the Panthers’ horrific defense, which gave up 30 points in the three-point defeat to the visiting Seahawks.

Saints Sign Dez Bryant

Dez Bryant has finally found a new home. The free agent one-time All-Pro wide receiver, who was released by the Dallas Cowboys last April, has signed with the New Orleans Saints, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The 30-year-old Bryant joins a wide receiving crew led by superstar Michael Thomas. It also features rookie Tre'Quan Smith, veteran Cameron Meredith and second-year pro Austin Carr. Veteran wideout Tedd Ginn Jr. was placed on injured reserve in October due to a knee injury and may not return this season.

Joining the Saints allows Bryant to catch passes from future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees and gives him the chance to compete for a Super Bowl title. The Saints (7-1) have won seven straight contests, capped off by Sunday’s victory over the previously undefeated Los Angeles Rams.

Dez Bryant has signed a one-year contract with the Saints. (Matthew Emmons/USA Today Sports)

Last spring, Bryant turned down a 3-year, $21 million offer from the Baltimore Ravens because he favored a one-year contract. He met with the Cleveland Browns in August during training camp and nearly inked a one-year deal, but the two sides never reached an agreement.

Bryant, a 2010 first-round pick, spent the first eight years of his career with the Cowboys. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2013, 2014 and 2016. His best season came in 2014, when he led the NFL in receiving touchdowns (24) and was chosen as a First-Team All-Pro. Bryant accumulated 73 touchdown receptions in his tenure with Dallas, the most in franchise history.

The Saints visit the Cowboys on Nov. 29, setting up the perfect revenge game for Bryant, who left his former team on bad terms.

NFL Power Rankings Week 8

Ranking all 32 teams with seven weeks of the season now in the books.

The Carolina Panthers' improbable road comeback highlighted Sunday's NFL action. Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Rams continued their perfect season, the New Orleans Saints won their fifth straight and the Houston Texans pushed their winning streak to four.

1. Los Angeles Rams (7-0)

Todd Gurley rushed for 63 yards and two touchdowns and caught 4 passes for 23 yards and another score in the Rams’ shellacking of the 49ers. It was his third 3-touchdown game of the season. He leads the league with 14 TDs for the season, tying the mark for most touchdowns by a running back through his first seven games in NFL history, originally set by Priest Holmes in 2003.

2. New England Patriots (5-2)

The Patriots' special teams unit scored two touchdowns in Chicago. The first one came on a 95-yard kickoff return by Cordarrelle Patterson. The second came on a 29-yard return off a blocked punt by Kyle Van Noy. Josh Gordon led the team in receiving with 100 yards.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (6-1)

Kareem Hunt rushed for 86 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 55 yards and two receiving touchdowns in the Chiefs’ blowout victory over the Bengals on Sunday Night Football.

4. New Orleans Saints (5-1)

Drew Brees became the fourth member of the 500-TD club—completing 22 of 30 for 212 yards and two touchdowns—and superstar wideout Michael Thomas caught his first touchdown pass since Week 2 as the visiting Saints defeated the Ravens and won their fifth straight game. In beating the Ravens, Brees joined Peyton Manning as the only quarterbacks in league history to beat all 32 NFL teams.

Michael Thomas celebrates a touchdown in the Saints' win over the Ravens. (AP)

5. Los Angeles Chargers (5-2)

The Chargers defense stepped up in the biggest moment of the game, forcing an incomplete pass from opposing quarterback Marcus Mariota on the Titans’ two-point conversion attempt to hold on for a one-point win in London.

6. Minnesota Vikings (4-2-1)

Adam Thielen put another dazzling performance, catching nine passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings’ beatdown over the Jets. He has totaled over 100 yards receiving in each of his team's first seven games, the second player in NFL history to reach this feat (the late Charley Hennigan of the Houston Oilers achieved this in 1961) and the only player in the Super Bowl era to accomplish it.

7. Carolina Panthers (4-2)

The Panthers rallied from a 17-0 fourth-quarter deficit to take down the defending-champion Eagles, backed by QB Cam Newton, who recorded 201 of his 269 passing yards in the final period. Overcoming a 17-point deficit, the Panthers matched their franchise record for biggest comeback in team history.

8. Baltimore Ravens (4-3)

The Ravens played well against the first-place Saints, but the most accurate kicker in NFL history, Justin Tucker, missed a game-tying extra-point for the first time in his career with 24 seconds remaining in the 24-23 loss.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2-1)

The Steelers had a great bye week, moving into first-place in the AFC North due to losses by the Ravens and Bengals.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)

The Eagles blew a 17-0 lead to the Panthers, surrendering 233 yards and 21 points in the game's final quarter. The collapse spoiled a tremendous outing by Carson Wentz, who completed 26 of 36 passes for 278 yards with three touchdowns.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (4-3)

The Bengals gave up 551 yards and 45 points to the Chiefs. On offense, Joe Mixon had only 50 yards rushing. Andy Dalton was held to just 148 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception by the NFL's worst statistical defense. The Bengals are 0-6 on Sunday Night Football since drafting Dalton in 2011. The 35-point loss was the team's most lopsided defeat since 2009.

12. Washington Redskins (4-2)

The Redskins defense sacked Dak Prescott four times, held Ezekiel Elliott to 34 yards and scored a TD in the fourth quarter as Ryan Kerrigan stripped Prescott and Preston Smith scooped up the ball in the end zone.

13. Chicago Bears (3-3)

The Bears doomed themselves by allowing the Patriots to score two special teams touchdowns.

14. Detroit Lions (3-3)

The Lions rushed for 248 yards—158 coming from rookie tailback Kerryon Johnson—in their road victory at Miami.

15. Houston Texans (4-3)

The visiting Texans humiliated the division-rival Jaguars, who benched struggling quarterback Blake Bortles. Houston has won four straight since its 0-3 start to take sole control of first-place in the AFC South.

Rest of the Pack

16. Miami Dolphins (4-3)

17. Green Bay Packers (3-2-1)

18. Tennessee Titans (3-4)

19. Seattle Seahawks (3-3)

20. Dallas Cowboys (3-4)

21. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4)

22. Atlanta Falcons (3-4)

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3)

24. Cleveland Browns (2-4-1)

25. New York Jets (3-4)

26. Denver Broncos (3-4)

27. Indianapolis Colts (2-5)

28. Buffalo Bills (2-5)

29. New York Giants (1-6)

30. Oakland Raiders (1-5)

31. Arizona Cardinals (1-6)

32. San Francisco 49ers (1-6)