Our NFL Regular Season Award Winners

The NFL found a way to complete a full season during a pandemic. There was no offseason, preseason, and many games had to be rescheduled due to COVID-19, but somehow we made it to the playoffs. This season was filled with special moments including Kyler Murray’s Hail Mary pass to DeAndre Hopkins and Alex Smith’s return to the field. Here is a look at who really stood out this past NFL regular season.

MVP- Aaron Rodgers

Remember when the Packers drafted a quarterback in the first round and we all assumed it spelled the end for Aaron Rodgers? Well he had to something to say about that. He wants to let everyone know he’s not ready to hang it up. At age 37, Rodgers threw 48 TDs and just FOUR interceptions. He completed over 70 percent of his passes and besides one rough outing against the Bucs, he led all other NFL quarterbacks in QBR. Even in a pandemic, he is still a BAD man.

A lot of his incredible numbers have to do with his chemistry with receiver Davante Adams. Packers RB Aaron Jones described the QB-WR connection as “they’re in each other’s heads“. Adams tied Green Bay’s record with eighteen touchdowns scored and broke the franchise record for catches. The duo has now surpassed Brett Favre and Donald Driver for the most catches for a QB-WR duo in Packers’ history and they’re not done yet.

It was a close race between Rodgers and last year’s Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes for most of the season. Mahomes, however, started falling off late in the season while Rodgers maintained an elite level of play the entire season.

Coach of the Year- Brian Flores

In Flores’ first two seasons in Miami, the Dolphins went from 5-11 team to 10-6 team. They finished second in AFC East, ahead of his former team New England. Nobody was expecting them to be competitive this soon into Flores’ tenure.

He brought in a different attitude to a team that hasn’t been good for many years. Handcuffed in his first season due to tank mentality, the team made leaps in his second year. Flores started integrating his rookie QB into games after going 3-3 with Ryan Fitzpatrick started. Similarly, when Tagovailoa started to struggle, Fitzpatrick was brought in. They started to look like a team headed to the playoffs. Even though they fell just short, the franchise looks to be in good hands with Flores at the helm. Working under Bill Belichick for over a decade helped instill the team-first mentality that Flores preaches in Miami. A lot of credit should be given to both QBs, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tua Tagovailoa, for handling the situation like professionals and putting the team first.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski deserves recognition as well for leading Cleveland back to the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Offensive Player of the Year- Josh Allen

Josh Allen is having a lot of fun playing in Buffalo. With the addition of WR Stefan Diggs, Allen put up crazy numbers this season including 4,544 passing yards, 37 TDs to just ten interceptions. He set an NFL record of at least one TD pass to thirteen different receivers. It wasn’t just his arm that impressed people, he also had 421 rushing yards. Allen tied with Patrick Mahomes for second-team All-Pro, with the top spot going to MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers. Anytime you tie with Mahomes means you had a really good season.

Defensive Player of the Year- T.J. Watt

T.J. Watt put up incredible numbers this season including a career-best 15 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception. He was one sack shy of setting a new Pittsburgh record. He was also selected to third straight Pro Bowl. Despite sitting out for the season finale, he led the league in sacks (15), tackles for loss (23), and QB hits (41). For context, no other player had more than twenty tackles for loss. Watt also has ten more QB hits than the next defender on the list. This season could amp up the conversation of which Watt brother scares opposing QBs more.

Comeback Player of the Year- Alex Smith

It was one of the lone shining moments in 2020, seeing Alex Smith make his return to the field. At one point it was unclear if Smith would lose his leg; football seemed like a long shot.

Not only did Smith make a return, but he also led Washington to the playoffs. Granted Washington plays in the NFC East and none of the teams finished with a winning record. Towards the end of the season, Smith suffered a calf injury that kept him sidelined. It’s unclear what Smith plans to do next season, but there is no one who represents perseverance and overcoming adversity more.

Offensive Rookie of the Year- Justin Herbert

Their record might not show it, but the Chargers’ future looks bright. They finished their season on a four-game win streak after the ugliest loss in franchise history. The team stuck together and finished strong. Their rookie QB Justin Herbert looks like he could be their franchise quarterback for the next ten to fifteen years.

Herbert put up astonishing numbers in his first season 4,336 passing yards and more impressive he threw 31 TDs to just ten interceptions. His 31 TD passes broke the rookie single-season record. On top of that, he is the youngest NFL player to throw over thirty TDs in a season. Herbert has also established himself as a mobile QB in the NFL, running in five touchdowns.

Defensive Rookie of the Year- Chase Young

It’s pretty rare when a player meets exceptionally high expectations in his first season. However, it’s not surprising considering how dominant Chase Young was in college. In his first NFL season, Young had 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. He got to score a touchdown in his first season after scooping up a fumble.

Washington made it to the playoffs, in a weak NFC East, but a lot of that has to do with the team’s improved defense. Much of that improvement can be attributed to Young’s presence on the line. According to the young, confident DE, Washington’s defense is just getting started.