As the season comes to an end, who played the best until the end, never letting their team down.
MVP
Finalist: Josh Allen, Saquan Barkley, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson
My prediction: Josh Allen
Josh Allen has had a terrific season and as of right now he is a favorite to win the MVP. He has thrown for 3,731 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and only six interceptions and has ran for 531 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while not having a real wide receiver. He led this team of missing pieces to the 2nd spot in the AFC and on to the second round of playoffs for the 5th year in a row. Josh Allen is looking to bring Buffalo their first super bowl.
Saquan Barkley has had the best season of his career. He had 2,005 yards along with 13 touchdowns and has made some of the best highlights this season. He is undoubtedly the best running back this season. He won his first playoff game over the weekend and does not want to end his historical season just yet. It will be hard for him to win MVP but he has a strong case for offensive player of the year.
Joe Burrow led the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns with 4,918 yards, and 43 touchdown with only 9 interceptions. But could not bring his team to the playoffs even though his WR1 Ja’Marr chase, had a receiver triple crown (Most yards, most receiving touchdowns, most receptions) and Trey Hendrickson had the most sacks in the league with 17.5 sacks. If you had a team that has the starpower like the Bengals but you cannot bring them to the playoffs, how can you make a statement that you are the best player in the league.
If Josh Allen does not win the MVP then Lamar Jackson will. Lamar threw for 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns and 4 interceptions and ran for 915 yards and 4 touchdowns. Lamar helped the ravens win the AFC North for the 2nd year in a row with the help of star running back Derrick Henry, who together have been like batman and Robin being a defensive nightmare. Although Lamar Jackson has better stats then Josh Allen, he has a stacked team with 8 players making the pro bowl where as Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bill have faced doubts all season and only had 2 player selected for the pro bowl. Lamar Jackson will have to prove why he should be MVP in divisional round match up against the Bills. Whoever wins will have the upper hand in winning the MVP.
Offensive Player of the year
Finalist: Saquan Barkley, Lamar Jackson, Ja’marr chase
My prediction: Saquan Barkley
Ja’marr chase has had a great season with 127 receptions, 1708 yards, and 17 touchdowns. He was Joe Burrows go to guy over the season but was his season better than Saquan’s? No. Saquan Barkley became just the ninth running back to reach the 2,000 yard mark and could have potentially broken the record if he played in the last game of the season. Although he would have had an extra game to break the record if he had 33 carries that game he still would have less carries then Eric Dickerson. He has the best offensive line in the league which makes it so hard to stop him. His insane athleticism and determination to win makes him a deadly rusher who if given space will abuse it.
Defensive player of the year
Finalist: T.J. Watt, Patrick Surtain II, Myles Garrett (however, I think Zach Baun should have been a finalist).
My prediction T.J Watt
T.J Watt had a great season leading the leading the league in forced fumbles while also having 11.5 sacks. T.J Watts 6 forced fumbles helped the Steelers have one of the best turnover ratios in the league. The only thing that slowed him down this season was when he got injured with a knee injury in week 15 against the Eagles. Before he got hurt though, he had 2 sacks and one forced fumbles against the best offensive line in the league. TJ Watt’s great season ended in the hands of the ravens but he still has hope in winning his fourth defensive player of the year.
Another player who has had a great defensive year is Zach Baun. He should be a finalist in this category. Last year he was on special teams for the Saints and now he calls the plays for the Eagles. He is the commander of the defense and is one of the main reasons they are the best defense in the league. He has 93 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles. With him in the back field it has been extremely hard for running backs to break through for big gains this season. Although I think T.J Watt will win, Zach Baun’s great season cannot be left unheard.
Offensive rookie of the year
Finalist: Jayden Daniels, Brock Bowers, Bo Nix
My prediction: Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels has had one of the best seasons a rookie could ask for and it is not over yet. He was drafted in the first round with the 2nd pick by the commanders in the 2024 draft. This season he had 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He turned around the season for the commanders and now have them playing against the lions in his biggest game. Most quarterbacks drafted in the first round normally need a “warm up year” in the NFL before things start clicking for them and the team, but this was not the case for Jayden who jumped right into it.
Defensive rookie of the year
Finalist: Jared Verse, Quinyon Mitchell, Chop Robinson My prediction: Quinyon Mitchell
Jared Verse, a defensive lineman drafted in the first round, 19th pick from Florida state, plays on the Rams. Over this past season, he has been almost too much to handle for most offensive lines. He had 36 solo tackles, 4.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Verse was drafted to help fill the void of Aaron Donald and has done a solid job. He registered the second-most pressures through a player’s first 16 career games with 72. Despite this great season, it falls short of what Quinyon Mitchell accomplished.
Quinyon Mitchell, a corner back, was drafted by the Eagles in the first round with the 22nd pick out of Toledo. He has been a lock down corner being one of the best on the top defense in the league. He recorded 37 solo tackles, 12 passes defended and had his first interception against the Packers in the wild card game. Mitchell ranks 2nd in the league with 14 forced in-completions and has allowed just 70 yards on him. He has locked up many top wide receiver and recently held Terry McLaurin to zero catches.
Coach of the year
Finalist: Kevin O’Connell, Dan Campbell, Dan Quinn My prediction: Dan Quinn
Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings have had a great season and it ended with a tough loss to the Rams. For the Vikings, the season could not have been much better, considering they lost their first round pick and starting quarterback JJ McCarthy in preseason when he tore his ACL. Kevin O’Connell transformed Sam Darnold into the best form he could be and brought them to the playoffs with 14 wins. This was only the 4th time that the Vikings won 13 or more games since 1965. But when I think of coach of the year only one coach really comes to my mind and that coach is Dan Quinn. A coach who transformed a team that was playing for the number 1 pick in the draft last year to now playing for a chance to play in the Super Bowl. He transformed their team on both sides of the ball. With the win over the Buccaneers, the Commanders won their first playoff win since 2005 and Dan Quinn is the main reason for that.
Ben talks sports 
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