Wednesday, December 12, 2018

The favorites for NFL honors are emerging

Jack Gawason and Nick Fest
Staff Writers

As the 2018-2019 season is quickly coming to an end standout stars in their respected areas appear to be favorites. The Most Valuable Player, Offensive and Defensive Player, Comeback Player, and Coach of the Year races are shaping up each with someone different leading the conversation.

Most Valuable Player of the Year: Drew Brees:
Drew Brees has been one of the most consistent players in the league. He has completed more than 75 percent of his passes, which is 3 percent less than the record for completion percentage in a single regular season. The previous record was set by him as well. He is also leading the league in total QBR rating at 83.6. He might not be the league leader for touchdowns, but he is still 3rd and has the highest touchdown to interception ratio. He takes care of the football, reducing turnovers, making his team win. He is a leader on field as he led his team to a ten game winning streak before falling to the Cowboys. With his team at the top of the NFC it is his title to lose.

Offensive Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes
Second year player and first year starter has started his career with a huge bang. Head Coach Andy Reid took a gamble last year trading their reliable veteran quarterback, Alex Smith, to the Redskins leaving his team in Mahomes hands. Mahomes had a great college career at Texas Tech scoring many touchdowns and leading his team many wins but was never the most outstanding player during his time. But in his first game at the NFL level Mahomes burst onto the scene throwing for four touchdowns against the Los Angeles Chargers. Through eight games he broke the record for most touchdowns in a players first eight games with 22 touchdowns. Next, he broke the record for most touchdowns in a season by a Chiefs quarterback with 31, passing all time great Len Dawson. As the year starts to come to an end Patrick Mahomes is in the headlines as he chases the all time record for the most touchdowns in a season held by Peyton Manning. After eleven games it is safe to say Andy Reid made the smart move making Patrick Mahomes his franchise quarterback with all of Mahomes potential awards already beginning to add up.

Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald
It was not an easy offseason for Aaron Donald but it ended with a big pay day. This deal was record breaking making him the highest paid defensive player in the league with the deal being worth 135 million. This deal finally ended his season long holdout and allowed him to just focus on football. After last year winning Defensive Player of the Year Donald has only followed up that season with better stats this year. He has already passed his previous tackle and sack totals, on pace for over 20 sacks this year. Aaron Donald has headlined a superb defensive line that has been holding together a dynamic but dysfunctional defense. The Los Angeles Rams are hoping Aaron Donald is able to maintain this caliber of play for the rest of the remaining five years on ths mega deal.

Comeback Player of the Year: Andrew Luck
Andrew Luck is the front runner for 2018-2019 Comeback Player of the Year. He is accompanied by many stars, some historic legends, as well, such as J.J. Watt, Aaron Rodgers, and David Johnson and Luck has been outperforming them all. Luck is basically carrying his team, and after a 1-5 start to the season he is on a five game win streak putting his team in playoff contention. In his first season back since not even being able to throw a football in two years he is second in the league in touchdowns and carrying his team into the playoffs. Between injuries and non-existing skill at Lucks disposal he is making his surrounding players on offensive look very good.

Coach of the Year: Matt Nagy
First year head coach Matt Nagy has looked like an established veteran up to this point as the new Chicago Bears head coach. Previously, he was apart of Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs staff which is obvious after studying his coaching style. He has shown to be an aggressive offensive minded coach but has not forgotten about his defense. It would be difficult to forget about them after the season they have been having helping out their coach contributing to all these wins. Nagy along with the front office has also made some great decisions resigning key defensive players and adding to their defensive unit, along with adding skilled wide receivers in the draft and through free agency. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the 2018-2019 season goes for the first year coach as they are destined for the playoffs.