NFL Award Predictions for the 2020 Season

The most ‘play it by ear’ season in the history of the National Football League is nearly in the books and as per usual, there are yearly recognitions to be made for the annual NFL Awards.

A season that was manoeuvred around the agenda of a global pandemic and at times had trouble staying on schedule. The emptiness that was felt without the tens of thousands of roaring fans in the stadiums. This season was short of ordinary, but the stars most definitely came to play.

We witnessed extraordinary quarterbacking this season from players in their 21st season in the league, and players in their first.

Running backs ran wild and made their presence felt all year. Derrick Henry ran for over two thousand yards in Tennessee, Dalvin Cook won people fantasy championships and Alvin Kamara had a 6 touchdown game, on Christmas Day.

Pass catchers from all around the league were more consistent and dynamic then ever before, the likes of Davante Adams proving he can’t be stopped, and rookies Justin Jefferson and Chase Claypool were touchdown machines.

On the defensive side of the ball, we have never seen a first year player have the kind of impact that Chase Young did for the Washington Football Team. TJ Watt of the Steelers was the leader of a stout defence in Pittsburgh.

Of the comeback stories that we saw in 2020, none outshined that of Alex Smith, another Washington player that overcame the adversity of a lifetime after being told his career, and leg were in jeopardy, he faces the odds and led his team to a division title in the NFC East.

And finally, the amount of coach’s who deserve recognition for the jobs they did this season goes on. In a COVID ravaged season, these men and their staff’s had the tallest of tasks, to adjust and move forward as the leader of their 53 respective players. An honourable mention to the Giants Joe Judge, Miami’s Brian Flores, Mike Tomlin of the Steelers and Matt Lefleur in Green Bay for the outstanding work they did for their organizations all year.

As there are always decisions and debates to be made, I will do my very best to project correctly who will take home the specific individual awards. Note that these are in the view of the NFL and voters among the media and are not what I believe they should be.

Let’s get started.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: This is one of those that is so close and the performances to compare were both so spectacular, that I wouldn’t be mad or surprised either way it went.

Justin Herbert out of Oregon was forced to step into the starter’s role too early into his career, about 15 minutes after he clocked in for that matter. On an LA Chargers team that didn’t lack weapons, Herbert quickly locked the gig up for the next few decades. He shattered all the Chargers franchise rookie records with ease and although lost an awful lot go close games, may have been the reason the Chargers won a solid amount of games.

The other Justin comes from Minnesota, his first NFL season was hung up with the likes of Randy Moss. Justin Jefferson proved the teams that took other receivers infront of him very wrong, and hauled in 88 catches for 1400 yards to go with 7 scores.

The media voters and the NFL tend to lean quarterback with any award unless it is clear cut and definitive. For that reason, I believe Justin Herbert is the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2020.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: For me, this is a no-doubter. Chase Young was an unstoppable force until the playoffs for Washington. He took pride in the situation he was in as the locked in number 2 overall pick after Joe Burrow. 7.5 sacks and 4 force fumbles on the year, but a huge obstacle for opposing teams to gameplay around every time he was on the field. He will be the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Offensive Player of the Year: This award is pretty close to impossible to clearly choose. There was too many players this season that were truly remarkable all year round. Davante Adams of the Packers will be a major snub, along with Alvin Kamara in New Orleans. At the end of the day, with only one winner to be chosen, King Henry is the one for the throne.

2027 rushing yards accompanied by 17 scores for a Titans team that ran directly through their huge back. Derrick Henry joins the 2K rushing yards club with the likes of Barry Sanders and Adrian Peterson, that calls for some hardware to show for it.

Defensive Player of the Year: Another close award comes on the other side of the ball where for the first 10 games of the year, TJ Watt led a historically good Steelers defence to an 11-0 start to the year. Over in South Beach, Xavien Howard was thriving under Head Coach Brain Flores and locking down any receiver that the Dolphins needed him to.

Once Pittsburgh lost the likes of Devin Bush and Bud Dupree, their defence began to fault. The tough AFC presented problems for them down the stretch, all while Howard and Miami were only alive in the playoff picture due to the power their defence presented. Howard picked off Patrick Mahomes three times In their game vs Kansas City and continued to shine until the very end.

For those reasons, I believe Xavien Howard of the Miami Dolphins is the 2020 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Coach of the Year: Such a close race. Ron Rivera beat cancer and did everything he could  to guide a young Washington team to the playoffs. Sean McDermott in Buffalo has his team in the AFC Championship Game and has Josh Allen playing like a modern day John Elway.

Yet, there is one thing that happened this season that I never thought I would see, the Cleveland Browns made the playoffs. Kevin Stefanski has to win this award, he just has too.

MVP: A race that started with Russell Wilson, moved over to being a one horse race and everyone else chasing Mahomes, and ended with none other than Aaron Rodgers doing that little mid game smirk right into an MVP award.

4299 passing yards and nearly flawless in the red zone. 49 touchdowns through the air while only throwing 5 interceptions (!!!). It was stunning to watch number 12 all season as a fan. Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers is the 2020 NFL MVP.

Evan Power, Evolution 107.9.

 

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