As Week 9, the NFL’s midway point, concludes, let’s take a look at NFL midseason award projections.
Most valuable player: Tom Brady, quarterback, Patriots
Brady is on pace for 5,418 yards after eight games this season, but his 22-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio is what earns him this honor. New England has no true No. 1 wide receiver, running backs picked off the waiver wire and a defense suspect to gaps in coverage. The Patriots aren’t 8-0 without him, in fact, they are pretty average without Brady.
Also in contention: Cam Newton, Panthers; Adrian Peterson, Vikings
Offensive player of the year: Antonio Brown, wide receiver, Steelers/Julio Jones, WR, Falcons
Co-winners for this award because you can’t mention one’s success without the other. Arguably the NFL’s top two receivers are both over 1,000 receiving yards at the NFL’s midway point and both on track to break Calvin Johnson’s single-season receiving record of 1,964 yards. Jones already has 80 receptions, putting him on pace to shatter Marvin Harrison’s record of 143. Brown has missed his starting QB for a lot of the season, but just put up 17 receptions for 284 yards Sunday.
Also in contention: Drew Brees, Saints; Tom Brady, Patriots
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Defensive player of the year: Charles Woodson, safety, Raiders
What Woodson is doing at 39 years old is nothing short of amazing. His five interceptions, including two against Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning in spectacular fashion, are tied for the most in the NFL. He’s helped make the Raiders true playoff contenders.
Also in contention: Josh Norman, Panthers; Aqib Talib, Broncos
Offensive rookie of the year: Todd Gurley, running back, Rams
There’s a legitimate question whether Gurley is already the best running back in the NFL. Gurley is coming off an ACL injury, which could signal he’s not even 100 percent, yet. That’s scary. He’s the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher despite only starting five games this season due to injury. Gurley averages 5.6 yards per carry and rushed for more than 125 yards in four straight games this season.
Also in contention: Amari Cooper, WR, Raiders, Marcus Mariota, Titans
Defensive rookie of the year: Jordan Hicks, linebacker, Eagles
Not a well-known name, yet, but Hicks will be. The inside linebacker started the season buried on the depth chart behind talented veterans before injuries allowed him to flourish. Hicks has 50 tackles, two interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. He also may have single-handedly ended the Cowboys’ season with his Week 2 sack that broke Tony Romo’s collarbone and his pick-six Sunday led the Eagles to an overtime victory over Dallas.
Also in contention: Marcus Peters, Chiefs; Leonard Williams, Jets
Comeback player of the year: Thomas Davis, Panthers
Another guy a little under the radar, sort of a trend, Davis is coming off three ACL surgeries in the last three years. A lot of guys would have quit, but Davis has come back to be one of the best inside linebackers in the league. Davis has 65 tackles, three sacks, three interceptions and a forced fumble on the season. He and Luke Kuechly anchor the Panthers’ ferocious defense.
Also in contention: Carson Palmer, Cardinals; Eric Berry, Chiefs
Coach of the year: Wade Phillips, defensive coordinator, Broncos
Going against conventional wisdom a little here, but who says a head coach has to win coach of the year. Phillips has turned a capable 2014 Broncos defense to a dominant, elite, No. 1 ranked defense in 2015 with largely the same guys. Phillips scheme relies on true man coverage talents of his ballhawking secondary and allows pass rushers like Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware to pin their ears down and attack the QB. This unit shut down Aaron Rodgers and the Packers to 140 total yards and only 77 passing. Riverboat Ron Rivera also has done a similar job in Carolina.
Also in contention: Ron Rivera, Panthers; Marvin Lewis, Bengals
CHEW ON THIS
• Denver’s undefeated season ends as the , 27-24.
• The , columnist Woody Paige writes.
• Denver cornerback , columnist Mark Kiszla writes.
• Not to pile on, but .
• In other news, Colorado’s top high school football prospect, .
• On this coming year’s Hall of Fame ballot: .
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WATCH THIS
It wasn’t all bad for the Denver Broncos. to close the first half.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Lou Ferrigno, the Hulk to Bill Bixby’s David Banner, turns 64. Also, WWE superstar Chris Jericho turns 45 today. Wrestling fans from the ’90s remember this: .
Cameron Wolfe: cwolfe@denverpost.com or @CameronWolfe
Online sports producer Joe Nguyen contributed to this story.
