NFL midseason awards: Busting the biggest myth about the 2023 MVP race
We're officially at the midseason mark of the 2023 NFL season. That's why it's the perfect timing to go on and pick the award winners of the first nine weeks of the year as we gear up for the best of November, December, and January football. Let's dive in! 2023 NFL Midseason Awards MVP: QB […]
We're officially at the midseason mark of the 2023 NFL season.
That's why it's the perfect timing to go on and pick the award winners of the first nine weeks of the year as we gear up for the best of November, December, and January football.
Let's dive in!
2023 NFL Midseason Awards
MVP: QB Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs)
Boring pick? Maybe. The correct one? I would bet so.
I know Lamar Jackson is getting some midseason hype to win the MVP due to the rise of the Baltimore Ravens. I've partaken in it as well. He's such a great quarterback and one of the most fun players to play in this league. CBS even showed a graphic comparing his numbers from his 2019 MVP season to his current year:
But I'm sorry for spoiling the party: He just doesn't have the numbers. At least not as of yet.
Consider this: the NFL usually picks the quarterback with the highest total EPA in pass plays.
Per ESPN, Patrick Mahomes leads the NFL in this key category behind Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts. Lamar Jackson is 7th. Sumersports measures the same stat differently, but Mahomes is 3rd in total EPA with Jackson coming in at 11th.
Give me Patrick on this one.
The Chiefs' offense is not at its best this season but I would be surprised if voters ignore the tangible production Mahomes is putting together right now. The fact that the Chiefs are still the No. 1 seed of the AFC only helps his case.
And come on, have you tuned into a Chiefs game this year? Mahomes is carrying that unit of wide receivers who consistently leave him hanging.
Offensive Player of the Year: WR Tyreek Hill (Miami Dolphins)
I’m not overthinking this one. Tyreek Hill has 1,075 yards through nine games, 70 more than second-place A.J. Brown. He also has forced 15 missed tackles and made 50 first downs, both being the most in the NFL.
Hill also happens to have the most catches 20+ yards downfield with a whopping 12, per PFF. He also has the second-most behind the line of scrimmage (19). He's simply too versatile.
He is the Dolphins' offense. Everything Mike McDaniel's unit does is about speed. Hill is the embodiment of speed, owning three of the eight highest speeds clocked in by NextGenStats.
Defensive Player of the Year: EDGE Micah Parsons (Dallas Cowboys)
Parsons might need to lead the league in sacks to win the award based on what we’ve learned in recent years. However, I struggle to not choose him to win it after back-to-back years of receiving votes for it.
Parsons is double-teamed in 30% of his plays, per ESPN. That's the highest rate in the NFL among edge rushers. He still has the second-highest pass rush win rate and the second-most pressures in the league.
Teams game plan heavily against him and his impact is undeniable through eight games this season. The one man who can put up a fight for the award is Myles Garrett, whose numbers are similar to Parsons in terms of winning despite being double-teamed so often.
Coach of the Year: HC Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions)
I didn’t like Campbell as a Coach of the Year pick in the preseason because the expectations were already sky-high. It seemed like a daunting task to have him meet them. Well, he’s delivered on them at the midseason mark.
His Lions are not only leaders of the NFC North but they're the second seed as of right now with a 6-2 record. They have a better record than the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. And hey, they took down the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1!
I still think the window is open but Campbell would be my early pick as of now. Mike McDaniel is a worthy rival but his team has lost three games to winning teams.
Comeback Player of the Year: QB Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins)
Speaking of the Dolphins. I picked Tua Tagovailoa to win Comeback Player of the Year over Damar Hamlin in the preseason and I’m sticking to it.
Hamlin is a living legend and I mean this in no way as a slight to the Bills safety because he deserves all of the respect. But in the NFL, it's tough to win the award when you're a healthy scratch every week. Hamlin has played one game in 2023 so far.
Meanwhile, Tagovailoa hasn't missed playing time and is one of the best quarterbacks in the league this season. So far, he's got the highest pass EPA in the NFL and could even be in the discussion for MVP despite recent losses to winning squads.
Assistant Coach of the Year: DC Mike McDonald (Baltimore Ravens)
Per RBSDM, McDonald’s defense ranks:
- #2 in EPA/play
- #2 in dropback EPA/play
- #4 in rush EPA/play
It is the only unit to rank in the Top 4 in each of those stats. It allows only 2.3 red zone attempts per game, the third-least in the NFL. When opponents do get inside their 20-yard line, the Ravens allow the lowest red zone touchdown percentage.
The cherry on top: They held the Lions to six points and the Seahawks to three. McDonald might be a head coach in the league very soon.
Annoying NFL trend is costing players a ton of money
Things are out of control.
