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2009 NFL End of the Year Awards
Published by JM Van Horn on January 5, 2010
The NFL regular season is over and fans are getting geared up for what promises to be an intriguing playoff. Before things begin, let’s take a look at the players and coaches who should take home the 2009 NFL awards.
MVP: Phillip Rivers, San Diego
While many have Manning getting the nod to win his fourth MVP award, my choice would be for Rivers. Rivers compiled a 104.4 QB rating by completing 65.2% of his passes for 4,254 yards with 28 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Manning ended the 2009 season with a slightly lower QB rating though he threw for more yards, touchdowns, and almost twice as many interceptions.
Both men had to deal with absolute atrocious running games, with the Colts gaining 3.5 yards per carry and the Chargers gaining 3.3 yards per carry. It’s true Manning has dealt with several injuries on his team but the Colts have more experienced receivers than do the Chargers. One thing is for sure, both teams would be out of the playoffs if either of them had been injured.
Had the Tennessee Titans made the NFL playoffs, running back Chris Johnson would have earned serious consideration for the MVP award.
Runners-up: Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Chris Johnson
Defensive Player of the Year: Charles Woodson, Green Bay
This award was a two horse race during the last month of the season when everyone began paying attention to the Packers’ Woodson and the Jets’ Darrelle Revis.
These two players gave opponents no room to throw on their side of the field and blanketed opposing receivers. While Woodson (9 interceptions and 3 touchdowns) edges out Revis (6 interceptions and 1 touchdown) he will have a hard time keeping the award away from him next year.
Runners-up: Darrelle Revis, Jared Allen
Offensive Player of the Year: Chris Johnson, Tennessee
There is little doubt the Titans’ Chris Johnson had the biggest impact in offensive production this season. Johnson ended the season with 2,006 rushing yards to go along with 50 receptions for 503 yards and combined for 16 touchdowns.
Johnson averaged a staggering 125.4 yards per game and was a major reason why the Titans were able to turn their season around. Johnson closed out the season by running for more than 100 yards in 11 consecutive games. If Johnson can stay healthy next year, he should make a serious run at the single season rushing record held by Eric Dickerson.
Runners-up: Peyton Manning, Phillip Rivers
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Brian Cushing, Houston
For the seventh year in a row, a linebacker will take home the award. The Texans’ Brian Cushing will easily beat out the Packers’ Clay Matthews when the voting is tallied up.
Cushing was a one man wrecking crew as he led the Texans with 134 tackles to go with 5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and a safety. While Matthews 10 sacks are impressive, the rest of his numbers came nowhere close to what Cushing did during his first season.
Runners-up: Clay Matthews, Rey Maualuga
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Austin Collie, Indianapolis
Normally wide receivers take a few years to develop and learn the proper routes to find success in the NFL. The Colts’ Austin Collie was the exception this year. Thrust into the spot of the third receiver role due to injuries, Collie stepped up.
This former fourth round draft pick hauled in 60 receptions for 676 yards with 7 touchdowns, which was tied for fourth best in the AFC. Though Percy Harvin was equally as impressive for the Vikings, he benefited from being placed in an offense where the opposing defense had to game plan for Adrian Peterson first.
Runners-up: Percy Harvin, Michael Oher
Coach of the Year: Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati
Many were ready to give Jim Caldwell the award outright for the 14-2 season he posted as a rookie head coach. While the record is impressive, the edge needs to go to Marvin Lewis and what he was able to do with the Bengals.
They earned a division title and a 6-0 division record in the tough AFC North after a horrible 2008. The Bengals found success on both sides of the ball with either previously unknown players or those no one wanted any more.
Runner-up: Jim Caldwell
Come back later this week for our look at the 2009 NFL playoffs.
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Tagged with: 2009 NFL Awards, AFC North, AFC South, AFC West, Austin Collie, Baltimore Ravens, Brian Cushing, Charles Woodson, Chris Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals, Clay Matthews, Coach of the Year, Darrelle Revis, Defensive Player of the Year, Defensive Rookie of the Year, Drew Brees, Football, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jared Allen, Jim Caldwell, JM Van Horn, Marvin Lewis, Michael Oher, Minnesota Vikings, NFC North, NFL, NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, Percy Harvin, Peyton Manning, Phillip Rivers, Rey Maualuga, San Diego Chargers, Tennessee Titans
Spewf on Wed, 6th Jan 2010 12:40
Peyton Manning -
Won 14 games with two starting rookie receivers
Fastest person to have 50,000 yards
won 7 games when trailing in the 4th quarter
sacked the least
great accuracy
more stuff…
I can guarantee Rivers wont get it.
Living with Balls on Wed, 6th Jan 2010 15:06
OK. There is no way Woodson should get the award over Revis. Look at the numbers. Revis shut down every top WR he went against: Ochocinco, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Steve Smith, Randy Moss (twice). I actually began benching these guys in fantasy when they went against the Jets. The Jets would not be in the playoffs without him.
Slow Motion Sports Compilation, Depressing TV Commercials & Aston Martin Lagonda Concept | djmick: V2 on Thu, 7th Jan 2010 04:32
[...] 2009 NFL End of the Year Awards [...]
JM Van Horn on Fri, 8th Jan 2010 10:39
Solid points…
I gave the edge to Woodson because he seems to have the slight edge over Revis when it comes to playing the run. As for the statistics per game, they are impressive. But I took them with a grain of salt because there are so many variables. Now if Revis can reproduce it over the coming season, then we can show there is more to it.
As for Manning and Rivers, I know Manning will get it. i just think it should be a lot closer than how it will come out. The one stat that you mentioned, winning 7 games when trailing in the 4th quarter, I absolutely detest it. The reason is because the team should never be in that spot if the offense is taking care of business. This is something I have grown up with being a fan of the Miami Dolphins and talking about Dan Marino’s comebacks.