2022 NFL Honors predictions

Story posted October 22, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Joseph Callahan Jr

Week 6 of the NFL regular season has come and gone. By this time, we have been given enough information to predict many things about the rest of the season.

This includes predicting which teams are contenders, which coaches are on the hot seat and which players are up for awards at the annual NFL Honors night.

Here’s what the main awards at NFL Honors would look like if the season ended today:

Most Valuable Player: QB Josh Allen - Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen is the clear front runner for MVP. He’s the starting quarterback for arguably the best team in the league.

If that isn’t enough, he currently leads the NFL in passing yards (1980) and passing touchdowns (17), while also ranking second in QBR (75.4).

Offensive Player of the Year: RB Nick Chubb - Cleveland Browns

In the race for the best running back this year, it’s a toss up between two bell-cow ball carriers. Chubb gets the nod for now, making him the OPOY.

The Cleveland Browns had an interesting offseason to say the least. However, even with their 2-4 record, Chubb has kept the team somewhat relevant.

He leads the league with 649 yards and seven touchdowns. He ranks second in attempts with 110, slightly behind Saquon Barkley’s 119.

Defensive Player of the Year: EDGE Micah Parsons - Dallas Cowboys

There is a reason that Parsons is being compared to all-time greats this early in his career.

The star linebacker is a large part in the Cowboys’ success without their franchise quarterback Dak Prescott, who fractured his thumb in their season opener.

Parsons is the leading force of the league’s sack leaders, totaling six for himself alone. He couples that with 26 total tackles and a forced fumble.

Comeback Player of the Year: RB Saquon Barkley - New York Giants

This award is undebatable at this moment. After numerous injuries over the past few years, Saquon Barkley finally looks like his rookie self again.

He has already eclipsed his season stats from last year. As of now, he leads the NFL in all-purpose yards (771) and ranks second in total rushing yards (616).

Coach of the Year: Brian Daboll - New York Giants

Coach of the Year is a toss up between two as well. It just so happens that they share a stadium. However, at least the Jets showed some promise under Salah before the season. No one expected the New York Giants to be this good.

The Giants have only one game this season in which they gained over 200 yards passing and rank 17th in scoring offense. Each of their top three receivers have also missed time to injuries.

On the defensive side, they lost their number one corner in James Bradberry and their premiere linebacker in Blake Martinez in the off-season.

Despite all of that, Brian Daboll’s coaching staff have the Giants at 5-1, looking at the playoffs for the first time since 2016. This is all in Daboll’s first season as their head coach.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: RB Breece Hall - New York Jets

Another team that benefited from their ball carrier in the absence of their quarterback is the New York Jets.

The difference is that their lead back is just a rookie. The Jets stole the top running back prospect of this year in the early second round.

His 391 yards and 3 touchdowns have the Jets in the playoffs conversation for the first time since 2010.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: CB Ahmad Gardner - New York Jets

The Jets’ rookies are what is keeping the team afloat at the moment, and it would show during this ceremony.

“Sauce” Gardner has still yet to give up a touchdown. His 23 tackles, 8 passes defensed, and one interception has turned him into the front runner for DROY.

Joseph Callahan Jr is a fourth year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jcc5950@psu.edu.