Most Valuable Player: Peyton Manning
He more than likely would have led the Colts to an undefeated regular season had Jim Caldwell not decided to sit their starters. Manning should win it for the 2nd straight season.
Runners Up: Philip Rivers, Drew Brees, Brett Favre
Offensive Player of the Year: Chris Johnson
After an impressive rookie season, Chris Johnson didn’t miss a beat as he rushed for over 2,000 yards. He was huge in keeping the Titans season alive.
Runners Up: Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers
Defensive Player of the Year: Charles Woodson
All season long Woodson was the anchor of an impressive Packers defense and continued to do it all on the defensive side of the ball with nine interceptions and three touchdowns.
Runners Up: Darrell Revis, Elvis Dumervil, Darren Sharper
Coach of the Year: Marvin Lewis
Lewis did everything to get himself off the hot seat, and led the Bengals to a perfect record in the AFC North. This was an emotional season for the Bengals with the passing of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s wife, Vicky, as well as the tragic death of WR Chris Henry.
Runners Up: Jim Caldwell, Sean Payton, Norv Turner
Comeback Player of the Year: Carson Palmer
After missing much of last season with an injury, Palmer came back in 2009 healthy and efficient, leading the Bengals to a division title.
Runners Up: Tom Brady, Chad Ochocinco
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Percy Harvin
Harvin had a very impressive rookie season for the Vikings and found chemistry with Brett Favre while scoring eight total touchdowns.
Runners Up: Knowshon Moreno, Michael Oher, Hakeem Nicks, LeSean McCoy
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Brian Cushing
In his rookie season out of USC, Cushing had over 100 tackles, and four interceptions while making the pro bowl.
Runners Up: Brian Orakpo, Jairus Byrd
Most Improved Player: Ray Rice
In his 2nd season out of Rutgers, Rice overtook Willis McGahee for the starting job and rushed for over 1000 yards and had 78 receptions.
Runners Up: Matt Schaub, Vincent Jackson, Miles Austin
Biggest Disappointment: Pittsburgh Steelers
After winning the super bowl, the Steelers figured to come back poised for at least another playoff run. However, after losing five in a row, and losing to the Chiefs, Raiders, and Browns in back-to-back weeks, they couldn’t recover enough to make the playoffs.
Runners Up: New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears
Biggest Surprise: Cincinnati Bengals
After finishing last season 4-11-1, the Bengals came out this year playing different football. Led by their impressive defense, the Bengals won the AFC North. Bengals fans weren’t used to seeing the defense better than the offense.
Runners Up: New York Jets, Denver Broncos
Best Free Agent Pick-Up: Brett Favre
After his collapse a season ago with the Jets, Favre came back strong with the Vikings and led them to 12-4 and an NFC North title. He made them instant Super Bowl contenders and showed he can definitely still play.
Worst Free Agent Pick-Up: Albert Haynesworth
In his first season with Redskins after getting his $100 million contract, Haynesworth was not impressive and couldn’t stay healthy much of the year. Dan Snyder better hope Haynes is worth it next season.
Runner Up: Terrell Owens
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1. Indianapolis Colts (1): 14-1. Well, obviously the Colts didn’t care about going for perfection, as Jim Caldwell chose to sit his starters in the 2nd half. All will be forgotten with a Super Bowl victory.
2. San Diego Chargers (3): 12-3. The Chargers are a team nobody wants to face come playoff time. They look scary good.
3. New Orleans Saints (2): 13-2. Suddenly there is trouble in New Orleans as they have suffered back to back home losses and this one to the lowly Buccaneers. The defense doesn’t look good.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (5): 11-4. The Eagles avoided a collapse against the Broncos to hold on for their 6th straight win. The division and a first round bye is theirs with a win in Dallas.
5. Minnesota Vikings (4): 11-4. The Vikings had all their chances to come back and win that game. As good as Adrian Peterson is, it’s evident he has a fumbling problem. A few weeks ago did anyone expect this team to be any lower than the 2nd seed?
6. Dallas Cowboys (7): 10-5. The Cowboys are peaking at the right time and now have a chance for revenge against the Eagles after last years beat down.
7. Cincinnati Bengals (6): 10-5. It’s never pretty when the Bengals win, and again they grinded it out to win the AFC North.
8. Green Bay Packers (7): 10-5. This week the Packers play the Cardinals in what could be a possible playoff preview.
9. Arizona Cardinals (9): 10-5. With Beanie Wells turning into the player they hoped he would be, the Cardinals are poised for another playoff run.
10. New England Patriots (11): 10-5. After their dominating win over the Jags, the Patriots clinched the AFC East and Tom Brady is back in sync with Randy Moss. Look out.
11. Denver Broncos (13): 8-7. The Broncos fought all the way back from 27-10 only to lose in the closing seconds. They need some help to make the playoffs.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (14): 8-7. If the Steelers had beaten either the Browns, Raiders, or Chiefs, they’d be a good bet to make the playoffs. Now? They’re playing well, but need some help. Nobody in the AFC wants the defending champs to make it.
13. Baltimore Ravens (10): 8-7. Yet again the Ravens lose a close game in which they could have won. But still, a win in Oakland and the Ravens are in the playoffs.
14. Houston Texans (19): 8-7. A huge first half lifted the Texans to a season saving win. The playoffs are still possible, but they need a lot of help.
15. Atlanta Falcons (18): 8-7. It just goes to show you that the Falcons could have made the playoffs had Matt Ryan stayed healthy. Watch out for them in 2010.
16. New York Jets (20): 8-7. Amazingly, if the Jets beat the Bengals on Sunday night they are in the playoffs. Jim Caldwell played the role of Santa Clause when he granted Rex Ryan’s wish to sit the Colts starters.
17. Tennessee Titans (15): 7-8. They got destroyed against the Chargers, and now they’re playoff chances are finished. They dug themselves too big of a hole.
18. New York Giants (12): 8-7. After starting out 5-0 did anyone expect this team to miss out on a playoff berth? That was ugly in their final home game in Giants stadium.
19. Miami Dolphins (17): 7-8. For the second week in a row the Dolphins couldn’t overcome a bad first half and it cost them a playoff berth.
20. Carolina Panthers (21): 7-8. Had Matt Moore been the starter all season, would the Panthers be a playoff team?
21. Jacksonville Jaguars (16): 7-8. They got killed in New England, and their playoff dreams are over.
22. San Francisco 49ers (22): 7-8. Watch out for the 49ers in 2010. Alex Smith is starting to come into his own.
23. Chicago Bears (26): 6-9. That was hands down the defining moment of Jay Cutlers career as a Bear. The Bears wanted nothing more than to win that game.
24. Washington Redskins (24): 4-11. The last two weeks while the Redskins were hoping to crush playoff hopes of the Giants and Cowboys, they did the exact opposite. They got dominated against the Cowboys.
25. Buffalo Bills (25): 5-10. Brian Brohm didn’t do much in his first career start. The Bills badly need a Quarterback next season.
26. Cleveland Browns (28): 4-11. It took the Browns awhile, but they finally found an offense. Jerome Harrison was no fluke.
27. Oakland Raiders (23): 5-10. I don’t understand why Charlie Frye started after JaMarcus Russell led the Raiders to a game winning drive in Denver.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (30): 3-12. Did anyone think they had a chance in New Orleans? Raheem Morris got the best win of his young career, as did Josh Freeman.
29. Seattle Seahawks (27): 5-10. Matt Hasslebecks career looks to be over. The off-season can’t come soon enough.
30. Kansas City Chiefs (29): 3-12. They played hard in Cincinnati but couldn’t generate enough offense to win it. Jamal Charles continues his great play.
31. Detroit Lions (31): 2-13. The Lions better pray the Matt Stafford is the guy, or else it’s another high pick gone wrong.
32. St.Louis Rams (32): 1-14. Well, at least Steven Jackson is going to make the pro bowl. Not much else has been a bright spot for the Rams this season.
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