2016 NFL Predictions: Midseason Award and Super Bowl Picks
By Erik Lambert
The award and playoff races are heating up across the league. With half the season in the books, it’s time for another 2016 NFL predictions rundown.
Every major award category will be covered as will the current favorites to reach both the conference title games and the Super Bowl. The top contenders will be discussed for each and who the likeliest winners will be.
MVP
Top 5 contenders:
- Derek Carr (QB, Oakland)
- Tom Brady (QB, New England)
- Matt Ryan (QB, Atlanta Falcons)
- Drew Brees (QB, New Orleans)
- Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Dallas Cowboys)
Always a competitive category within the context. People need to face facts. This is basically a who’s the best quarterback award. Very rarely does a player from another position win it anymore. It’s just how things are nowadays. While of course Tom Brady and Drew Brees will always get consideration, a couple of youngsters are casting their names into the pool in Matt Ryan and Derek Carr. The question comes down to which team would be in the biggest trouble if any of them went down.
Winner: Derek Carr
The Patriots went 3-1 without Brady so that should be enough to dismiss him. Brees would be an obvious choice but the Saints haven’t won enough games. No this is a race between Carr and Ryan. So why Derek Carr? The Falcons have a better defense (26th to 27th). It’s that close. Oakland wouldn’t have won even half their games without Carr putting up some pretty ridiculous numbers. He’s playing at an elite level and deserves the title of Most Valuable Player.