2016 NFL Honors: Final Results and Winners For Every Award
By Erik Lambert
The 2016 NFL Honors were expected to feature big names and more than a few surprises. They certainly didn’t disappoint in any regard to that.
Of course the Super Bowl is the big game that everybody strives for, but that doesn’t mean other players and coaches should go unnoticed every year because they couldn’t win that game. Competition is about accomplishment on many levels. Individual and team-based. Football has several that showcase what makes the game great.
So who were some of the big winners this season?
MVP: Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
Some may have felt Derek Carr or Tom Brady deserved the award but the truth is Matt Ryan owned it from the very beginning. He was outstanding from start to finish and now has his Atlanta Falcons one win away from being world champions. It certainly wasn’t their 25th ranked defense that did it. Without Ryan this team may not even have a winning record. That’s MVP personified.
Defensive Player of the Year: Khalil Mack, DE, Oakland Raiders
This was a bit of an upset to many. It looked like Von Miller had the award sewn up, but upon examining the numbers it’s not a surprise Khalil Mack swiped it away from him. He finished with 11 sacks, a interception, five forced fumbles, and a defensive touchdown. Every time the Oakland Raiders needed a big play on defense, he was the one who provided it.
Coach of the Year: Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys
The competition for this award was hot in 2017. So many deserving candidates. Belichick guiding the Patriots to 14-2 despite not having Brady for four games. Adam Gase turning a 1-4 Miami Dolphins team into a playoff participant. Still, none of them could top Jason Garrett. Leading a team with an all-rookie backfield to the #1 seed in the NFC made him the easy choice in the end.