NFL Midseason Awards: Darnold's Rise to MVP, a Surprising Browns Rookie
The NFL midseason awards are here, and they've thrown up some surprises. At the top of the list is Sam Darnold, quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, who has catapulted himself into the lead for Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors.
Darnold's ascension to MVP status wasn't expected, especially considering he was drafted by the New York Jets just three years ago. However, his performance on the field has been nothing short of phenomenal. He leads the league in QBR and big-time throw rate, with no one ripping as many high-level throws down the field under pressure.
The Seahawks' transformation from a feisty team to one of the two best in the league can be attributed to Darnold's arrival. The quarterback has been sensational, making aggression his hallmark. He hasn't met a coverage he isn't keen to shred, and at this stage of his career, he's seen everything defenses will throw his way and has all the answers.
Darnold's success is not surprising when you consider the Seahawks' defense is humming, they can score on long drives or with chunk plays, and their quarterback has become an elevator rather than a passenger. The two upcoming duels with Matthew Stafford will shape the MVP race, but for now, Darnold has the edge.
On the other side of the ball, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is having a campaign that's all too familiar - dazzling production, rushing at a historic pace, and sealing his team a top seed for the playoffs. While he may not sniff the biggest prize this season, Taylor is unlikely to be overlooked again.
In Cleveland, defensive end Myles Garrett has put together the most dominant season of his career, putting together 11 sacks and 24 run stops while drawing more attention from opposing offenses than any other edge-defender in football.
On the rookie front, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is having a breakout season, averaging 16.9 yards per reception this season. He's not just a smooth receiver but also a splash play waiting to happen.
However, it's linebackers who are taking center stage this year. The Cleveland Browns' Carson Schwesinger has been the cleanest of the duo and has been a linchpin of an outstanding unit from week one. Despite being drafted by the Browns with the 35th overall pick, he has walked into the league from day one as if he belongs.
Finally, New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is taking home the Coach of the Year award. The coach's great gift - structure - has restored order to a franchise that had all but given up on the season just six months ago. Vrabel has brought discipline and creativity to the team, turning them into something formidable in the process.
There you have it - the midseason awards with their share of surprises and stories to tell.
The NFL midseason awards are here, and they've thrown up some surprises. At the top of the list is Sam Darnold, quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, who has catapulted himself into the lead for Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors.
Darnold's ascension to MVP status wasn't expected, especially considering he was drafted by the New York Jets just three years ago. However, his performance on the field has been nothing short of phenomenal. He leads the league in QBR and big-time throw rate, with no one ripping as many high-level throws down the field under pressure.
The Seahawks' transformation from a feisty team to one of the two best in the league can be attributed to Darnold's arrival. The quarterback has been sensational, making aggression his hallmark. He hasn't met a coverage he isn't keen to shred, and at this stage of his career, he's seen everything defenses will throw his way and has all the answers.
Darnold's success is not surprising when you consider the Seahawks' defense is humming, they can score on long drives or with chunk plays, and their quarterback has become an elevator rather than a passenger. The two upcoming duels with Matthew Stafford will shape the MVP race, but for now, Darnold has the edge.
On the other side of the ball, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is having a campaign that's all too familiar - dazzling production, rushing at a historic pace, and sealing his team a top seed for the playoffs. While he may not sniff the biggest prize this season, Taylor is unlikely to be overlooked again.
In Cleveland, defensive end Myles Garrett has put together the most dominant season of his career, putting together 11 sacks and 24 run stops while drawing more attention from opposing offenses than any other edge-defender in football.
On the rookie front, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is having a breakout season, averaging 16.9 yards per reception this season. He's not just a smooth receiver but also a splash play waiting to happen.
However, it's linebackers who are taking center stage this year. The Cleveland Browns' Carson Schwesinger has been the cleanest of the duo and has been a linchpin of an outstanding unit from week one. Despite being drafted by the Browns with the 35th overall pick, he has walked into the league from day one as if he belongs.
Finally, New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is taking home the Coach of the Year award. The coach's great gift - structure - has restored order to a franchise that had all but given up on the season just six months ago. Vrabel has brought discipline and creativity to the team, turning them into something formidable in the process.
There you have it - the midseason awards with their share of surprises and stories to tell.
. He was drafted just three years ago and had a lot to prove, but he didn't let his past doubts hold him back 
. He went out there and made it his mission to succeed, and now he's reaping the rewards 
. We can all learn from his confidence and determination – when we trust ourselves, amazing things happen 
.
he was like a dark horse pick but he's been slaying on the field! 
and let's be real, the seahawks' defense is straight fire 
they're making it easy for darnold to shine. 
that's wild. Seattle's defense has been straight fire this season, they're giving Darnold so much support 
meanwhile Colts' Taylor is just dominating as expected 
Emeka Egbuka is on a whole nother level 
, Myles Garrett's incredible form on the edge 
. It's not often you see a rookie come in and immediately make an impact like he has with the Browns. He's definitely on my radar now 
, the guy's been a total game-changer for the Seahawks! He's always been got talent but now he's really showing what he can do under pressure. I mean, 11 wins in a row is crazy 
, talk about exciting! And Carson Schwesinger's got game 
. Emeka Egbuka is having a breakout season, yeah, but Carson Schwesinger has been quietly killing it as well 
. Why does one kid get all the attention while his teammate flies under the radar? It's not like they're even close in terms of performance.
, except for the fact that I've been saying that about them since week 1 and nobody gives it any credit 
. Maybe if you actually watch their games, you'd know what's going on instead of just reading about it on here.
, but let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet. The second half of the season is gonna be wild 
, and I'm not sure anyone will still be relevant by then 
.