Each year, I go division by division and nominate who I believe is each team’s candidate for the major NFL awards and then we discuss/declare who the division’s major award winner is for the season…and that player goes onto the divisional Final Four with a chance to go to the Super Bowl/Finals for a chance to be declared my seasonal award winner.
We go division-by-division each day, then to the Final Four for each conference, then the finals to name our winner the day the NFL announces their winners. *And my choices are usually different up and down the line in each category, so enjoy a different take on the NFL awards.
We also have FFM’s Ross Jacobs’ nominees by team, by division, by conference and his eventual winner to share along with my nominees and winners.
Two notes on the voting:
*MVP (any position, but usually offense)
**Coach of the Year (any coach on the staff, not just the head coach)
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AFC West: 2024 Season Awards Tournament: MVP
KC: QB Patrick Mahomes, KC
LAC: QB Justin Herbert, LAC
DEN: QB Bo Nix, DEN
LV: TE Brock Bowers, LV
No one will beat Mahomes here, but just to go through the other guys...
Herbert would be my last choice of the award. He was kept in a box and given hardly any weapons and a bad O-Line. Herbert is still good, but he should be great...and yet he’s getting worse as he goes.
Brock Bowers would be next in line. He was the Vegas offense. But he’s not the MVP of the division.
Bo Nix is the runner up. What he did as a rookie...it would be considered epic, somewhat legendary...except Jayden Daniels existed and took all the rookie QB accolades, as he deserved -- but Nix deserves better treatment/acknowledgement.
AFC West Winner = QB Patrick Mahomes, KC...moves on to the AFC Final Four.
*Ross Jacobs votes:
KC – Patrick Mahomes
LAC – Justin Herbert
DEN – Pat Surtain
LV – Brock Bowers
AFC West – Patrick Mahomes
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AFC West: 2024 Season Awards Tournament: Rookie of the Year
KC: WR Xavier Worthy, KC
LAC: WR Ladd McConkey, LAC
DEN: QB Bo Nix, DEN
LV: TE Brock Bowers, LV
Worthy had a nice rookie campaign, but he is last in this super-class of rookies in this division.
Bo Nix HAS TO be the winner of the award for this division. Bowers and McConkey were EXCELLENT but when a QB, TE, and WR all have great rookie seasons -- you have to give the nod to the QB.
The Raiders could’ve sucked just as much without Bowers, as they did with him. LAC didn’t want to feature Ladd...he was an accidental-great rookie. Bo Nix changed EVERYTHING for Denver’s team, so he gets my nod.
AFC West Winner = QB Bo Nix, DEN...who heads to the AFC Final Four
*Ross Jacobs votes:
KC – Xavier Worthy
LAC – Ladd McConkey
DEN – Bo Nix
LV – Brock Bowers
AFC West – Brock Bowers
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AFC West: 2024 Season Awards Tournament: Defensive Player of the Year
KC: DT Chris Jones, KC
LAC: SAF Derwin James, LAC
DEN: CB Pat Surtain, DEN
LV: DE Maxx Crosby, LV
This really could’ve been three Broncos vying for the AFC West title...Nik Bonitto, Zach Allen, and Pat Surtain...but, I am giving it to Surtain.
Chris Jones and Maxx Crosby are great players, but they didn’t have super-great seasons. Derwin James would’ve been the runner up here of the 4 team reps. Surtain wins it.
AFC West Winner = CB Pat Surtain, DEN...moving on to the AFC Final Four.
*Ross Jacobs votes:
KC – Chris Jones
LAC – Derwin James
DEN – Pat Surtain
LV – Robert Spillane
AFC West – Pat Surtain
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AFC West: 2024 Season Awards Tournament: Coach of the Year
KC: HC Andy Reid, KC
LAC: HC Jim Harbaugh, LAC
DEN: HC Sean Payton, DEN
LV: iO-C Scott Turner, LV
The Raiders looked the best on offense when Scott Turner took over as O-C, but he’s not winning here. Jim Harbaugh did a good job getting the Chargers to the playoffs, but this team was not improving to the finish line...it was more of a let down in several areas.
Andy Reid deserves huge credit for a (15-2) season, but I am going to give the nod to Sean Payton...taking a rookie QB and getting the Broncos back to a winning team and to the playoffs. Close call, but slight nod to Payton.
AFC West Winner = HC Sean Payton, DEN...is moving on to the AFC Final Four.
*Ross Jacobs votes:
KC – Andy Reid
LAC – Jim Harbaugh
DEN – Sean Payton
LV – Edgar Bennett
AFC West – Andy Reid
