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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FFM/NFL Finals: 2024 Season Awards Tournament: MVP
AFC Final Four Winner = QB Josh Allen, BUF
NFC Final Four Winner = QB Jared Goff, DET
I could go either way here. Obviously, both QBs were high performers this season. Total yards and total TDs were close to each other if you look at Weeks 1-17, Allen didn’t play Week 18. Both guys won a lot of games.
But I’m going to give the nod to Goff. He played in a much tougher division. He was so ‘money’ on 4th-downs all season. But even though the Bills beat the Lions in the regular season, in that matchup Allen had 362 yards passing and 2 TDs with 68 yards rushing and 2 TDs...430 total yards and 4 TDs for Allen, but Goff had 494 yards passing and 5 TDs in that same game.
FFM/NFL Finals Winner = QB Jared Goff, DET
*Ross Jacobs votes:
AFC – Josh Allen
NFC – Saquon Barkley
Winner – Josh Allen
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FFM/NFL Finals: 2024 Season Awards Tournament: Rookie of the Year
AFC Final Four Winner = QB Bo Nix, DEN
NFC Final Four Winner = QB Jayden Daniels, WSH
This is closer than many would think. First, look at how close the ‘stats’ are...
4,205 total yards, 34 total TDs = Nix
4,459 total yards, 31 total TDs = Daniels
Both played great. Nix, especially, got better as the season went on.
Instead of trying to find the small strand of data or moment to try and decide, I’m just going to say these were two EPIC rookie QB seasons...arguably the best rookie QB seasons ever. Neither deserves to lose, so they won’t (for me) -- co-winners of the award here.
FFM/NFL Finals Winner = QB Bo Nix, DEN and QB Jayden Daniels, WSH
*Ross Jacobs votes:
AFC – Brock Bowers
NFC – Jayden Daniels
Winner – Brock Bowers
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FFM/NFL Finals: 2024 Season Awards Tournament: Defensive Player of the Year
AFC Final Four Winner = CB Pat Surtain, DEN
NFC Final Four Winner = SAF/CB Brian Branch, DET
I like both of these guys for the award. Branch was such a playmaker for Detroit, but Surtain was the shutdown corner that teams avoided, and when they did go at him his cover numbers will arguably the best in the league.
To break the mental tie (in my head), I will lean to Surtain because I think the shutdown corner position is the most valuable defensive thing in the league. Branch was a defensive joker, wild card that would line up all over...so it lends itself to putting up numbers and being visible. Surtain is more a defender that teams avoided at all costs.
FFM/NFL Finals Winner = CB Pat Surtain, DEN
*Ross Jacobs votes:
AFC – Pat Surtain
NFC – Zach Baun
Winner – Zach Baun
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FFM/NFL Finals: 2024 Season Awards Tournament: Coach of the Year
AFC Final Four Winner = HC Sean Payton, DEN
NFC Final Four Winner = HC Dan Campbell, DET
We end the awards with the most obvious choice of the entire awards process...Dan Campbell as the COY for 2024 season.
Not only did the Lions have a top record in the NFL, doing so in the toughest Conference and Division...but Campbell also re-wrote the way coaches should attack a game, and how to go-for-it on 4th-downs. Campbell was a trailblazer and had both of his top assistants were in high demand, and were hired away for head coaching jobs.
One of the most epic coaching seasons in my history doing this tournament.
FFM/NFL Finals Winner = HC Dan Campbell, DET
*Ross Jacobs votes:
AFC – Joe Brady
NFC – Dan Campbell
Winner – Dan Campbell
