The annual Serby Says NFL mid-season awards await you with expert analysis from NFL Network’s inimitable Brian Baldinger:
MVP
Jared Goff (QB, Lions)
Josh Allen hasn’t stopped being Josh Allen (17 total touchdowns, one interception) without Stefon Diggs, and Allen is making the Bills feel like a fifth straight division crown.
And Lamar Jackson is threatening to win his third MVP. But Goff (13 TD, four INT, 115.3 rating) has the league’s best completion percentage of 74.1 and the team’s highest scoring team (33.4 points per game).
“It’s impossible, I think, for a defense to stop your offense. … You have so many explosive players and you do such a good job distributing the ball,” Bill Belichick told Goff on the “Let’s Go” podcast.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Derrick Henry (RB, Ravens)
A match made in Smashmouth heaven.
He didn’t fall off a cliff at 30.
“He still has top speed,” Baldinger said. “When he gets on the field, guys have a hard time dropping him or catching him.”
That 87-yard TD on the first snap against the Bills, for example.
“He outplayed the whole team,” Baldinger said.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dexter Lawrence (DT, Giants)
“He beats everyone right off the bat,” Baldinger said. “I did an analysis for the Giants. I found 10 plays in which he was absolutely dominant – whether it was chasing Russell Wilson down the sideline, or just collapsing in the middle of the pocket, or just making solo tackles. He plays a large number of pieces. The only guy we’ve ever seen like that is really Aaron Donald. He’s in a league of his own, but he’s much bigger than Aaron Donald, and probably better against the run.
Runner-up: Xavier McKinney (S, Packers): Made history with five interceptions in his first five games with his new team.
Got his sixth against Trevor Lawrence last Sunday.
“He fits Jeff Harley’s system perfectly,” Baldinger said. “He’s the central defender of this defense.”
OFFENSIVE ROKIE OF THE YEAR
Jayden Daniels (QB, Commanders)
Hi Jayden!
He reminds longtime locals of rookie Robert Griffin III.
Daniels picks up where he left off as a Heisman winner at LSU.
Deadly and precise dual threat with unleashed loot.
“He’s just an elite athlete,” Baldinger said. “I don’t think anyone could have thought he was going to throw the ball as well as he did, and then make decisions as quickly as he did – whether it was running under pressure, like when Todd Bowles bombed him on every play , or whether to find the open receiver or to get out of harm’s way, find the open receiver.
Runner-up: Malik Nabers (WR, Giants): says Serby. Brian Thomas Jr. (WR, Jaguars): Said Baldinger about his favorite receiver in the draft. “He just moves differently than everyone else. It just slides,” Baldinger said. “It’s something else, man. He really is something special.
DEFENSIVE ROKIE OF THE YEAR
Quinyon Mitchell (CB, Eagles)
Started every game.
No interceptions but no TDs allowed.
Ja’Marr Chase limited to one catch for 13 yards on two targets. “He’s sticky in terms of coverage,” Baldinger said. “He reminds me of DJ Reed with the Jets, but faster than DJ Sticky as a DJ.”
COACH OF THE YEAR
Sean Payton (Broncos)
Several candidates, but a 5-3 record with rookie quarterback Bo Nix earns him the nod.
“They don’t have as much talent as Green Bay or Detroit,” Baldinger said.
Dan Quinn (Commanders), Matt LaFleur (Packers), Mike Tomlin (Steelers), Raheem Morris (Falcons), Kevin O’Connell (Vikings) and Dan Campbell (Lions) all belong in the conversation. Andy Reid (7-0 Chiefs) has Patrick Mahomes, so he’s hurting.
Quinn has changed the culture, he’s 6-2 and he’s in first place with Daniels. LaFleur managed to win with backup quarterback Malik Willis and hired the right defensive coordinator in Jeff Hatley.
Motor City Dan Campbell is an elite motivator with an elite coaching staff and a personality that has been massively embraced.
RETURN OF PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JK Dobbins (Chargers)
Has 535 yards on 112 carries with four rushing touchdowns. He’s showing signs of wear, but let’s give this guy a break. “It looks like he’s done it at Ohio State right now,” Baldinger said.
Returning from a torn Achilles in Week 1 last season and a devastating knee injury in 2001.
Runner-up: Kirk Cousins (QB, Vikings): After tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 8 last season, he has 14 TDs and seven INTs, plus $100M guaranteed, with his new team.
No one is talking about Michael Penix Jr. being the eighth pick in the draft.
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
Adam Peters (commanders)
In addition to drafting Daniels with the second pick, he filled several holes with bargains such as Dante Fowler Jr., Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, Zach Ertz, Austin Ekeler.
And I hired Dan Quinn.
OFFENSIVE ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR
Ben Johnson (Lions)
“He’s very creative,” Baldinger said. “He took a quarterback that everyone thought was just average, and here we have him as league MVP, and took a receiver who was a mid-round pick in Amon-Ra St. Brown, He’s an elite player. Someone said David Montgomery should be a starting running back, and he looks like he is. And Jared Goff has never played better. played for Sean McVay.
DEFENSIVE ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR
Brian Flores (Vikings)
“He does it in a way that a lot of teams really struggle with – who’s coming and who’s not coming, and what they’re playing behind,” Baldinger said. “They have a lot of positionless players playing in a lot of different parts of the field, you don’t really know what it is.”
Honorable mention: Steve Spagnuolo (Chiefs) gets the Andy Reid treatment.
SPECIAL TEAMS ASSISTANT
Danny Smith (Steel)
“He’s just full of energy every day. Everybody loves Danny,” Baldinger said. “He gets the best out of all his guys.”
Has been with Mike Tomlin since 2013.
His unit has blocked a league-leading 13.33 percent of opposing teams’ field goal attempts this season.
Many other deserving candidates. The legendary Mike Westhoff (Broncos) is listed as assistant head coach.
MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER
Andrew Van Ginkel (Vikings)
A pair of pick-sixes, one against Daniel Jones, one for 63 yards against Aaron Rodgers. “People say you can’t run Flores’ defense without Van Ginkel,” Baldinger said. “They don’t even give him a position, they just say he’s the point guard.”
Baldinger initially proposed two candidates. “Buddha Baker [Cardinals] is one of my favorite players,” Baldinger said. “This guy hits anything that moves. He doesn’t take away a game, he doesn’t miss a match. He weighs 185 pounds and hits like a ton of bricks. Alex Anzalone in Detroit is a very underrated middle linebacker. He never goes off the field, he plays every play.”
I told him I was choosing Van Ginkel. “Give it to Van Ginkel,” Baldinger said. “First of all, he’s a Wisconsin kid, and all these Wisconsin linebackers are unbelievable players. They have all been trained.
MOST OVERRATED
Trevor Lawrence (QB, Jaguars)
Has 11 TDs and four INTs.
“He’s just very, very inconsistent,” Baldinger said. “He just can’t make plays when you have to be able to play in this league.”
Showing signs of life, but he’s the first overall pick in the ill-fated 2021 QB class and the last man standing with the team that drafted him.
WORST FREE AGENT SIGNATURE
Tyron Smith (LT, Jets)
Signed a one-year contract worth $20 million ($6.5 million guaranteed) and hardly looked like a future first-ballot Hall of Famer.
BEST FREE AGENT SIGNATURE
Saquon Barkley (RB, Eagles)
“He’s been everything they could have hoped for in this moment,” Baldinger said.
Much to the chagrin of Giants general manager Joe Schoen.
“That kid Tyrone [Tracy Jr.] It’s pretty good, man,” Baldinger said. “Look, they made a mistake. They should have franchised Daniel [Jones] after 2022, and they should have extended Saquon.
There are 10 teams with winning records that all run the ball more than they throw it.
The Eagles (55 percent) lead the league.
BEST GAME
Ravens 41, Bengals 38 (OT), October 6: Joe Burrow (five TDs) and Lamar Jackson (four TDs) in shootout.
THE WORST GAME
Broncos 10, Jets 9, September 29: Mainly because I had to sit through it.
BEST ENDING
Commanders 18, Bears 15, October 27: Game-ending Hail Mary from Daniels to knock out the Bears.
THE WORST OFFICIAL
Too many to list, but this no-call Sam Darnold end zone face mask doesn’t pass the smell test.
THE ROBERTO DURAN
Anthony Richardson (QB, Colts): For his “No Mas” against the Texans.
Grumpy old man
Jerry Jones (America’s Scream): Bullying radio hosts is a bad image.
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Bill Belichick (“ManningCast”, etc.): Many coaches in the hot seat, starting with Mike McCarthy (Cowboys).
