Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) throws a pass as New York Giants' Jason Pierre-Paul (90) rushes him during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 3, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J.
NFL logoWe're halfway through the NFL season (and a step beyond for some clubs who have not had their bye week yet).
That makes it a perfect time to assemble an awards list.
• MVP: We'll go off the board and say Andrew Luck. There are a lot of folks who think Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, and all of those picks are fine. But all of those guys have more options than Luck, who is propping up a defense and has turned 5-foot-9 T.Y. Hilton into a go-to wideout.
• Defensive player of the year: Easiest pick of all, since J.J. Watt actually is in the MVP discussion in a QB-driven league and playing for a team that likely won't make the playoffs.
• Offensive player of the year: Not sure why there's ever a debate between the MVP and the offensive player of the year, but Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray will top 2,000 yards rushing if he stays healthy.
• Coach of the year: Arizona's Bruce Arians, who simply has the Cardinals atop the most demanding division in the league and with the best record in the league. Yes, the Cardinals.
• Offensive rookie of the year: Zach Martin, the Dallas guard who was picked in the slot where Jerry Jones wanted Johnny Football, has been the final piece in arguably the league's best offensive line.
• Defensive rookie of the year: C.J. Mosley is an every-down linebacker for Baltimore who leads them with 76 tackles.
Power poll
1. New England (7-2). Tom Brady now has 51,541 career passing yards, moving past John Elway into fifth all-time with his 33-yard, four-TD performance in the Patriots' 43-21 win over Denver. Does any current-day team in pro sports have more mystique than the Patriots?
2. Arizona (7-1). This is the NFL, and say it with it us, "You are what your record says you are." And in that narrative, the Cardinals are the best team in the NFL: They are 7-1 for the first time in 40 years, and they are built in a similar fashion as last year's Super Bowl champion Seattle -- strong defense that stifles the run and leans on talented defensive backs in press coverage, an array of playmakers who carry an offense around a serviceable quarterback. Plus, we need to get comfortable in the knowledge that Arians is on the Rushmore of best current-day NFL head coaches.
3. Denver (6-2). The Broncos are still very much in the mix and are among the elite teams in the league. That said, the importance of home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs was magnified in Sunday's flogging in Foxborough.
4. Pittsburgh (6-3). Big Ben Roethlisberger has had a two-week stretch that would make even Manning go, "Man, those are some serious stats." Big Ben has 12 TDs and a QB rating in the high 140s as the Steelers have moved into the discussion of a very top-heavy and competitive AFC.
5. Indianapolis (6-3). Mr. Luck, your time is now. Your pieces will only improve, but if you are going to take the step, well, those are forged with stats and stardom in January. Live long and prosper, young one. You will be the face of the Shield sooner rather than later.
Bottom five
27 (tie). Atlanta/Tennessee (2-6). A tie among the two franchises closest to the 423 area code. And other than the strengths of the two teams -- Atlanta has a quarterback but a defense that would give up 30 points a game in Division II; Tennessee has a scrappy defense and a solid offensive line but has had lingering QB questions since Steve McNair left town -- these clubs are very similar. Find ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Check. Underachievers in big moments. Check. Dragging near the bottom of the worst divisions in each conference. Discount double check. Side note: How nice was last weekend when both the Falcons and the Titans had byes and we got a full slate of actual good and fun NFL football?
29. Tampa Bay (1-7). There now are reports that head coach Lovie Smith may be in trouble in Tampa. Did we mention that this is Smith's first season in Tampa? Hey, Bucs, ask Oakland about the 15-month coaching roulette cycle and how that works.
30. New York Jets (1-8). Speaking of coaching roulette, Rex Ryan's time in NYC is all but over, and he will be a much coveted defensive coordinator at the NFL level. But how's this for a crazy idea: What if Michigan went after the charismatic defensive genius? We believe that Rex Ryan could be an elite recruiter and would either be a home run hire or a complete and total bust -- and in truth, isn't that what you want?
31. Jacksonville (1-8). Who knew they still had a team in Jacksonville? Side note: Have you seen the pools in the stadium? How sweet is that? Embrace the Sunshine State aura, friend. Or as the most interesting fan in the world would say, "We don't always prefer to swim at NFL games, but when we do, it's in Jacksonville." Stay thirsty, Jags fans.
32. Oakland (0-8). There's something to be said for being the NFL's model of consistency the last four years, even if it's consistently terrible, and it's not really a surprise why considering the last Raiders' first-round draft pick who became a Pro Bowl player in Oakland was Nnamdi Asomugha, who was picked 31st overall in 2003. (And to make matters worse, the Raiders took some cat named Fabian Washington with pick 23 in the first round of 2005. Pick No. 24? Some dude named Aaron Rodgers. Maybe you've heard of him.)
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com.