The 2015 NFL season has reached its halfway point.
Even though some of the same old teams are at the top, the season has had its share of surprises.
With the playoff races about to heat up, here are the midseason award winners.
MVP: Tom Brady
Not much number-crunching needed here.
The Patriots (7-0) look unbeatable at the halfway point of the season.
Brady has thrown 20 touchdown passes, tied with Carson Palmer for the league lead, and one interception. Brady is the NFL’s highest-rated starting quarterback (115.8) and he’s second with 2,410 passing yards. He’s thrown at least two touchdown passes in every game.
If Brady keeps this up, he’ll go from Deflategate to MVP.
Offensive Player of the Year: Devonta Freeman
Remember when the Falcons’ backfield was going to be a tandem of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman?
Apparently, Freeman isn’t into sharing carries. He’s broken out in his second season, leading the NFL with 709 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. He also leads with league with 10 total touchdowns.
Devonta Freeman’s season so far: Leads league in rush yds, rush TDs, rush 1st downs, rush/rec 1st downs, and broken tackles. #RunFree
— Jay Adams (@FalconsJAdams) November 4, 2015
The 5’8″, 206-pound Freeman, drafted in the fourth round last season, is second among running backs with 40 receptions and has helped fuel a Falcons offense that’s fourth in the NFL with 414.8 yards per game.
Defensive Player of the Year: Josh Norman
When opponents face the 7-0 Panthers, they need to think about Josh Norman when putting together their game plan.
Norman is tied for second in the NFL with four interceptions this season and he’s one of three players with two touchdowns on interception returns. He’s also tied for second with 12 passes defended according to ESPN.com.
Since intercepting two passes and returning one for a touchdown in a 37-23 win at Tampa Bay in Week 4, Norman hasn’t had any interceptions. That’s probably because opposing quarterbacks aren’t throwing the ball his way.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Todd Gurley
Todd Gurley has proven to be worth the wait.
The Rams running back, drafted 10th overall, tore his ACL last November and sat out the first two games of his rookie season. He broke out in Week 4 and hasn’t let up.
Gurley ran for 146 yards to help the Rams hand the Cardinals their first loss of the year. Since then, he’s run for 159 yards in a loss to the Packers, 128 yards in a win over the Browns and 133 yards in a win over the 49ers.
Despite missing two games and rushing for just nine yards in his Week 3 debut, Gurley is fifth in the NFL with 575 rushing yards and leads the league with 115 rushing yards per game.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Marcus Peters
Marcus Peters, drafted 18th overall by the Chiefs, leads all rookies with three interceptions. That includes a pick-six against Peyton Manning in Week 2. Peters is tied for third with 11 pass breakups and is second among cornerbacks with 35 tackles, according to ESPN.com.
Studying KC CB Marcus Peters. He looks so smooth and comfortable. Game isn’t too fast for him.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) November 4, 2015
The Vikings drafted Trae Waynes and the Texans drafted Kevin Johnson before Peters. But Peters has more interceptions and tackles than those two cornerbacks combined.
Comeback Player of the Year: Carson Palmer
Carson Palmer’s teammate, Chris Johnson, also is a candidate. But Palmer suffered a torn ACL less than a year ago and now is tied with Tom Brady for the league lead with 20 touchdown passes.
Palmer leads the NFL in passing touchdown percentage (7.7 percent), passing yards per attempt (9.2) and passing yards per completion (14.2) according to Pro Football Reference.
With Palmer at the helm of the NFL’s No. 3 offense (417.4 yards per game), the Cardinals (6-2) lead the NFC West and can think about a first-round bye in the playoffs.
Coach of the Year: Dan Quinn
Dan Quinn has made the Falcons a contender again after two straight losing seasons.
After leading the Seahawks’ defense to the Super Bowl the last two seasons, Quinn has brought his defensive imprint to Atlanta. The Falcons gave up 398.2 yards per game last year, more than any team in the NFL. This season, the Falcons are ranked 11th with 345.4 yards allowed per game. They’re allowing 83.4 rushing yards per game, third in the NFL, after ranking 31st in 2013 and 21st last season.
The Falcons (6-2) sit in one of the NFC wild-card spots at the midpoint of the season.