NFL Predictions: Week 2 Awards Watch

Did I win?

Okay, it’s early. But never too early to introduce a new element that will be featured on a weekly basis.

Each Wednesday morning, we will take a look at the front-runners for the NFL’s seven major awards handed out at the end of the regular season.

Have we already declared a winner? No. Are we simply reacting to the best performances of opening weekend and making these individuals the leaders of the race? Maybe.

As you know, things change very quickly in this league. So enjoy our thoughts and be prepared to see seven different front-runners after Week 2.

Maybe.

Most Valuable Player: QB Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

Will it be one for the thumb?

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was named the league’s Most Valuable Player four times while he was a member of the Indianapolis Colts. And he would be more than happy to add a fifth award to his trophy case.

The 2012 NFL Comeback Player of the Year honoree showed against the reigning Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens that he intends on not picking up where he left off last January. In that epic playoff loss to the Ravens, Manning was intercepted twice and committed a total of three turnovers.

Last Thursday at Denver, Manning tied the NFL record for touchdown passes in a game with seven scores and threw for 462 yards as well. It marked just the sixth time the feat had been achieved and the first time since 1969. Manning also became the first player in league annals to throw at least six touchdown passes in a game three times.

A year ago, Manning’s 37 touchdown passes were the second-highest total of his magnificent career. Food for thought when it comes to 2013.

Offensive Player of the Year: QB Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

The Green Bay Packers were ready, willing and felt able that they could stop San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick from running amok on them again.

Unfortunately last Sunday, they could not stop the third-year signal-caller from passing amok.

Kaepernick completed 27-of-39 passes for 412 yards and three scores in the 49ers 34-28 win. In last year’s divisional playoffs, the young quarterback ran for an NFL record 181 yards. On Sunday versus the Packers, he totaled only 22 yards on seven carries.

With a smidge of uncertainty regarding the San Francisco secondary, head coach Jim Harbaugh may need more from his offense this season than a year ago.

As for a few other great Week 1 performances, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green, Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush, St. Louis Rams tight end Jared Cook and Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy certainly opened some eyes.

Defensive Player of the Year: DE Robert Quinn, St. Louis Rams

So far, so good for the St. Louis Rams.

On Sunday, the franchise won its first game of the season for the first time since 2006, courtesy of a 27-24 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

And the calling card of the team last season, that defense, was a big factor. In particular, defensive end Robert Quinn.

Jeff Fisher’s club sacked Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer four times, and three of those sacks were courtesy of Quinn. And it was the third sack that proved the most beneficial in the fourth quarter, setting up a game-tying field goal as St. Louis rallied from 24-13 deficit for the victory.

The Rams tied for the NFL lead with 52 sacks a season ago. Could that pass rush be in for another huge year?

By the way, kudos to Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston and Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Zach Brown for their impressive 2013 debuts as well.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: QB EJ Manuel, Buffalo Bills

Unfortunately, almost does not count for much of anything.

The Buffalo Bills had an opportunity to knock off the defending AFC East champion New England Patriots on Sunday. In the teams’ previous 25 meetings, the Bills had managed only two wins.

That latter number will stay the same following a 23-21 setback at Orchard Park.

But there were certainly positives to take from the game. Rookie quarterback EJ Manuel completed 66.7 percent of his throws (18-of-27) for 150 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also ran three times for 23 yards and was not sacked on the afternoon.

While those numbers aren’t earth-shattering, consider that the Bills only ran 61 offensive plays in the game compared to the Patriots, who totaled a whopping 89 plays.

Will Manuel look even better against the Carolina Panthers this week? Despite the loss, new head coach Doug Marrone has to be pleased with some things he saw on Sunday. Then again, the Bills were only 4-of-13 on third-down conversions on Sunday and can’t afford to have a similar performance this weekend.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: ILB Kiko Alonso, Buffalo Bills

Okay, I know what you are thinking.

How can the Buffalo Bills have the top offensive and defensive rookies and still lose the game?

That’s because individual performances don’t exactly add up to a team win all of the time.

We’ve been hearing a lot about Alonso this summer and he didn’t disappoint on Sunday against the New England Patriots. The second-round pick in April tied for the team lead with nine tackles against the Pats. He forced one fumble that was returned 74 yards by a score by teammate Da’Norris Searcy and recovered a Tom Brady miscue that ended a New England scoring drive.

Alonso figured to be very busy in Mike Pettine’s defense this season and on Sunday, he certainly didn’t disappoint.

Coach of the Year: Chip Kelly, Philadelphia Eagles

Are you sure that wasn’t Paul Westhead we saw on the Philadelphia Eagles sidelines?

Say hello to the National Football League, Chip Kelly.

The defending NFC East champion Washington Redskins never knew what hit them on Monday night. By halftime, these crafty Birds had run 53 plays, totaled 322 yards and owned a 26-7 lead. Philadelphia would eventually stretch that advantage to 33-7 and would hold on for a 33-27 win.

Hey, you never know. And over the next two weeks, the Eagles could find themselves thoroughly diagnosed by the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs (the latter knows a little something about the Eagles’ personnel).

However, you have to like what you saw (or thought you saw) from the imaginative attack. And Kelly deserves the credit for that.

Hats off to Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman as well, as he and his revamped offensive line kept the dangerous Cincinnati Bengals defense away from Jay Cutler on Sunday.

Comeback Player of the Year: ILB Brian Cushing, Houston Texans

Welcome back!

A year ago, we would eventually see a very good Houston Texans defensive unit struggle mightily down the stretch and into the playoffs.

On Monday night at San Diego, things didn’t appear to be much different. The host Chargers opened up a 28-7 lead on Gary Kubiak’s team and looked like they were going to roll the defending AFC South champions.

But Wade Phillips’ defense would settle down and midway through the fourth quarter would get a huge play from inside linebacker Brian Cushing, who missed the majority of the 2012 season. Cushing made a great diving interception off Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and returned the ball 18 yards for a touchdown that would tie the game at 28-28. Houston would eventually prevail on a late field goal, 31-28.

Cushing would finish the night with five tackles and that key interception, a great way to get back in the flow for a team with high expectations in 2013.

Welcome back also to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, who threw a pair of touchdown passes in the team’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.