Bleacher Report's Preseason Week 1 NFL Awards

Well, folks, football season is finally here.

OK, sort of.

Yes, teams played a full slate of games across the NFL this past week. Super Bowl contenders did battle when the Denver Broncos traveled to Seattle to face the Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers faced off with the New England Patriots.

Well, scrubs for Super Bowl contenders did battle. It being the preseason and all, big names were in short supply.

Still, game action means big performances and bigger mistakes (oh, the mistakes—so many mistakes).

And with that in mind, it's time for the fine scribes here at Bleacher Report to begin anew a weekly feature. The NFL National Lead Writers and NFL Analysts (myself, Mike Freeman, Brad Gagnon, Matt Miller, Ty Schalter, Brent Sobleski, Mike Tanier and Sean Tomlinson) all gathered to cast their votes in several categories.

Here are Bleacher Report's Preseason Week 1 NFL Awards.

Team of the Week

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Winner: Detroit Lions (5 votes)

It's hard to read too much into any NFL team after a single preseason game.

Well, actually it's easy. Fans do it all the time. It's more accurate to say it's important not to read too much into an NFL team after only one preseason game.

Still, after watching the Detroit Lions in training camp, Peter King of the MMQB (as sage a football mind as you'll find) came away with the feeling that the Honolulu Blue could be in for big things in 2015:

"

All along, I've had this thought that Minnesota would be my surprise team of the NFC. Then I came to Allen Park, Mich., to watch the Lions practice, and saw rookie back Ameer Abdullah run through everyone on defense, and watched one of the two or three most intense practices of our tour, and saw a healthy Calvin Johnson shred the defense like the pre-ankle-injury days. And I imagine that Caraun Reid and others we've never heard of can play well enough in the middle of the defensive line to soften the death blow of losing Ndamukong Suh.

"

The Lions carried that camp momentum over into their preseason opener against the New York Jets. Quarterback Matthew Stafford looked sharp, Abdullah gashed the Jets for 67 yards on only seven carries and the Detroit defense looked like last year's dominant self in a 23-3 beatdown.

The NFC North is shaping up to be a dogfight in 2015—especially when you consider that the only other team to get a vote this week also hails from the division.

Others receiving votes: Minnesota Vikings (3 votes)

Coach of the Week

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Winner: Mike Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings (7 votes)

Last year, both of the Cincinnati Bengals' coordinators accepted head coaching jobs. Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden took the job in Washington, while defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer took over the Minnesota Vikings.

If early returns are any indication, man did the Vikings get the better end of that deal.

While the Redskins are more sideshow than Super Bowl contender, the Vikings are a trendy pick as this year's surprise playoff party-crasher.

A pair of strong performances in the preseason have only reinforced that notion, but as Ben Goessling of ESPN.com pointed out last week, the no-nonsense Zimmer isn't about to let his players rest on that success:

"

On the Minnesota Vikings' final day of training camp at Minnesota State University, coach Mike Zimmer ended practice about 20 minutes earlier than scheduled. That wasn't because he was happy with what he'd seen.

Zimmer issued a stern rebuke to players in his news conference after Thursday morning's session, calling it a "terrible practice" and saying it was "not up to my standards." Asked what he didn't like about practice, Zimmer quickly replied, "Everything."

"

He then made professional football players run laps, something veteran linebacker Chad Greenway told Goessling he hasn't done since high school.

The Vikings have adopted the no-nonsense tone of their coach on both sides of the ball, and Minnesota looks as ready for Week 1 as any team in the NFL.

A home playoff game. Outdoors. In Minnesota.

One can only hope.

Others receiving votes: Todd Bowles, New York Jets (1 vote)

Goat of the Week

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

"Winner": The New York Jets (4 votes)

Some days it just doesn't pay to get out of bed. For the New York Jets, those days appear to be any ending in "y."

For years, the Jets have been a festival of the bizarre. Head coaches for a day. Kissing Suzy Kolber. Tebowmania at its most fervently freakish. Some thought the recent issues could be traced to blustery head coach Rex Ryan.

Well, maybe it's in the water, because Ryan's gone but it keeps right on happening. Recently, it was a locker room fight that left starting quarterback Geno Smith with a broken jaw and on the shelf for at least six weeks.

Per Brian Costello of the New York Post:

"

The players said Smith and IK Enemkapli were having words over the $600 debt Smith owed the linebacker, but they were on separate sides of the locker room. One source described Smith as "taunting" Enemkpali over it. Enemkpali challenged Smith to say it to his face. Smith did and pointed his finger in Enemkpali's face, which then led to Enemkpali punching Smith and breaking his jaw.

"

Then the whole team looked sucker-punched in being outclassed at every level by the Lions in their preseason opener.

Of course, most people couldn't see that, because as NFL National Lead Writer Mike Tanier points out, NFL Game Pass didn't so much offer a pass to anything:

"

It actually worked for me, and I felt like I lived in the only house in the neighborhood with power after the tornado. We're lined up with our credit cards out to watch third-stringers commit special teams penalties, NFL: it's the least you can do to actually render the service you are offering.

"

The fact that NFL Preseason Live did the exact same thing last year does not inspire a lot of confidence that the NFL is going to get right on that.

Not that Jets fans want to see anyway.

Others receiving votes: Geno Smith, QB, New York Jets (2 votes); NFL Game Pass (2 votes)

Rookie of the Week

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Winner: Ameer Abdullah, RB, Detroit Lions (3 votes)

Dating all the way back to rookie minicamps, reports from Detroit have been almost universally positive regarding running back Ameer Abdullah.

It's been a regular love-in.

Thursday night, the rubber finally met the road, with Abdullah getting his first chance to show what he can do in game action. With 67 yards on only seven carries, the youngster didn't disappoint.

As Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News reports, it was a performance that impressed Jets head coach Todd Bowles.

"He looked like he did in college," Bowles said. "He's quick as a cat. He's about as quick as Barry Sanders. I'm not saying he is Barry, but he's a good running back."

In Motown, praise doesn't get much higher than that.

Others receiving votes: La'el Collins, OG, Dallas Cowboys (2 votes); Danny Shelton, DT, Cleveland Browns (1 vote); Jarryd Hayne, RB, San Francisco 49ers (1 vote); Ladarius Gunter, CB, Green Bay Packers (1 vote)

Best QB Performance

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Winner: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (3 votes)

There were more than a few NFL quarterbacks who looked excellent in limited duty in their preseason openers. Carson Palmer in Arizona. Stafford in Detroit. It was Teddy Bridgewater's second start thanks to the Hall of Fame Game; he's looked more like a seasoned veteran than a second-year pro in both.

But according to Tanier, the most impressive performance of the week belonged to Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons: "Ryan did everything a starting quarterback should do in his first preseason game: He connected with his best receiver a few times, led a touchdown drive, then binged on Gatorade."

In leading the Falcons on a 91-yard drive to kick off their win over the Tennessee Titans, Ryan went a perfect 6-of-6 for 86 yards, including a 13-yard scoring strike to Julio Jones.

Yes, it was the preseason. Yes, it was the Tennessee Titans, the AFC's worst team last year.

But Ryan looked to be in midseason form.

Others receiving votes: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (2 votes); Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings (2 votes); Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins (1 vote)

Best RB Performance

Patric Schneider/Associated Press

Winner: Jarryd Hayne, San Francisco 49ers (5 votes)

The preseason may be just a tuneup for some players, but for others, it's all the marbles, their shot at impressing NFL coaches and proving they belong on a 53-man roster.

Jarryd Hayne of the San Francisco 49ers falls into that latter category—and in his first opportunity to show what he can do, he took the proverbial ball and ran with it.

A year ago, Hayne was playing professional rugby in the National Rugby League in Australia. Saturday, as Nate Scott of USA Today reported, Hayne was making Houston Texans defenders look silly:

"

Despite being league MVP, Hayne quit the NRL this past year to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL. He hooked on with the 49ers, and in his first preseason game with the team, he busted out a 53-yard run, and made a lot of people miss during kickoff and punt returns.

Hayne weighs in at 220 pounds, and while he's still learning the NFL game, he's got the speed, size and quickness to be devastating in the open field. If the 49ers can figure out a way to get him the ball in space, he could be a real impact player for them.

"

Tanier came away impressed: "Hayne has a fun backstory and is an easy guy to have a preseason mancrush on. He ran, returned and blocked well for the 49ers. I can see him growing into an all-purpose special teamer/power back."

Here. Watch these rugby highlights.

Now tell me you aren't pulling for the guy.

Others receiving votes: Ameer Abdullah, Detroit Lions (3 votes)

Best WR Performance

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

Winner: Fred Williams, Kansas City Chiefs (3 votes)

Last year, wide receivers for the Kansas City Chiefs caught all of zero touchdown passes. None. Not a one.

The team looked to get better at the position in free agency with the addition of veteran Jeremy Maclin, but it was rookie Fred Williams who stole the show in the team's preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

Williams, who has been with the team since late in the 2013 season but never made it off the practice squad, hauled in six passes for 82 yards in the Chiefs' win. One of those catches? A touchdown.

Earlier in camp Williams told Andy Rennecke of the St. Cloud Times that he's just looking to take the next step with the team in 2015:

"

The goal is to make the 53-man roster. That's been my goal since I signed here. I think I have a great chance of making the team. I just have to keep making plays when I get opportunities.

I love this organization. I started my career here and I've really gotten comfortable with the coaches and players. They treat you like family here.

"

If Williams keeps putting up numbers like that, he's going to be a lot more, um, active this season.

Others receiving votes: Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (2 votes); Martavis Bryant, Pittsburgh Steelers (1 vote); Andre Roberts, Washington Redskins (1 vote); Chris Harper, New York Giants (1 vote)

Best TE Performance

Tom E. Puskar/Associated Press

Winner: MyCole Pruitt, Minnesota Vikings (7 votes)

If the preseason has been any indication, Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph is in for a big year in 2015. When the first-team offense has been on the field, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has looked Rudolph's way early and often.

It's not really surprising. No matter where offensive coordinator Norv Turner has coached, the tight end has always been a big part of the passing game.

While speaking with reporters, Turner said he's intrigued by what he's seen from rookie tight end MyCole Pruitt this summer. "You always find out something about a guy when you get him here, and the thing about MyCole is that he's a lot more physical player than we thought from the tape," Turner said. "He's a 260-pound man, and he knows how to use it."

Pruitt, who led all Division I tight ends with 81 catches, 861 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns in 2014, has carried that over into the preseason, including four catches for 51 yards and a score in the Hall of Fame Game against Pittsburgh.

Hear that sound, Kyle?

That's footsteps.

Well, was, anyway. As ESPN.com's Ben Goessling tweeted, Pruitt is in a walking boot after pulling up lame against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Others receiving votes: Josh Hill, New Orleans Saints (1 vote)

Best Defensive Performance

Jim Mone/Associated Press

Winner: Minnesota Vikings (6 votes)

OK, so this first edition of the weekly awards is a bit Vikings-centric.

That shouldn't come as a huge surprise, though. After all, the Vikings are one of two NFL teams who have already played in two games. They've had that much more work on the field in game action.

It showed on both sides of the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but especially on defense. Just as they did against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Vikings dominated the line of scrimmage, constantly harassing Tampa quarterback Jameis Winston.

The game featured strong performances from end Everson Griffen and rookie linebacker Eric Kendricks, who are only two of a number of young and talented players on the Minnesota defense.

Linebacker Anthony Barr. Tackle Sharrif Floyd. Safety Harrison Smith. Cornerback Xavier Rhodes. The list goes on and on.

Add in Zimmer's keen defensive mind, and the reasons so many see big things in store for the Vikings this year go well past Bridgewater and Adrian Peterson

Others receiving votes: Eric Kendricks, LB, Minnesota Vikings (1 vote); Kenny Anunike, DE, Denver Broncos (1 vote)

Best Decision of the Week

David Goldman/Associated Press

Winner: Giving Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston ample playing time (3 votes)

As Tom Pelissero of USA Today reported, Jameis Winston—the No. 1 overall pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015—did not have a stellar NFL debut:

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Winston finished 9-of-19 passing for 131 yards. He gifted an interception to Vikings backup safety Antone Exum Jr. Several other incompletions were off-target. There were two mishandled snaps, one of them leading to a sack. A forearm shiver probably will lead to some lessons on proper sliding techniques (not to mention a fine for Vikings cornerback Trae Waynes).

"

And things did not go swimmingly for No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota of the Tennessee Titans either, according to Jay Busbee of Yahoo Sports:

"

Let the record show that Marcus Mariota's first play in uniform was a handoff to Bishop Sankey, his first pass was a 12-yard completion to former Falcon Harry Douglas, and his first drive ended in an interception. That last was significant because, as we'd been told over and over all preseason, Mariota hadn't thrown an interception in camp. When asked about the irony of losing his charmed mark so quickly against actual competition, Mariota didn't even bother to muster up the energy to shrug it off.

"It happens," he said, gripping the postgame podium with the demeanor and expression of a seventh-grader forced to read his book report before the class. "It's football."

"

What landed Mariota and Winston on here wasn't their performances, however—it's their coaches' willingness to let them perform.

Both Tampa's Lovie Smith and Tennessee's Ken Whisenhunt resisted the quick hook and left their rookies on the field. Let them learn. And both responded by rebounding from shaky starts.

That gives both teams something to build on.

Others receiving votes: Mike Zimmer's ripping his players, cutting practice short (2 votes); giving Justin Gilbert a ton of reps (1 vote); giving Aaron Rodgers lots of reps to iron out play-calling kinks (1 vote); Bills' using Tyrod Taylor as a true dual-threat quarterback (1 vote)

Worst Decision of the Week

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

"Winner": Playing Tom Brady (5 votes)

There's a scene in the hideous The Longest Yard remake in which the convicts, angry that Adam Sandler's character was throwing the game, allowed the quarterback to be blasted repeatedly by defenders.

Kind of like being forced to watch the movie.

It was also kind of like watching Tom Brady take shot after shot in a meaningless preseason game against the Green Bay Packers.

Was Bill Belichick punishing his star quarterback a little for all the offseason distractions?

Or is the Patriots offensive front that shaky this year?

You think Deflategate was a distraction?

Try answering questions about getting your four-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback hurt in a game that doesn't count.

Others receiving votes: Shaun Suisham's getting hurt covering a kick return (2 votes); not paying IK Enemkpali his $600 (1 vote)

Player of the Week

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Winner: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Minnesota Vikings (3 votes)

Johnny Manziel was drafted ahead of Teddy Bridgewater in the 2014 NFL draft.

Just chew on that for a moment, Browns fans.

While Manziel was a train wreck as a rookie, Bridgewater steadily improved. While folks are wondering if Manziel will ever be ready, Bridgewater looks ready as can be.

Not only to be an NFL starter. But to shine as one.

Of course, despite Bridgewater's two solid performances in the preseason, Vikings head coach Mile Zimmer was his usual stoic self when discussing him with Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports: "I think he's doing well. We're moving him around in the pocket, we're protecting well and he continues to make the right reads and take good care of the football. And he's a good leader."

Bridgewater's numbers through two games (12-of-14, 130 yards, 105.7 passer rating) speak to a player doing a lot better than "well."

Others receiving votes: Ameer Abdullah, RB, Detroit Lions (2 votes); Jarryd Hayne, RB, San Francisco 49ers (1 vote); Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons (1 vote); Taylor Boggs, OG, Detroit Lions (1 vote)