Bleacher Report's Expert Consensus NFL Honors Awards

On Saturday, the most glamorous event in America will take place in Houston. A night filled with flash bulbs, red carpets and the best and biggest stars decked out in their finest regalia.

No, I'm not talking about the Academy Awards. Who cares about that snoozefest?

I'm talking about the sixth annual NFL Honors, the ceremony held the day before the Super Bowl in which the league hands out individual pieces of hardware, from Coach of the Year to Most Valuable Player.

This year's iteration of the NFL Honors will be held at the Wortham Theater Center and hosted by comedian Keegan-Michael Key.

In advance of the ceremony, the NFL writers here at Bleacher Report gathered to give their picks for the winners of each of the evening's, well, honors.

Here's who they believe will be taking home shiny new doodads for their mantles.

Coach of the Year

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Winner: Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys (5 votes)

For much of his six years and change as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Jason Garrett has been regarded with a measure of scorn. Pundits talk about him more as a puppet of team owner Jerry Jones than a successful coach in his own right.

After what Garrett and the Cowboys accomplished in 2016, no one is laughing.

It isn't just that Garrett's Cowboys won their division with with an NFC-best 13-3 record. That in and of itself is impressive. But the Cowboys accomplished that with a rookie quarterback and a rookie tailback keying their offense.

And the fact youngsters like Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott enjoyed such huge success in their first season in the NFL speaks well to the job Garrett did this campaign.

As Dan Graziano of ESPN.com wrote, Garrett has the respect of his veteran coordinators:

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Veteran coordinators like Rod Marinelli and Scott Linehan not only defer to Garrett, but clearly respect him as their leader in spite of his being their junior. Linehan was Garrett's first NFL boss in 2005, when Garrett got a job on the Dolphins' coaching staff and Linehan was the offensive coordinator. But the streamlining of the playcalling and decision-making on the offensive side of the ball for the Cowboys since Linehan arrived is a big part of the stability story in Dallas, and it works because Linehan has so much respect for Garrett's growth as a coach and leader.

"

Garrett appears to have also earned the respect of the B/R NFL staff, who made him the overwhelming pick as Coach of the Year.

We're still going to crack jokes about his hair, though.

Gotta let us have a little fun.

Others receiving votes: Bill Belichick, New England Patriots (2 votes); Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs (2 votes); Dan Quinn, Atlanta Falcons (1 vote)

Offensive Player of the Year

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Winner: Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons (5 votes)

You may not know this, but Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan had a pretty good season in 2016.

After the Falcons fell apart in the second half of the 2015 campaign (in part due to a number of ill-timed turnovers by their quarterback), there were questions entering this year about whether the 31-year-old Ryan was "the guy" who could lead Atlanta to a Super Bowl.

Ryan answered those questions affirmatively and emphatically, and now the accolades are rolling in.

The Pro Football Writers of America (an organization to which both me and my colleagues here at Bleacher Report belong) have already handed out their postseason awards.

Ryan won both Offensive Player of the Year honors and NFL MVP.

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Ryan started all 16 games in 2016 and completed 534 of 373 passes (69.9 completion percentage; third in the NFL) for 4,944 yards, 38 touchdowns, only seven interceptions and a 117.1 passer rating as the Falcons won the NFC South and gained the NFC’s No. 2 seed with a 11-5 record behind a club-record 540 points scored. He set franchise records in passing yards, touchdowns, completion percentage and passer rating. Ryan’s 117.1 rating was the fifth-highest in a season in NFL history. He had a passer rating of 100 or better in 12 games, tying Patriots QB Tom Brady and former 49ers QB Steve Young for the most 100-plus rating games in a single season in NFL history. He led the NFL with 9.3 yards per pass attempt, the highest mark since the St. Louis Rams’ Kurt Warner in 2000 and the best for any quarterback attempting 500 or more passes, and he also led the league with 13.3 yards per completion.

"

If you're into silly things like stats and wins, it's hard to argue against Ryan for just about any award.

But you'll have to wait and see whether we followed the PFWA's lead when it comes to MVP.

Others receiving votes: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys (3 votes); Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (1 vote); Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers (1 vote)

Defensive Player of the Year

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Winner: Tie! Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams (3 votes); Khalil Mack, DE, Oakland Raiders (3 votes); Von Miller, OLB, Denver Broncos (3 votes)

Usually, in instances such as this, I'll use my vote to break a tie. I find them unsettling.

But in this case, I felt strongly enough about Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack that I cast my vote for him as the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Mack's case is a good one. In his third NFL season, Mack tied for the NFL lead among defensive ends with 73 combined tackles. He added 11 sacks (including eight straight games with at least one) and five forced fumbles while ranking as Pro Football Focus' top edge-rusher in the league.

However, Mack wasn't the top-ranked defender overall at PFF in 2016. For the second straight season, that honor went to defensive tackle Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams, as did its award for DPOY.

Here's what PFF's Sam Monson wrote:

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With 'only' eight sacks this season, Aaron Donald’s year flew under the radar somewhat, and while he wasn’t quite as dominant as he was a season ago, the Los Angeles defensive tackle was still by far the most disruptive and impactful defensive lineman in the league, and the best defender in the game. He ended the season with 82 total QB pressures, five more than any other interior defender and tied for second-most in the entire NFL. Only Oakland’s Khalil Mack notched more total pressures over the season, and he plays as an edge defender, where pressure is easier to come by. Mack and New York Giants safety Landon Collins were in the running for this award in a tight race, but Donald was just so far removed from the rest of his peers that he earns the final nod.

"

Then, there's Von Miller of the Denver Broncos, who reigns as the highest-paid defensive player in the National Football League (six years, $114.5 million). Miller proved he was worth his fat paycheck in 2016, piling up 78 combined tackles and pacing the AFC with 13.5 sacks.

Every member of this terrifying trio has credentials that merit selection as the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year.

And while a three-way tie may seem like a cop-out, it wouldn't be surprising to see them share the award this year at the NFL Honors.

Others receiving votes: Landon Collins, S, New York Giants (1 vote)

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Winner: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys (8 votes)

There is no doubt this season's Offensive Rookie of the Year will hail from the Dallas Cowboys. The only question is which one.

For our voters, it was an easy call. As well as quarterback Dak Prescott played in leading Dallas to the NFC East title, running back Ezekiel Elliott was the real engine behind the Cowboys' resurgent season.

Elliott paced the National Football League with 1,631 rushing yards, gaining 5.1 yards per carry and scoring 15 touchdowns on the ground. Had he not sat out the final regular-season game, Elliott would have all but surely topped 2,000 total yards for the season.

For a good portion of the season, Elliott threatened Eric Dickerson's rookie rushing record of 1,808 yards. He didn't quite make it, but Vinnie Iyer of the Sporting News thinks the totality of what Elliott accomplished might be more impressive than what Dickerson pulled off in 1983:

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Dickerson was terrific, and his records remain very hard to break. But Elliott's production in a pass-happy league managed to be more impressive. The Cowboys could play old-school ball-control football because of him, and they rode him back to the top of the NFC East.

That's the tiebreaker, because that strategy put Elliott right in the middle of the MVP conversation with a trio of elite veteran QBs, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Matt Ryan.

Elliott defied his era, and that should define his rookie year as being unprecedented among running backs.

"

That may be stretching things just a bit, but one thing isn't a stretch at all...

It will be a major upset if anyone but Elliott wins this award Saturday night.

Others receiving votes: Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys (2 votes)

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Winner: Joey Bosa, DE, San Diego Chargers (9 votes)

It's been a good year for Buckeyes in the National Football League.

At least the new ones.

It didn't start that way for Joey Bosa. A nasty contract impasse (if there's one thing the Spanos family does well, it's impasses) led to Bosa arriving late to the Chargers. He didn't take the field for San Diego (I'm not using any of that Los Angeles nonsense here—it happened in San Diego) until Week 5.

But, oh boy, once he did.

In his first NFL game, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 draft racked up a pair of sacks. He repeated the feat two weeks later. By season's end, Bosa had tallied 10.5 sacks and twice been named Defensive Rookie of the Month.

Dieter Kurtenbach of Fox Sports told Sports Illustrated there's little question who the top defensive newcomer is in 2016.

"When Bosa finally cracked the Chargers' lineup," he said, "he changed the entire complexity of that defense. No defensive rookie had a greater impact on his team than Bosa in 2016."

For his part, former head coach Mike McCoy told Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune that he believes Bosa has only scratched the surface regarding his play.

"That's who Joey Bosa is, and what a great player he's going to be for a long time in this league," McCoy said. "Joey is somebody who absolutely loves to play the game. He works extremely hard, and he wants to be great. Every day he shows up and plays the game the way it should be played."

If that's the case, there are going to be a lot of upset quarterbacks in the AFC West moving forward.

Others receiving votes: Deion Jones, ILB, Atlanta Falcons (1 vote)

Comeback Player of the Year

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Winner: Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers (5 votes)

After a 98-catch, 1,500-yard season with 13 touchdowns in 2014, Jordy Nelson of the Green Bay Packers looked to have joined the elite wide receivers in the NFL. Everyone expected big things from Nelson the following season.

Instead, a preseason ACL tear wiped out Nelson's entire 2015 campaign. Given his age at the time of the injury and its severity, there were whispers that the 31-year-old might never be the same player again.

Either Nelson didn't hear those whispers or he wasn't paying attention.

The veteran played nearly 1,100 snaps for the Packers in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus, hauling in 97 passes for 1,257 yards and a league-leading 14 scores while keying a run to the NFC Championship Game.

As Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com wrote, while Nelson's rapid rebound to superstar status may have surprised many, teammate Micah Hyde was not among them.

"That's Jordy Nelson, man. He's a fighter," Hyde said. "Obviously saw him all last season, not being able to play. You could see how much that hurt him, not being able to participate with his teammates, with his brothers out there."

Per Wes Hodkiewicz of the team's website, Nelson has already picked up Comeback Player of the Year honors from both the Pro Football Writers of America and Sporting News.

Assuming our panel is correct (and it always is...except when it's wrong), Nelson will add to that haul Saturday night in Houston.

Others receiving votes: Steve Smith Sr., WR, Baltimore Ravens (2 votes); Cameron Wake, DE, Miami Dolphins (2 votes); Terrelle Pryor, WR, Cleveland Browns (1 vote)

Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Winner: Frank Gore, RB, Indianapolis Colts (5 votes)

Per the NFL's press release for the finalists for this year's honor, the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award "recognizes those who best demonstrate the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition."

Each NFL team nominated one player, and then a panel of former players from the NFL Legends committee (Warrick Dunn, Curtis Martin, Karl Mecklenburg and Leonard Wheeler) whittled that list down to eight finalists.

I guess it shouldn't be surprising Frank Gore was one of them. He was a contemporary of at least two of those legends.

You could make an argument that Gore is something of a legend in his own right. Over 12 seasons in the NFL, Gore has gained over 13,000 rushing yards. He's topped 1,000 yards on the ground nine times and been named to five Pro Bowls.

And he's done all that with dignity and professionalism. No off-field dust-ups or on-field histrionics. Gore is a pro's pro.

This is an award where there are no losers. All the finalists—Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing; Gore; Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen; Green Bay Packers edge-rusher Julius Peppers; Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles; San Francisco 49ers tackle Joe Staley; Denver Broncos edge-rusher DeMarcus Ware; and Baltimore Ravens guard Marshal Yanda—are longtime veterans with reputations for playing the game the right way.

But there's only one statue, and our voters think it's going to be Gore-d Saturday night.

Others receiving votes: Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers (3 votes); Darren Sproles, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (1 vote); Brian Cushing, ILB, Houston Texans (1 vote)

NFL.com Fantasy Player of the Year

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Winner: David Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals (9 votes)

I'd like to kiss each and every one of our panelists on the mouth. I won't, but I'd like to.

Every one of our sage scribes resisted the urge to mistakenly pick a quarterback as the NFL.com Fantasy Player of the Year.

Sure, it happened in a season where, given Matt Ryan's average draft position at FantasyPros (139.3), you can make the argument he was the most valuable player in fantasy football this year, but quarterbacks already hog too many awards.

And if there's one player who was on more championship teams than any other in 2016, it's Arizona Cardinals tailback David Johnson.

It isn't just a matter of Johnson's 2,118 total yards. Or his 20 total touchdowns. The second-year pro topped 100 total yards in 15 of 16 games. In other words, outside of his bye week, Johnson didn't have a single bad week over the entirety of the fantasy season.

As Ladd Biro (who is a finalist for the FSWA's Fantasy Football Writer of the Year—along with yours truly) wrote for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Johnson's robotic consistency put him over the top in 2016.

"Johnson was the model of consistency, scoring and/or amassing more than 100 combined yards in every game (until his Week 17 injury)," he said. "He played up to his first-round billing in spades."

However, before you pencil in Johnson as the No. 1 overall pick in fantasy football drafts in 2017, consider this ominous number—373.

That's the number of total touches Johnson amassed in 2016—a number that puts him squarely in the crosshairs of the "Curse of 370."

Cue foreboding music.

Others receiving votes: Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers (1 vote)

FedEx Air Player of the Year

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Winner: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (8 votes)

We've already rattled off many of Matt Ryan's admittedly impressive statistics during his run to Super Bowl LI.

And there's a good chance we're going to see the panel's pick for FedEx Air Player of the Year at least one more time in this article.

In the writing game, that's called foreshadowing.

So we need something else to talk about here. The answer to another mystery regarding the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft.

Like, say, how he got the nickname Matty Ice.

As ESPN.com's Andrea Adelson reported, it wasn't because of the popular tale that Ryan had an affinity for a certain cheap beer in college.

"It wasn't a moment where Matt Ryan is sitting drinking a Natty Ice and that's how it came about," Boston College teammate Billy McKinney said. "I can't give credence to a story where Matt was doing something Natty Ice-related and that's how the name got to him."

McKinney did say, however, that he may have played a part in the moniker's genesis.

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My senior year, when Matt comes in as a sophomore, I remember him throwing the ball to our other receiver. I came back and gave him a hard time about it, like, 'Dude, just throw me the ball.' I'm thinking he's just going to look at me like, 'Yeah, OK.'

He grabbed my facemask and was like, 'No, I'm going to throw the ball to who I want to throw it to.' The origin wasn't so much he's clutch and cool as ice. It was more like it's the Iceman, he's all business. It's his way or the highway.

"

Either story beats the explanation Ryan himself offered during Super Bowl Opening Night.

"It just started amongst friends," he said, "and it's hung around a long time. ... It just stuck. It's a good nickname."

If the origin story is that boring, a more apt nickname might be Vanilla Ice.

Word to your mother.

Others receiving votes: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (2 votes)

FedEx Ground Player of the Year

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Winner: Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys (6 votes)

By any measure, Ezekiel Elliott's first NFL season was a great one. The former Ohio State standout led the NFL in rushing and established himself as one of the best in the league at what he does.

Maybe even the best. Elliott has power. Speed. Vision. The ability to both catch passes out of the backfield and wear defenses down. The kid can even pass protect.

However, despite all those skills and the fact that Elliott is our panel's pick as the FedEx Ground Player of the Year for 2016, at least one critic thinks the running back left yards on the field this season and that there's more for the No. 4 pick in the 2016 NFL draft to be doing.

That critic is Dawn Elliott, his mother.

While speaking with WFAA-TV (via the Dallas Morning News), Dawn made it clear what she expects from her boy in his second NFL season.

"He needs to run for 2,000 yards next season," she said.

Dang, mom.

There was no word after that whether Dawn told her son to take out the trash and clean his room.

Perhaps she decided her boy's done enough cleaning up for one year.

Others receiving votes: Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers (3 votes); David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals (1 vote)

Walter Payton Man of the Year

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Winner: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals (6 votes)

First off, let's make one thing clear: All three finalists for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award are winners in the truest sense.

According to the NFL's Man of the Year website, the award, which originated in 1970, recognizes a player "for his excellence on and off the field." Not only are the finalists all consummate professionals on the field, but they are positive forces in their communities as well.

Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals is no exception. As his bio on the Man of the Year site says, "Larry has used his visibility as an NFL player to support several charitable initiatives, raise money for charity and inspire others to give. He understands that his visibility as a professional athlete brings with it a responsibility to give back to the community."

That's an understatement. Fitzgerald has spearheaded any number of charitable endeavors, from cancer awareness to education initiatives for children. He's donated millions of dollars of his own money and raised countless millions more.

In 2011, Arin Karimian of USA Today relayed a story that shows a window into Fitzgerald the man:

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Fitzgerald approached the American Cancer Society last week and asked if he could send two survivors of the disease on an all-expenses paid trip to the Pro Bowl. Liz Dodson and Maureen Hanna, both breast cancer survivors, accompanied Fitzgerald to Hawaii and dined with the five-time Pro Bowler on Saturday night at a house he was renting for the week.

"My mother [who died of breast cancer] always instilled in me the importance of serving my community," said Fitzgerald. "I thought this would be a good way to give back to my fans, as well as to someone who has faced a cancer battle and won."

"

Fitzgerald is a Hall of Fame-caliber wide receiver. He's also a Hall of Fame-caliber person. Even better off the field than on it.

And he's absolutely deserving of this award.

Others receiving votes: Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants (3 votes); Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers (1 vote)

Built Ford Tough O-Line of the Year

George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Winner: Dallas Cowboys (10 votes)

We have our first unanimous vote.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why the Dallas Cowboys were a unanimous pick as the Built Ford Tough Offensive Line of the Year.

The Dallas Cowboys had the best record in the NFC is 2016, and while their dynamic rookie duo of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott may have garnered all the headlines, their O-line made it possible.

Linemen from Big D littered the top of the positional rankings at Pro Football Focus. Of the five starters up front (Tyron Smith, Ronald Leary, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin and Doug Free), only Free ranked outside the top 20 at his position.

Smith, Frederick and Martin were all named first-team All-Pros.

Back in November, Jonathan Jones of Sports Illustrated went so far as to posit that the Dallas front five merited consideration as the NFL's most valuable player.

"The Cowboys’ O-line for MVP has its roots in reality," Jones wrote. "They have been the most valuable part of any team this season. ... A successful offense relies on a strong ground game to open up a low-mistake passing attack, and Dallas has both thanks mostly to its line."

That isn't going to happen, of course. But that a sportswriter would seriously propose it shows how important that unit is to the success the Cowboys enjoyed in 2016.

There are other stout lines in the NFL, in places such as Oakland and Nashville. But the gold standard for bulldozing resides in AT&T Stadium.

Castrol Edge Clutch Performer of the Year

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Winner: Derek Carr, QB, Oakland Raiders (5 votes)

According to NFL.com's Daniel Williams, "being a Clutch Performer means coming through for your team in key moments and throughout your career."

Given that, it's interesting that Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions (who led many a fourth-quarter comeback en route to guiding the Detroit Lions to the playoffs in 2016) slipped through the cracks here.

Get it? Oil? Slipped? HA! I kill me!

That said, the finalists for the Castrol Edge Clutch Performer of the Year in 2016 are Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Marcus Mariota of the Tennessee Titans, the Pittsburgh Steelers' Antonio Brown, and Oakland Raiders teammates Derek Carr and Khalil Mack.

Fourth-quarter comebacks seem to be just how Carr likes it. Per Pro-Football-Reference.com, of Carr's 22 career victories, over half (12) have come via that route.

He likes to show his opponents some light before he slams the door.

Despite the fact a broken leg ended Carr's season prematurely, Adam Schein of NFL.com went so far as to call Carr his MVP for the 2016 season.

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Oakland morphed from an annual loser to a dynamite, clutch Super Bowl contender because of Carr, who led the Raiders to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. That's kind of a huge deal. His talent and performance under pressure gave the team's culture a boost it desperately required. Looking back, the entire season screams Derek Carr, MVP.

"

Carr isn't going to win MVP, and his injury led to a quick playoff exit for the Raiders.

But maybe this award will serve as some consolation.

Others receiving votes: Antonio Brown, WR, Oakland Raiders (2 votes); Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 vote); Khalil Mack, DE, Oakland Raiders (1 vote); Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans (1 vote)

Bridgestone Performance Play of the Year

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Winner: Antonio Brown wins the AFC North for Steelers (5 votes)

The voting for the Bridgestone Performance Play of the Year only extends through the end of the regular season. Were that not the case, the ridiculous toss-and-catch between Aaron Rodgers and Jared Cook of the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round would all but surely be the winner here.

However, there were plenty of game-changing plays from the regular season to choose from.

There was Tyreek Hill's 95-yard punt return touchdown against the San Diego Chargers in Week 17 that helped the Kansas City Chiefs win the AFC West.

Or the "Pick-Two" by Hill's teammate Eric Berry in Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Denver Broncos pulled a similar rabbit out of their hats in Week 10, downing the Saints in New Orleans when they blocked an extra point and returned the ball for two.

If you're into the lighter-hearted side of football, there was Zeke Elliott's scoring in prime time against the New York Giants and single-handedly causing a spike in holiday donations by jumping in a Salvation Army kettle.

Fine plays all.

But for our voters, the biggest play of the regular season came in Week 16, when Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown reached out and snatched the division title away from the hated Baltimore Ravens.

OK, you can look at the clips now. I know you want to. But you have to promise to hurry back.

There's one award left to go.

Others receiving votes: Denver Broncos PAT block (2 votes); Eric Berry Pick-Two (1 vote); Ezekiel Elliott Kettle Jump (1 vote); Tyreek Hill punt return TD (1 vote)

Most Valuable Player

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Winner: Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons (4 votes)

I will admit I cast my vote for MVP with the PFWA for Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers. I maintained there wasn't a more valuable player in the NFL this year. No way do the Packers reel off eight straight wins and make the NFC Championship Game without Rodgers not only playing well but standing on his head.

However, the Atlanta Falcons wrecked Rodgers and the Packers in that NFC title game, and something became apparent.

This is Matty Ice's year.

Yes, Tom Brady has been phenomenal this season. But the Patriots went 3-1 while the Golden Boy was in timeout. They are the best team in football.

It's no knock on Brady, but can you sit there with a straight face and say the Falcons would sniff the playoffs (much less the Super Bowl) if Ryan missed a month?

Heck no you can't.

After getting waxed by the Falcons in the divisional round, Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks told NFL Total Access (via Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com) there's no doubt in his mind who the 2016 MVP is.

"I think Matt Ryan; it's been his year," Wilson said. "In my opinion, he's probably the MVP...just because of the success that he's had on the football field and how he's overcome from the year before. He didn't have a great year before—and he was able to overcome those situations."

Ryan didn't just overcome a moribund 2015 season. He annihilated it. The PFWA already named him MVP.

On Saturday, the Associated Press will follow suit.

Others receiving votes: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers (3 votes); Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots (1 vote); Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys (1 vote)