NFL Quarterly Awards

This year, the NFL came very close to not having a season. If that would have happened, Peyton Manning's streak would have stayed intact, Arian Foster would statistically be the best running back and the Detroit Lions would not be...undefeated!

With so much going on, we would be hard pressed not to sit on back and take a collective breath. Therefore, I comprised an award show to recognize coaches, players and teams based on the first quarter of football this season.

Let's get to the awards.

Comeback Player of the Quarter

And the nominees are:

Matthew Stafford

Matt is just plain good. So far, he's thrown for 1,217 yards, 11 touchdown and 3 picks. Stafford was only able to play in three games last year. After leading the Lions to back to back victories, it seems like Matt Stafford is for real.

Beanie Wells

Last year, Beanie Wells had a very disappointing season with 397 yards rushing and two touchdowns. So far Wells already has 321 yards and 5 touchdowns and just came off of a very impressive three touchdown game.

Vincent Jackson

Granted, he kept himself out last year, but he already has more yards and the same amount of touchdowns (3) than he did all of last year. That's a comeback.

Steve Smith

Steve Smith is on pace to break his personal receiving record set back in 2005 (1,563). After putting up 554 receiving yards last year, and 530 already, all I have to say is...he's back.

And the winner is...

Steve Smith

Steve Smith.

Smith is playing big time with a rookie quarterback throwing him the rock. Though Cam is having a great year, Steve is a big reason why he is having success. The last time Steve Smith played in all 16 games was in 2005, when he put up 1,563 and 12 touchdowns. If he can stay healthy, he'll be playing in his 5th career pro bowl.

Rookie of the Quarter

Cam Newton

Newton is putting up monster passing yards (1,386) with 5 touchdowns, but how long can he keep it up? My guess is that until the Panthers can fix the running game, or until the Panthers stop playing from behind, he will break the NFL's rookie passing record held by Peyton Manning (3,739). Manning threw 28 picks and the Colts record that year...3-13, perhaps history may be telling us something.

Denarius Moore

The 148th player selected in this year's draft is making huge strives on a team known for having the fastest, yet most horrible wide receivers in the past five years. Oakland is still trying to replace their greatest wide receiver off all-time, Tim Brown. Raiders fans...he also returns kicks.

A.J. Green

Bengals fans may argue for Dalton, but there is no contest. Green has been real big with two one-hundred yard games already under his belt, and he has emerged as the Bengals No. 1 wide out. His numbers are great for a rookie (312 receiving and 2 touchdowns).

Ryan Kerrigan

Kerrigan is demonstrating why defensive players belong here (18 tackles 2 FF and a pick). Like Suh last year, it could be argued that a strong rookie, like Kerrigan, is just what the doctor ordered to nurse the Skins D back to respectability.

And the winner is...

A.J. Green

A.J. Green.

This may be a shock to some, but I believe that Green will continue to put up big numbers. Cam looks great, at times, but he also has 5 picks on top of his 5 touchdowns. At the end of the day, I would rather take a good player, who looks great a on bad team, rather than a great player, who looks great...at times.

Most Dissapointing Team of the Quarter

Philadelphia Eagles

Mike Vick's injuries have cost the Eagles two games. What's worse is that the Eagles rank 30th against the run and now, with Trent Cole out, things are about to get bad. 1-3 after the first four games, I can't see the Eagles rebounding in time for the playoffs.

Kansas City Chiefs

They finally picked up a win against the Vikings, but they are dead last in points against (126) and they have a net points total of -77. Charles gone, Berry gone, this season...gone.

Minnesota Vikings

What in the heck is going on here? More specifically why is McNabb getting all the blame. The O-line is O-ffensive. They have blown a lead going into the fourth quarter in every game. Let McNabb continue, because this team could easily be 3-1 instead of 0-4.

St. Louis Rams

Many people picked this team to win the NFC West. However, Jackson isn't running the ball and they have lost by 67 points. Now, granted, the start of their schedule is a tough one, and in that division they may still have a chance.

And the winner is...

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings.

Acquiring McNabb was supposed to be the missing key to their offense, but, when you don't fix what has been hurting you for years, the secondary, then teams will continue to take advantage it. With that said, I thought they had a chance at a playoff run this year and I couldn't be farther from right.

Best Coach of the Quarter

Chan Gailey

Gailey has his team playing power offense football. They can pass, run and put up points. They are fourth in total offense and his decision to kneel the ball on the Patriots was genius, especially because Tom Brady holds a record 31 game-winning drives. Gailey's team motto right now is "just put up more points than the other team, maybe the D will come along soon."

Mike Munchak

Unlike Gailey, this rookie head coach has his team playing tremendous defense. The Titans are first in points against (14) and are in the top ten in total yards against (300), rushing yards (88) and passing yards (212). The fact, that they blew their game against a 1-3 Jaguars team, has me believing that this team is legit. Tough break losing Britt for the season, but whenever Chris Johnson decides to wake up, this team will be real hard to beat.

Jim Schwartz

Wow! Detroit definitely has the heart of a lion. With record breaking 20-point comebacks, Schwartz is simply out-coaching opposing coaches. Schwartz has his offense playing at a high level; second in total points (34). Also, their Defense is playing great. This may not be the most balanced team, in the fourth quarter, but they sure are exciting to watch.

Mike Shanahan

It pains me as a Raider's fan to say this, but after the Haynesworth and McNabb controversies, it looks like Mike was right. Shanahan picked his guy, and saw what people couldn't see in Rex Grossman. A close loss to Dallas has his team three points away from being unbeaten. Redemption, so far, for Mike Shanahan.

And the winner is...

Mike Munchak

Mike Munchak.

This was a very close call and there were certainly some honorable mentions who weren't nominated (Raheem Morris, Tom Coughlin and Jim Harbaugh). But Munchak is coaching wins without Chris Johnson running well. He is resurrecting Matt Hasslebeck's career and, more importantly, winning games.

Best Team

Green Bay Packers

The Pack are first in points for (37) and their line is actually blocking—only giving up seven sacks. Granted, that may not be too impressive, but ask any Packers fan every time Rogers is not on the ground, it is a good thing to see. The Packers are so impressive that they even let Matt Flynn throw a pass...literally one, and it was an interception. The questions isn't even how good they are, it's who can beat them.

Houston Texans

Houston's hiccup to New Orleans was predicated on the injured Arian Foster and I guess giving up 23 points in the fourth quarter didn't help either. However, the Texans may be the most well-balanced team in the NFL right now. Offensively they are eighth in total points scored (27) and fourth in points against (17.5). Houston may have a huge problem if Andre Johnson is out for a while, but so far...so good.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints only loss came on opening week of the season to the Packers . Since then, they have outscored their opponents 93-56 and Drew Brees continues to put up big numbers. The Saints are second in total yards (454) and are ninth against the run (94). They are playing Saints football, which is just letting Drew Brees sling the ball down the field.

Detroit Lions

They are unbeaten and hold an impressive eight game winning streak dating back to last season. The Lions are doing all the little things right—blocking and not committing turnovers—which is leading to big things, such as wins and a potential playoff birth. Both sides of the football are playing at a high level right now and as long as there aren't any big injuries, the Lions should continue to play at a high level.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills started off playing better than any team, until their disappointing loss to the Bengals this past weekend (20-23). However, their offense continues to be the driving force behind their wins. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Fred Jackson are putting up big numbers and the Bills are probably the most well-balanced offensive team in the league. Whenever a team can run and pass, the more likely a defensive coordinator will get fired.

And the winner is...

Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers.

The Packers are looking like they may be repeating as NFL Champions this year, which would be the first time that has happened in Green Bay since the first two Super Bowls. Aaron Rogers is coming off of a six-touchdown game, and time will only tell if the Packers will join the 72' Dolphins for that prestigious unbeaten record.

NFL MVP

Tom Brady

Tom Brady is on another record breaking pace with a league leading 1,553 passing yards. If you take his four picks away from the Bills, then nobody else would even be on this list. However, they happened, and the others caught up. Tom is looking to go back-to-back and I like his chances.

Aaron Rogers

Six touchdowns this past week is just freakish. On top of that, he has a crazy 124.6 passer rating with 12 touchdowns and 2 picks. The Packers are rolling and it is all because of this guy.

Calvin Johnson

Megatron is the best wide receiver...period. Johnson has 8 of the Lions 11 receiving touchdowns on the season. What separates him from the others is that everybody knows he's getting the ball and nobody can stop him. What a force!

Darren McFadden

McFadden is leading the league in running yards with 468. Run DMC has the Raiders back to being relevant. His 6.2 yards per carry isn't as good as his receiving average (8.8). If he can continue to punish defenses without injury, the Raiders will be back in the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Wes Welker

Welker has 40 receptions for 616 yards, both are league leading stats. He may not be that flashy, unless he's receiving 99 yard touchdowns, but one thing that separates Wes Welker from all others is a huge heart and an uncanny toughness to catch passes over the middle.

And the winner is...

Calvin Johnson

Calvin Johnson. The Cowboys proved that you can't even triple cover Johnson. He makes his receivers better, he makes his quarterback look better and, more importantly, he makes his team better. He never complains and the fact that he is only 4 touchdowns behind Brady and Rogers makes him the MVP.