With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Around The League crew is pumping out all of the relevant material to recap 2013 and prepare you for the postseason. Gregg Rosenthal and Marc Sessler have you covered on both the NFC and AFC Playoff Picture. We also have a handy list of every playoff scenario.
Over the next two weeks, my Position Rankings series will look forward to 2014 by highlighting the NFL's best offensive and defensive nuclei.
In the meantime, below is our Week 16 stock report on the NFL Honors awards.
Most Valuable Player
Harrison: Week 16 Power Rankings
Expecting the NFL pecking order to crystallize in the latter stages of the season? Not so fast! Elliot Harrison reshuffles the deck. **READ**
Brees is the only quarterback within 17 touchdown passes of Manning's 47. Everyone else is playing for second place in the MVP race. Manning's team owns the second-best record in the league, and he's on pace for a record-breaking 54 touchdowns and 5,499 passing yards.
Charles has gained separation from Calvin Johnson as the most valuable skill-position player after turning in one of the best receiving performances by a running back in NFL history. He put on a screen-pass clinic at Oakland. The focal point of a suddenly explosive Chiefs offense, Charles leads all backs in touchdowns and receiving yards while ranking fourth in rushing yards. Meanwhile, Johnson dropped three passes in a must-win game versus the RavensMonday night.
Defensive Player of the Year
We've been waiting for a clear victor to emerge, but it's not going to happen. Watt is the most disruptive defensive force in the game, but Quinn has made more game-changing plays this season. Vying with Dwight Freeney and Jevon Kearse as the fastest defensive end we've seen, Quinn leads the NFL in forced fumbles and is pulling away from the pack in combined sacks, hits and hurries.
How are voters expected to choose between Thomas and Richard Sherman on Seattle's top-ranked defense? It's Thomas' freakish range that is the key to the "Legion of Boom" secondary. Quarterbacks have spent the majority of the season avoiding Sherman.
Cameron Jordan and Calais Campbell belong in the discussion as well, but don't forget about a pair of Buccaneers stars -- Lavonte David and Gerald McCoy. David has been the best all-around linebacker in the NFL this season while McCoy has displaced Geno Atkins as the NFL's dominant three-technique defensive tackle.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
We're going to need the final two games to decide this one. Lacy has put the Packers on his back in consecutive season-saving wins over the Falcons and Cowboys. Allen is joining the ranks of A.J. Green, Marques Colston, Anquan Boldin and the wayward Michael Clayton as the most productive rookie wide receivers of the past decade. The Bengals' offense will be among the league's most dangerous once Bernard replaces BenJarvus Green-Ellis as the No. 1 tailback.
Glennon got his season back on track versus the 49ers, but Cardinals running back Andre Ellington is gaining on him. The sixth-round draft pick leads the league in yards per carry and percentage of rushes that result in runs of at least 10 yards. Other rookies worth mentioning: Le'Veon Bell, Larry Warford, DeAndre Hopkins, D.J. Fluker and Kyle Long.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Bruce Arians lamented that it "would take two guys" to replace Tyrann Mathieu. The Cardinals promptly surrendered a season-high 394 passing yards and 34 points to Ryan Fitzpatrick's Titans in Mathieu's first game out of the lineup. If not for the three games that will be missed due to injury, the Honey Badger would top this list.
One of the NFL's most athletic linebackers, Alonso is second in quarterback hurries, third in tackles and eighth in stops at the position. Richardson is already one of the most effective run-stuffing ends in the league. Lotulelei's ability to occupy multiple blockers has allowed Kuechly and Thomas Davis to flourish at a Pro Bowl level.
With a string of impressive games over the past month, Vacarro has bypassed Eric Reid of the 49ers as the top rookie safety on Game Rewind. In fact, Rob Ryan believes his first-round draft pick is the best overall safety in the game.
Coach of the Year
Carroll and general manager John Schneider deserve to make a clean sweep of the Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year awards. The Seahawks boast one of the deepest rosters of the free-agency era, which is how they have survived the losses of multiple offensive linemen and key players such as Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice, Brandon Browner, Walter Thurmond and K.J. Wright. Carroll has worked wonders with mid- and late-round draft picks since arriving in Seattle.
All 53 players on the Eagles' roster were in helmets and practicing late last week. Perhaps the Mad Scientist's science coach, personalized smoothies, heart monitors, customized sleep tests and eclectic music playlists really will change the way the rest of the league operates.
Arians has turned around two franchises in two years, though new general manager Steve Keim also deserves credit for upgrading the roster. Old standards Jim Harbaugh, Bill Belichick and Sean Payton also belong in the mix for this award.
*The latest "Around The League Podcast" broke down the Cowboys loss and every other Week 15 game. *
