Tag: award

Nik Bonitto snubbed for weekly award despite matching J.J. Watt’s impressive stat

Nik Bonitto is the NFL’s first player since J.J. Watt (2014) with double-digit sacks and multiple TDs in a season. Watt won DPOY in 2014.

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto was not named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week following his impressive performance against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

The NFL instead gave that honor to Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley after he totaled five tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups in Week 15.

Bonitto was snubbed after recording five tackles (including one behind the line of scrimmage), one quarterback hit, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, a half-sack and a 50-yard fumble-six.

Bonitto now has 11.5 sacks on the season, tied for third overall and just one sack away from Trey Hendrickson’s league-leading 12.5 sacks.

Before his fumble-six against the Colts, Bonitto had a 71-yard pick-six against the Cleveland Browns in Denver’s previous game, making him the first player in NFL history to post 50-plus-yard defensive touchdowns in consecutive games.

Bonitto is also the first player to record double-digit sacks and multiple touchdowns since J.J. Watt accomplished that feat in 2014. Watt ended that season with 20.5 sacks and he was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Bonitto would probably need to lead the league in sacks to have a shot of winning DPOY this season. The 25-year-old pass rusher has three games remaining to build on his career-high 11.5 sacks in 2024.

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Broncos returner Marvin Mims wins much-deserved AFC award

Congrats to Broncos receiver/returner Marvin Mims for being named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week!

Denver Broncos wide receiver and returner Marvin Mims was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after he totaled 97 punt-return yards in a 31-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15.

Mims’ 61-yard punt return in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game set up a go-ahead touchdown for the Broncos, and the team never looked back from there. After Sunday’s win, the receiver deflected praise to his blocking teammates.

“I think the punt returners, we know how good we are and how we’re at the top of the league at it and we have a lot of confidence in that unit,” Mims said. “To be able to get that opportunity, it’s goes good for us almost every time. Those guys are really into it, they clean it up a lot for me to make a play.”

The receiver has made an impact for Denver both on offense and on special teams this year, playing as a receiver, running back and returner.

“I think Marvin has had an unbelievable year,” offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “Especially the second half of this year, we’re using him a lot on offense. He’s been in the backfield, the slot, out wide, and obviously his calling card has always been in the return game.

“He’s been so vital for us not only this year, but last year making the Pro Bowl as a rookie for returning. That gave us a spark tonight and we needed it. Our defense and special teams gave us a lot of help. Marvin had two or three returns that really changed the game.”

This is the second time Mims has won a Special Teams Player of the Week award after he previously took home the honor as a rookie in Week 10 last season.

“I tell him all the time — those plays, those hidden yards, somebody that didn’t watch the game, they’re not going to see that highlight, but anybody that’s tapped into the game and really watches it and wants to understand what’s going on in the game will understand him doing that,” receiver Courtland Sutton said. “Even if it’s 10 yards, it’s such a big momentum change for us.

“Just to see him running with the ball — he’s an exciting guy with the ball in his hands — and watching him go down the sidelines a couple times today, it’s exciting because at any moment you know that he could take it to the crib. It gives us that switch; we were kind of struggling moving the ball consistently and for him to go and get us those hidden yards and for us to be able to capitalize on them is huge.”

Mims, 22, has totaled 902 all-purpose yards and scored two touchdowns so far this season. He’s an underrated part of the team’s success, but this award will help put Mims in the spotlight where he belongs.

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Chiefs K Matthew Wright earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after game-winning field goal

Kansas City #Chiefs kicker Matthew Wright earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after game-winning field goal | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs thrillingly escaped Week 14 with their victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, clinching a ninth straight AFC West division title. Kicker Matthew Wright’s dramatic game-winning field goal and contributions throughout the game sealed the impressive home win.

For his efforts against Los Angeles, Wright earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors, an unexpected accomplishment from the Chiefs’ third kicker this season playing above expectations. He is the second Kansas City player to win in the special teams category following Leo Chenal’s Week 10 performance, blocking the potential game-winning field goal against the Denver Broncos.

Wright converted all four field goal attempts, including the game-winning 31-yard field goal, with no time remaining on Sunday Night Football. This is the second-career Special Teams Player of the Week award for Wright, becoming the second Chiefs kicker to win the honor in the past 10 seasons, joining five-time winner Harrison Butker.

Wright becomes the second former UCF kicker to win multiple Special Teams Player of the Week awards, joining 15-time winner Matt Prater. Since replacing injured kicker Spencer Shrader in the lineup, Wright has stepped into clutch scenarios for Kansas City and has delivered, keeping their top AFC record intact.

Broncos CB Pat Surtain named AFC Defensive Player of the Month

Congrats to Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain for being named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month!

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November, the NFL announced Thursday.

“In the month of November, Surtain played in 140 total coverage snaps, allowing just nine receptions for 55 yards on 17 targets, according to Next Gen Stats,” the team stated in a press release announcing the award. “(Surtain) also did not allow a single reception in Week 9 against Baltimore when facing wide receiver Zay Flowers and Week 11 against Atlanta while facing wide receiver Drake London and Darnell Mooney.”

Earlier this season, Surtain earned AFC Player of the Week honors following his two-interception performance against the Las Vegas Raiders in Denver.

Surtain became the first Denver player to earn AFC Player of the Month honors since former linebacker Von Miller did so in September 2021.

“Surtain has started all 12 games played this season for the Broncos, totaling 31 tackles (23 solo), three interceptions (128 yds., 1 TD) and nine passes defensed,” said the release. “According to NFL NextGen Stats, he ranks Top-5 among all cornerbacks this season with at least 325 coverage snaps in receiving yards allowed (1st, 207), tight window throws forced (1st, 35.9%), receptions (2nd, 24), targets (2nd, 39) and passer rating allowed (4th, 60.5).”

Surtain’s monthly award is just a small part of the tremendous push he’s made for NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.

Surtain and Co. have a bye this week before hosting the Indianapolis Colts at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 15.

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Chiefs nominate TE Travis Kelce for Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

Star TE Travis Kelce is the Kansas City #Chiefs’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

With nine Pro Bowls, four All-Pro selections, and three Super Bowl rings, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is one of the most decorated players in the NFL, and now he has a chance to add another accolade to his list of accomplishments.

On Thursday, the Chiefs announced they were selecting Kelce to be the nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year, which recognizes players who excel both on and off the field.

Since arriving in Kansas City in 2013, the All-Pro has been deeply rooted in the local community and even founded the 87 and Running Foundation, which empowers disadvantaged youth to achieve success by providing resources and support to their communities.

Fans can vote on Twitter by posting #WPMOYChallenge along with the name Kelce/Kelce’s Twitter handle (@tkelce) or by voting directly on NFL.com/ManOfTheYear.

Since the creation of the award in 1970, then called the NFL Man of the Year, five Chiefs have had the honor of receiving the award, with legendary offensive lineman Brian Waters winning most recently in 2009.

Bo Nix shrugs off Rookie of the Year debate: QB’s focus is on ‘the next game’

“All I can focus on is the next game,” Broncos QB Bo Nix said when asked about the Offensive Rookie of the Year debate.

Jayden Daniels has retaken the lead (and he may have never lost it).

After scoring four total touchdowns in the Washington Commanders’ big win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Daniels is the front-runner to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

Daniels now has 21 touchdowns this season, but Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix can pass him in that stat with just one score against the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football this evening.

Last week, Nix was asked if he’s been paying attention to the Rookie of the Year debate this season.

“Not really,” Nix said. “All I can focus on is the next game [and] the next opponent. What I can do to win, what I can do to help the team win and right now it’s just executing. There’s always going to be the off-the-field things. It doesn’t matter if you don’t play well.

“All I’m concerned about right now is the next opponent and that’s Cleveland. We just have to play well and continue to do the things that we’ve been doing the past couple of weeks leading up to this game.”

Nix might not be paying attention to the OROY conversation, but a big performance in prime time on Monday night would go a long way toward solidifying his canidiacy to win the award in 2024.

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Broncos DL John Franklin-Myers receives Week 12 Game Ball from PFN

“John Franklin-Myers has been more impactful than his numbers all year,” PFN said of the Broncos’ defensive lineman.

The Denver Broncos defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 29-19 this past weekend, and now they are sitting pretty at 7-5. With rookie quarterback Bo Nix in tow, the Broncos appear to be ready to play their best football as November comes to a close and December approaches. 

Denver defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers didn’t record the who’s-who stats for defensive linemen (sacks, tackles, tackles-for-loss) this past week. Still, his performance against the Raiders helped the Broncos hold their division rival to only 19 points and 69 rushing yards. His performance got him a game ball via Pro Football Network for Week 12.

From PFN’s website:

Box-score divers will likely scratch their heads when they see that our Denver Broncos game ball goes to a defensive end who didn’t have a solo tackle, a sack, or a turnover. But John Franklin-Myers has been more impactful than his numbers all year. He’s solid against the run and disruptive against the pass.

On Sunday, Franklin-Myers had a game-high six pressures in 36 pass-rush snaps (16.7%) and helped limit the Las Vegas Raiders to 69 rushing yards in a 29-19 Broncos victory.

Denver had the week’s No. 5 defensive performance entering Monday’s action per DEF+ (82.2) to remain first in the season-long rating (93.1).

Congrats to Franklin-Myers on his accomplishment. Hopefully, he can replicate a similar performance as the Broncos face off against the Cleveland Browns on Monday.

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Bo Nix makes Broncos history again with Rookie of the Week award

Bo Nix is the first player in Broncos history to win Rookie of the Week in three consecutive weeks.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has been named Rookie of the Week following the team’s 29-19 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12.

Nix has now won NFL.com’s Rookie of the Week award in three consecutive weeks, making him the first player in franchise history to accomplish such a feat. Nix previously won after impressing against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10 and against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11.

Nix was also named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week and the Air Player of the Week after the Falcons game. He was also named the NFL’s Rookie of the Month in October.

Nix went 25-of-42 passing for 273 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers against the Raiders last week. Through 12 games this season, the rookie QB has completed 64.9% of his passes for 2,548 yards and 16 touchdowns against six interceptions. He has also rushed for four touchdowns and hauled in a touchdown catch this fall.

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Broncos kicker Wil Lutz wins weekly award

This was Wil Lutz’s second time winning the award in 2024.

After the Denver Broncos‘ win over the Las Vegas Raiders, kicker Wil Lutz earned another personal accolade of his own.

Lutz was awarded AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after going 5-for-5 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra points. Lutz’s 17 points proved the critical difference in the Broncos’ 29-19 win over the Raiders. Lutz made field goals of 33, 38, 45, 53 and 54 yards in the win.

Week 12 was the second time Lutz won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in 2024. Lutz also won the award after Denver’s Week 3 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In 2024, Lutz has been exceptional for the Broncos. Lutz has made 24-of-27 field goals (88.9%) and a perfect 26-of-26 on extra points in 2024. After being traded to Denver in 2023, Lutz has been 54-of-61 on field goals and 55-of-57 on extra points.

There are five games left for Lutz to improve on those numbers before the season ends. Up next is a Monday Night Football showdown with the Cleveland Browns in Week 13.

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Nephi Sewell voted as the Saints’ Ed Block Courage Award winner

Nephi Sewell has been voted in as the New Orleans Saints’ Ed Block Courage Award winner for the 2024 season after returning from a serious knee injury:

The New Orleans Saints have voted for their 2024 Ed Block Courage Award winner, and this year the recipient will be third-year linebacker Nephi Sewell. Sewell has been on the long road to recovery from an ACL injury back in Week 17 of the 2023 season, and was able to suit up for his first game of the 2024 season in Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns. His recovery, work ethic, and perseverance are listed as the reasons for why he was voted by his teammates, and he is absolutely deserving of this honor with how difficult the recovery from ACL injuries are.

Some of the recent previous winners of this award for the Saints include:

  • 2023: TE Foster Moreau
  • 2022: QB Jameis Winston
  • 2021: LB Kwon Alexander
  • 2020: OT Terron Armstead
  • 2019: DT Sheldon Rankins

Another notable appearance from this award was in 2005, when the entire New Orleans Saints team won the award due to their resilience in the face of Hurricane Katrina, and performance in the face of extreme adversity. Many other Saints greats have been nominated as well, including (but not limited to) Marques Colston, Mark Ingram, Jimmy Graham, Deuce McAllister, Sam Mills, Rickey Jackson, and many others. In addition, Tyrann Mathieu has also received the award back in 2014 when he was with the Arizona Cardinals. This award is a huge honor in the NFL, and is a testament to the courage and commitment of players to both the game of football and their communities.

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