Predicting all the NFL awards for the 2019/20 season

Coach of the Year:

1. Doug Pederson

2. Andy Reid

3. Sean McDermott

Just outside: Kyle Shanahan and Freddie Kitchens

My first two candidates are the coaches of the top-seeded teams in either conference, which is usually the way this award is handed out and my third guy is someone, who I think has really established a different culture at his current franchise and now has enough at hand to crack a playoff spot.

While a lot of people have the Cowboys winning the NFC East and I like them to sneak into the playoffs as well, you could argue that Philly has the most talented team in the league. With Carson Wentz back healthy, in line for an MVP season, and his best mix of playmakers around him, to go with a defense that should be among the NFL’s best, the Eagles could blow some teams out this year, similar to the way they did in 2017 en route to a Super Bowl run. There is definitely a lot of competition in the NFC, but I have Pederson’s troops earning home-field advantage through the playoffs and winning a couple of trophies on the red carpet.

I have Big Reid, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs running away with the AFC West and earning the conference’s number one seed due to conquering the Patriots in their direct matchup at Foxborough. With Melvin Gordon holding out and Derwin James missing about half the season, I don’t see the Chargers really challenge for the division and while the other two teams should have improved quite a bit as well, this is the team to beat. With even more weapons on offense, Reid and his superstar QB will put up 35+ points a week, while having a defense that could take some pressure off them.

And then there’s a guy I have a lot of faith in. Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane arrived in Buffalo two years ago with a vision of creating a contender a few years down the road. That included finding personnel to find their defensive scheme, investing in a franchise quarterback and cutting ties with overpriced veterans. This just feels like a different franchise with young talent all over the place. Josh Allen should make a leap as a sophomore, the running game could be up there among the league leaders and their defense should be one of the premier units in the league. I wanted to give McDermott the award, but at 9-7 I don’t think he will quite receive enough votes.

Shanahan and Kitchens are two I think will get some recognition for going from a sub-.500 team to winning their division. Both those offenses will rank somewhere in the top ten and they will have improved defenses, that will benefit from being ahead in more games. With expectations fairly high and no first-round bye earned, I have the two coaches finishing just behind the top three.