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NFL Quarterly Awards 2020: MVP, Rookies of the Year after four weeks

By Cody Williams

Oct 4, 2020; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) attempts a pass against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2020; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) attempts a pass against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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NFL Awards
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (Mandatory Credit: USA Today Sports/Syndication: The Enquirer) /

Handing out early NFL awards at the quarter mark of the 2020 season.

With an impromptu Monday Night Football doubleheader in Week 4 now in the books, we’ve reached the quarter mark of the 2020 NFL season. There have been plenty of pleasant surprises and just as many big letdowns. But the quarter-pole offers us a great checkpoint to look at the league and take stock of what we’ve seen. And in that, it gives us a chance to look at the early NFL awards race.

The NFL MVP race has already stolen many headlines early in the season as a handful of quarterbacks have made their marks in big ways that have them all heavily in the running to win the award. But that’s not the only race covered in intrigue over the first four weeks of the season. So that’s why we’re here.

Now that one-quarter of the 2020 season is in the books, let’s take a look at who would win each of the major individual NFL awards if the season were to end today. (Note: All stats are via Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.)

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

On some level, you have to feel bad for Joe Burrow. The No. 1 overall pick in this past year’s draft is playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league in Cincinnati right now and he’s paying the price with some of the hits he’s taking. But to his credit, he’s kept bouncing back up and has put up some impressive numbers to this point.

Burrow led the Bengals to their first win of the season in Week 4, fresh off getting a tie in the previous game. Furthermore, he threw for 300 yards, giving him three straight games in which he hit that threshold. Again, that speaks to how impressive he’s been despite a bad team around him.

Through four weeks, Burrow is currently eighth in the NFL in passing yards and has thrown six touchdowns with only two interceptions while also rushing for a score as well. He’s been a big-time gamer that has made some truly impressive throws in every game he’s played. Simply, he’s shown that last year at LSU wasn’t a one-year wonder kind of deal.

If Burrow can stay on the field — not a given with the hits he’s taking — he should be able to run away with Offensive Rookie of the Year. Yes, guys like Jonathan Taylor, Justin Herbert and Antonio Gibson have impressed but, with the profile of Burrow coupled with his output, it’s hard to argue with giving him the hardware.

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