NFL midseason awards: The best player, coach and team at the halfway mark

The 2013 NFL season is halfway home. SB Nation's NFL bloggers voted on awards before the season and now we do the same at the midseason. Read on for SB Nation's NFL midseason awards as voted on by our NFL bloggers.

By Joel Thorman@JoelThorman Nov 1, 2013, 9:39am EDT

Offensive MVP: Broncos QB Peyton Manning

Preseason pick: Peyton Manning

Every voter agreed with this except one -- Bolts from the Blue, our Chargers blog, selected Philip Rivers. While Rivers is having an insane year -- on pace for over 4,000 yards, over 30 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and an insane 73.9 completion percentage -- Manning is in another universe.

Manning's current pace: 5,838 yards, 58 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions.

Think about that. It's possible that Manning hits 6,000 yards. 6,000!

No one is scoring at a rate that the Broncos are and that's largely due to Manning's brilliance. Add in the fact that Manning is among the most popular NFL players, and you have yourself a pretty easy selection for MVP.

Defensive MVP: Chiefs LB Justin Houston

Preseason pick: JJ Watt

Coming in a close second was Colts LB Robert Mathis, who leads the NFL in sacks with 11.5. Both players are clearly deserving based on the first half of the 2013 season, but the Chiefs unbeaten record likely helps push Houston over the top.

The Chiefs defense has been the best in the NFL through the first half; a large part of that is Houston's ability to pressure the passer. A third round pick in 2011, Houston has been getting better each year so plenty of people predicted a big year for him, but I'm not sure anyone would've predicted 11 sacks in the first eight games.

Houston has recorded a sack in 15 career games. Seven of those games ended with more than just one sack. He has the ability to take over games, and he's been the face of the best defense in the NFL so far this season.

Coach of the year: Chiefs head coach Andy Reid

Preseason pick: Pete Carroll

Also receiving votes were Pete Carroll, Mike McCoy, Sean Payton and Marvin Lewis.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid is the obvious choice here. The Chiefs have orchestrated the greatest first half ever for a team as bad as they were last year. No team with two wins or less the previous year has started out 5-0 the next, much less 8-0. No team with the No. 1 pick in the previous year has started 8-0.

Consider the 2012 Chiefs: At this point last season, the Chiefs hadn't held a lead in a game. Think about that and then look at what Andy Reid has done in what is also the greatest start of his career, better than the 2004 Eagles, who started 7-0 and made the Super Bowl.

Rookie of the year: Bills LB Kiko Alonso

Who knew the 46th player in the 2013 NFL Draft would put up, statistically, one of the best first halves in the NFL?

Preseason pick: Tavon Austin

Alonso's 81 tackles are good for second overall in the NFL. He has one sack, eight passes defensed, four interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He's notched an NFL rookie of the month award in his first month. Buffalo Rumblings noticed within just a few weeks that the Bills had a legitimate rookie of the year candidate on their hands. It's why they talk about "The legend of Kiko Alonso" in Buffalo.

Also receiving votes were Geno Smith, Sheldon Richardson, Eddie Lacy, Star Lotulelei, Kenny Vaccaro, Giovani Bernard, Kyle Long.

Super Bowl winner: Broncos and Seahawks (tie)

Preseason pick: Broncos

The majority of SB Nation's NFL bloggers believe the Broncos will be playing the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. The votes on the Super Bowl winner ended up in a tie between the Seahawks and Broncos.

Mile High Report runs down the list of Broncos players who are performing well at the midway point.

The Broncos have a good formula: the best offense with the best quarterback and an excellent home field advantage. Add in an easy schedule to start the year and a defense starting to come around and you can see why so many people believe in what the Broncos are doing.

The same goes for the Seahawks. They're one of the top rushing teams in the league with Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson combining for nearly 1,000 yards on their own through eight games. The Seahawks are 7-1 with one of the best coaches and one of the best home field advantages in sports.

Because our Super Bowl pick ended up in a tie -- Donovan McNabb approves! -- we leave the final vote to you. Make your Super Bowl pick in the poll below.