Time for NFL midseason awards

MINNEAPOLIS — There are plenty of surprises, disappointments and lingering question marks as all 32 NFL teams hit at least the halfway point of their seasons this week.

There are two undefeated teams, including a Saints squad that finished last in the NFC South in 2008.

There's one winless team, the 0-7 Buccaneers, and five one-win teams, including the Titans, who had an NFL-best 13-3 record one year ago.

Vikings quarterback Brett Favre is the story line of the year, but at least third in the early running for a fourth Most Valuable Player award. The top two candidates are quarterbacks Drew Brees of the Saints (7-0) and three-time winner and defending champion Peyton Manning of the Colts (7-0).

The NFL Coach of the Year front-runner is 33-year-old Josh McDaniels, whose Broncos are 6-1 despite a tumultuous offseason that followed last year's 8-8 season. Vikings coach Brad Childress, who pursued and finally captured Favre, is in the running, as is Colts coach Jim Caldwell, who last week joined Potsy Clark of the 1931 Portsmouth Spartans as the only rookie NFL coaches to start 7-0 in the past 80 years. Caldwell can match Clark's 8-0 start with a victory over Houston this week.

Speaking of the Texans, they are two games over .500 (5-3) for the first time in their eight-year history. They have never made the playoffs or had a winning record, but they currently hold the sixth and final playoff position in the AFC.

Five other teams that didn't make the playoffs last year currently are in position this year, including the Bengals, who were 4-11-1 a year ago.

Of course, the most difficult half of the NFL season is about to unfold.

MIDSEASON AWARDS

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

1. Drew Brees, QB, Saints: I'm going with Brees because he's playing his position about as perfectly as it can be played on a team that's 7-0 following last year's 8-8 finish.

2. Peyton Manning, QB, Colts: The defending MVP could easily win his fourth. He's No. 2 in passer rating (109.3) while completing 71.1 percent of his passes with 15 TDs and four INTs on a 7-0 team.

3. Brett Favre, QB, Vikings: If he's close at the end of the season, he will get the nod because of the sentimental factor. Who wouldn't love to see a 40-year-old guy win his fourth MVP? Other than Packers fans, of course.

COACH OF THE YEAR

1. Josh McDaniels, Broncos: Despite last week's 30-7 loss to the Ravens, McDaniels is still the favorite. He's 6-1 despite inheriting a defensively-poor 8-8 team, trading away QB Jay Cutler and briefly suspending receiver Brandon Marshall.