Jim Owczarski, and Paul Dehner Jr.

Cincinnati

Bengals beat writers Paul Dehner Jr. and Jim Owczarski compiled end of season awards, some serious and others not so much. Each award includes an honorable mention, informative nugget and look back to last year's winner.

The awards handed out are as follows: MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Pleasant Surprise, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved, Most Disappointing, Best Celebration, Funniest Moment, Most Influential Moment, Most Important Play of the Year, Coach of the Year, Coolest Play of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Most Exhausting Storyline, Most Powerful Storyline, Most Underrated Player, Most Fun Player to Watch, Best Game and Quote of the Year.

MVP

A.J. Green

Why: Despite playing only nine full games, Green led the Bengals in receptions (66), yards (964) and average yards per catch (14.6) - and was the single most dominant player on the field when he was out there. He took a more vocal role this season as well and when Pittsburgh and Dallas slowed him down, he bounced back with huge games, and after he didn’t haul in a touchdown in New England, he called himself out and put together a three-game stretch of 24 catches, 358 yards and two touchdowns.

Nugget(s): Green became the 12th receiver since the turn of the century to compile at least 960 yards in the first nine games of a season. He ranked second in receiving through the first nine games this year only to Julio Jones. Green was on pace (1,775) to shatter the current Bengals record for receiving yards in a season held by Chad Johnson (1,440).

Honorable mention: Andy Dalton

Last year: Andy Dalton

Offensive player of the year

Andy Dalton

Why: He built off an injury-shortened career year in 2015 to throw for over 4,000 yards for the second time and had eight games of at least a 100 quarterback rating. Despite being sacked 41 times – the most since he was dropped 46 times in 2012 – Dalton improved on his ability to perform under pressure and extending plays. He set full-season career highs in completions (364), completion percentage (64.7), interception percentage (1.4), yards per attempt (7.5) and rating (91.8).

Nugget(s): Dalton was one of only four quarterbacks with at least 7.5 yards per attempt and an interception rate of 1.4 percent or below. The others were Matt Ryan (9.3/1/.3), Tom Brady (8.2/0.5) and Dak Prescott (8.0/0.9). Those teams combined to go 38-10 overall and each landed a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

Honorable mention: Andrew Whitworth

Last year: Tyler Eifert

Coach of the year

WRs coach James Urban

Why: A.J. Green got better and was turning in a career year until he got hurt, but the wide receiver coach’s influence was really seen with a bevy of young wide receivers. Tyler Boyd started from day one and got better every week and caught 54 passes for 603 yards and a score. Fellow rookies Cody Core and Alex Erickson also got on the field, and James Wright earned a spot out of camp after overcoming a serious knee injury. Veteran Brandon LaFell came in as a free agent and worked in seamlessly as well.

Bengals notes: LaFell makes $500K, draft order set

Nugget(s): In the Marvin Lewis Era, only A.J. Green’s rookie season of 2011 yielded more production from first-year wideouts. Tyler Boyd, Alex Erickson and Cody Core combined for 77 receptions for 874 yards. The most in any non-Green season 52 receptions for 600 yards, all by Jordan Shipley, in 2010.

Honorable mention: Paul Guenther

Last year: Hue Jackson

Most Pleasant Surprise

Rex Burkhead

Why: Many thought the backup running back had the ability to be a big part of an offense, but until Giovani Bernard went down with a knee injury in the 10th game of the season, no one knew for sure. All Burkhead did once given an opportunity was average 4.6 yards per carry and finish second on the team in rushing with 344 yards. He also caught 17 passes for 145 yards

Nugget(s): Only five running backs with at least 70 rushing attempts and 15 receptions averaged at least 4.6 yards per carry and 8.6 yards per reception as Burkhead did this year. The other four are Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas), Jordan Howard (Chicago), Devonta Freeman (Atlanta) and Duke Johnson (Cleveland).

Honorable mention: Clayton Fejedelem, Erickson, LaFell

Last year: Tyler Eifert

Rookie of the year

Tyler Boyd

Why: Outside of Erickson, Boyd was the only rookie to earn a shot to play consistently from the opening week and he eventually grew into one of Dalton’s favorite options – especially on third down. He led all NFL rookies with 22 catches on that down. His 54 catches and 603 yards were the most by a Bengals rookie wide receiver since A.J. Green’s rookie year.

Nugget(s): Boyd caught 16 passes on either third or fourth down that made for a first-down conversion. That ranked second in the NFL among all rookies (Sterling Shepard, Giants, 20). It also marked the third highest season total for any Bengals receiver in the Dalton Era. A.J. Green (20) and Marvin Jones (17) both topped the mark in 2013.

Honorable mention: Erickson

Last year: Jake Fisher

Most Improved

Dre Kirkpatrick

Why: In his second full season as a starter, Kirkpatrick tied for the team lead in interceptions with three and was first in the secondary in passes defensed with 10. He was flagged for a team-high nine penalties, but he reduced that number from 15 a year ago.

Nugget(s): For the second straight season, Kirkpatrick led all Bengals cornerbacks in passes defensed. This year he tied George Iloka and Shawn Williams for the team lead with three interceptions.

Honorable mention: Williams

Last year: Carlos Dunlap

Most disappointing

Cedric Ogbuehi

Why: The 2015 first round pick missed almost all of organized training activities and the preseason with injuries but was given the starting right tackle job. He lasted just over five games in that role before being benched and worked into a rotation with Eric Winston in week six. He then lost the job completely before flipping to the left side. After allowing two sacks in his lone start at left tackle, he ended the year on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

Nugget(s): At the time of his benching, Cedric Ogbuehi led all NFL offensive linemen in total pressures allowed.

Honorable mention: Eifert, Mike Nugent

Last year: Jeremy Hill

Best Celebration

Geno Atkins' touch of Dolphins’ QB Ryan Tannehill

Why: Well, it wasn’t really a “celebration” in the traditional sense, but a very Atkins-like point of emphasis after the Bengals’ defensive tackle took a Miami Dolphins guard and sacked Tannehill with his own lineman. But, being aware that Tannehill wasn’t actually down, Atkins then tapped the Dolphins’ QB to make it official.

Nugget(s): The 41.5 sacks by Geno Atkins since the 2012 season lead all defensive tackles. Next closest are Tampa Bay’s Gerald McCoy (38.0) and New York’s Muhammad Wilkerson (38.0).

Honorable mention: Hill’s ode to Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith celebration in Cleveland

Last year: Domata Peko’s Belly Dance

Funniest Moment

Adam Jones uses a trash can as a postgame prop

Why: Beginning with the proclamation that “Adam Jones is going live!” the Bengals corner earned laughs around the country by leaning waist deep in a locker room trash can looking for Cleveland wide receiver Terrelle Pryor, Sr.

Nugget(s): Terrelle Pryor averaged 5.3 receptions and 70.4 receiving yards in the 14 games not against the Bengals this year. His two smallest outputs of the year in terms of both receptions and yards came against Cincinnati, where he combined for three receptions for 21 yards.

Honorable mention: C.J. Uzomah goes Pokemon hunting in Paul Brown Stadium.

Last year: A.J. Green punts AJ McCarron’s first touchdown pass into the stands.

Most Influential Moment

A.J. Green tears his hamstring against Buffalo

Why: The Bengals were 3-5-1 and in need of a victory at home against the middling Bills. But, they were coming off a 1-point loss in New York on Monday night, things seemed to be pointed in the right direction defensively and the offense had strung its best three games together of the year. Then, Green went down on the game’s second play. The Bengals managed just two scores in a four-point loss to the Bills and then the team lost by five to Baltimore, four to Pittsburgh and two to Houston. It’s not hard to imagine different results with Green being available.

Nugget(s): Even though the dynamics of the offense changed without Green, the production stayed almost identical. In the nine games with Green, the Bengals scored a touchdown on 20.4 percent of drives and attempted a field goal on 21.4 percent. In the seven games without Green, the Bengals scored a touchdown on 20.5 percent of drives and attempted a field goal on 19.1 percent.

Honorable mention: Eifert undergoes ankle surgery in May

Last year: Dalton fracturing his thumb against Pittsburgh on Dec. 13, 2015.

Most Important Play of the Year

The sack-fumble against Baltimore

Why: Sitting at 3-6-1 heading into Baltimore, the Bengals still controlled much of their own destiny if they won out – and despite a plethora of struggles against the Ravens on Nov. 27, the Bengals still had a chance to tie the game in the fourth quarter when Elvis Dumervil beat Eric Winston for a strip-sack of Andy Dalton at the Ravens’ 16-yard-line with 72 seconds left.

Nugget(s): Andy Dalton saw his sack percentage balloon in 2016. He ended up sacked 41 times, the second-most in his career. He was sacked 46 times in 2012. Each of the last three seasons, his percentage of dropbacks sacked ranged from 4.2 to 4.9 percent. This past year, it rose to 6.8 percent.

Honorable mention: The fourth-down, game-winning touchdown allowed against the New York Giants; Mike Nugent’s missed extra points against Buffalo.

Last year: Shawn Williams’ diving interception of Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh.

Coolest Play of the Year

A.J. Green’s Hail Mary catch against the Browns

Why: It’s hard to top a successful Hail Mary in any instance, but against Cleveland on Oct. 23, A.J. Green went up in a sea of Browns in the end zone as the clock expired in the first half, juggled the ball briefly, and then came down with it.

Nugget(s): Since the 2013 season, there have been seven completed touchdown passes in the regular season that would be classified as a Hail Mary. Dalton connected with Green on two of them. The first came in the final seconds at Baltimore in 2013, and the second this year prior to halftime against the Browns.

Honorable mention: The drill against the New York Jets in the season opener when the referee fell down in front of kicker Mike Nugent, but the Bengals still converted the kick.

Last year: The last-second field goal with no timeouts left to send the game into overtime against Seattle.

Defensive Player of the Year

Vontaze Burfict

Why: The linebacker’s season began on the suspended list and ended early with a concussion, but in the 11 games he played, Burfict recorded 101 tackles and came up with two interceptions, broke up eight passes, forced a fumble and came up with two sacks.

Nugget(s): Burfict played in 11 games this past year, missing the first three due to suspension and the final two with concussion/knee injuries. This marked the third consecutive season he failed to play a full slate. He’s now played in just 27 of a possible 50 games over the past three seasons.

Honorable mention: Geno Atkins

Last year: Geno Atkins

Comeback Player of the Year

Brandon LaFell

Why: The free-agent acquisition came to Cincinnati on a one-year “prove-it” deal after being released by New England following an injury-plagued 2015. LaFell played in all 16 games and led the team with six touchdown receptions while finishing second on the club with 64 receptions for 862 yards.

Nugget(s): Over the final five weeks of the season, the 30-year-old played some of the best football of his career with 28 receptions for 405 yards. His receiving yards ranked 12th in the NFL during that span to close the year.

Honorable mention: James Wright

Last year: Tyler Eifert

Most Exhausting Storyline of the Year

Mike Nugent’s job status

Why: The questions about Mike Nugent began with an uneven preseason, reared their head with two missed field goals against Cleveland On Oct. 23 and then kicked up again in earnest with a missed field goal and extra point the next week in London. In his final seven games with the club, the veteran kicker missed six extra points and four field goals, leading to consistent questions to him, special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons and head coach Marvin Lewis about Nugent’s status.

Nugget(s): Six weeks into the season, kickers Robbie Gould (Giants), Kai Forbath (Vikings) and Randy Bullock (Bengals) all were street free agents. Each of the three eventually joined a team and finished out the year. Those three combined to connect on 33 of 34 field goals and hit 85 percent of their extra points. Prior to being cut, Nugent was 23 of 29 on field goals and hit 79.3 percent on extra points.

Honorable mention: Opponent first-drive touchdowns allowed.

Last year: Andy Dalton’s hair

Most Powerful Storyline of the Year

The Bengals’ close game/fourth-quarter woes

Why: The Bengals missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010, and in six of the losses, the team lost by a combined 19 points – all by one possession. Only Denver (12 points), Dallas (14) and New England (18) beat the Bengals by extended margins. Part of that was the Bengals’ inability to score in the fourth quarter. The team scored just two touchdowns all season in the final frame.

Nugget(s): The Bengals' offense had 27 drives that ended in the fourth quarter or overtime with the game within one possession either way. Of those drives, 26 percent resulted in turnovers and 15 percent resulted in a score.

On the flip side, the defense faced 31 drives in the same situation this year and allowed a score on 48.4 percent of opponent drives and forced a turnover just 6.5 percent of the time.

Honorable mention: The revolving door at right tackle

Last year: Could the Bengals win playoff games with AJ McCarron?

Most Underrated Player

Kevin Zeitler

Why: The 26-year-old guard was an anchor on the right side of the offensive line as the team struggled with finding a solution next to him at tackle. He played in all 16 games, didn’t miss a snap (per footballoutsiders.com) and was counted on to lead the way on pulling run plays and screens.

Nugget(s): Made the Pro Football Focus second team All-Pro squad at right guard.

Honorable mention: Dalton

Last year: Adam Jones

Most Fun Player to Watch

A.J. Green

Why: Green was turning in his best season before it ended prematurely, but beginning with his week one destruction of New York defensive back Darrelle Revis, through his Hail Mary grab against the Browns to his contested catches over and through Washington’s Josh Norman in London, Green has provided highlight-reel plays on a regular basis.

Nugget(s): Due to injury, Green fell 36 yards short of joining Randy Moss and becoming the second player in NFL history to post six consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons to open a career.

Honorable mention: Andrew Whitworth

Last year: Atkins

Best Game

The 27-27 tie against Washington

Why: The game was perhaps the most entertaining of the year, from the Bengals taking a 10-point lead to watching it slip away in the second half and then the back-and-forth nature of overtime that eventually led to a draw in front of a full house in the unique atmosphere of historic Wembley Stadium in London, England.

Nugget(s): In the last 10 years, there have been six ties in the NFL. The Bengals were involved in three of them. They tied Philadelphia in 2008 and Carolina in 2013. No other team has tied more than once in that span.

Honorable mention: The season-opening comeback victory over the New York Jets on the anniversary of Sept.11.

Last year: Wild-Card Playoffs: Steelers 18, Bengals 16

Quote of the Year

Paul Alexander on benching of Cedric Ogbuehi: “Oh, I don’t care. I mean, I didn’t really give him a box of Kleenex when I told him. It’s a big game for men and get over it, really.”

Why: Bengals assistant head coach and offensive line coach Paul Alexander when asked how Cedric Ogbuehi was feeling after he was benched following his struggles at right tackle.

Honorable mention: KeiVarae Russell on changing his number from 38 to 20: “In 20 I feel like I can be smooth in that. It’s that ‘two-oh,’ I don’t know what it is about it. It’s smooth, man. Thirty-eight don’t fit 'K-Russ.'”

Last year: “You got f--- Jerry Porter in the middle of the field talkin’ s--- to everybody!” – Adam Jones