Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack stands on the stage after the Oakland Raiders select him with the 35 overall pick in the first round at the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on May 8, 2014. South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was the #1 overall pick by the Houston Texans. UPI /John Angelillo | License Photo

Oakland Raiders DE Khalil Mack (52) is mobbed in the stands after intercepting a pass by Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton and scoring on November 27, 2016. Mack was the first player since 2009 to record an interception, sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery and a touchdown in a single game. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who led the top-scoring offense in the NFL with franchise records in passing yards and touchdowns, was selected as the 2016 MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, chosen in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America.

Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack, who had a sack in an NFL record-tying eight consecutive games, was named the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year, the PFWA announced Wednesday.


Ryan, in his ninth NFL season, is the 43rd MVP honored by the PFWA. He is the first Falcons player to earn the honor and the fourth consecutive quarterback to be selected MVP.

Ryan started all 16 games in 2016, and completed 373 of 534 passes (69.9 percent) for 4,944 yards, 38 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 117.1 passer rating as the Falcons won the NFC South and gained the conference's No. 2 seed with a 11-5 record behind a club-record 540 points scored. He set franchise records in passing yards, touchdowns, completion percentage and passer rating.

Ryan set an NFL record by completing touchdown passes to 13 different receivers and had 12 multi-TD games. He was selected as the NFC Player of the Month for September, NFC Offensive Player of the Week twice (Weeks 9 and 17) and was selected to the PFWA's 2016 All-NFL and All-NFC teams.

Ryan threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Falcons past the Seattle Seahawks 36-20 in the divisional round last Saturday. The Falcons are headed to Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers for only the fourth time in their 51-year history.

Mack, in his third season, had 77 total tackles and 11 sacks. He also had one interception, four passes defensed, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

During his eight-game sack streak, Mack had three straight games with a sack/fumble. He was the first player since 2009 to record an interception, sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery and a touchdown in a single game as he accomplished the feat against the Carolina Panthers for Week 12 AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He also earned the AFC defensive honor for Week 9, AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November and was selected to the PFWA's 2016 All-NFL and All-AFC teams.

Mack is the first Raiders player to earn the PFWA's Defensive Player of the Year honor since it was first awarded in 1992.