Not much has gone to plan in the NFL this season.

We’re roughly to the midpoint of the NFL season, with nine weeks in the books (with most teams having had their bye) and eight to go. Our NFC first-place teams are the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams. Bet nobody saw that coming. Our MVP front-runner might be a second-year quarterback from the Eagles, or a revived Alex Smith in Kansas City. Or, of course, living legend Tom Brady.

In this crazy season, we try to figure out who has earned the first-half awards. Our seven voters from Shutdown Corner: Jay Busbee, Kevin Kaduk, Shalise Manza Young, Zach Pereles, Blake Schuster, Frank Schwab, Anthony Sulla-Heffinger. Here are the awards and our updated Super Bowl picks:

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

QB CARSON WENTZ, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

At the halfway point, it seems like a two-man race for MVP. Wentz has more touchdowns (23-18), Brady has more yards (2,541-2,262) and has been a little more efficient. Wentz can also make plays with his legs, and his Eagles have the best record in the NFL. That gave Wentz the slight edge for the first-half award. It should be a fun race between the 24-year-old Wentz and the 40-year-old Brady the rest of the way.

Votes: Wentz (4), Brady (3)

Philadelphia Eagles QB Carson Wentz has had a fantastic first half of this season. (AP) More

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

WENTZ

The voters weren’t allowed to take the same player for MVP and offensive player of the year, but Wentz voters gave single votes to Smith and Gurley and Wentz made it a sweep.

Votes: Wentz (3), Brady (2), Alex Smith (1), Gurley (1)

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

DE CALAIS CAMPBELL, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

When people tell you free agency doesn’t work, they’re wrong. Free agency can work very well if done right. There’s no better example this season than Campbell. The mountainous Campbell got a four-year, $60 million deal from the Jaguars, and leads the NFL in sacks with 11. That’s already his career high. Also, the other player to get a vote from our panel was Buffalo Bills safety Micah Hyde … also a free-agent acquisition.

Votes: Campbell (5), Hyde (1)

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

RB KAREEM HUNT, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Hunt wins but it’s clearly a good rookie class. It will be interesting to see if Watson, who was on his way to a historic season, gets any votes at the end of the season for his half-season of excellence.

Votes: Hunt (3), Watson (2), Leonard Fournette (1), Alvin Kamara (1)

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

CB MARSHON LATTIMORE, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

The Saints wanted Patrick Mahomes in the draft, then had to change course when the Chiefs moved up and took him the pick before. New Orleans ended up hitting the jackpot with Lattimore, who has helped transform the Saints’ defense. They seem to have a lockdown cornerback in place for a long time.

Votes: Lattimore (5), Watt (2)

COACH OF THE YEAR

SEAN MCVAY, LOS ANGELES RAMS

McVay replaced Jeff Fisher and his never-ending stream of terrible offenses, and the Rams have done a 180. The Rams have gone from the worst offense in the NFL last season by far, to one of the best this season. And McVay is 31 years old. It seems like a franchise-changing hire for the Rams.

Votes: McVay (5), Doug Pederson (2)

BIGGEST SURPRISE, TEAM

LOS ANGELES RAMS

The Rams are 6-2, in sole possession of first place in the NFC West, and it doesn’t look like a fluke. The offense is on solid ground and the defense under coordinator Wade Phillips has looked a lot better over the last four games. In a wide-open NFC, why can’t the Rams win it?

Votes: Rams (4), Jaguars (2), Saints (1)

BIGGEST SURPRISE, PLAYER

QB ALEX SMITH, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

A couple former first-round picks battled for this. The stories are a lot different. Smith’s statistical explosion has been truly surprising after many seasons of solid but unexciting play. Goff, on the other hand, looked like a bust his rookie season but a huge upgrade in the Rams’ coaching staff has entirely turned around his career outlook. Smith, who is right in the MVP conversation with Brady and Wentz, barely won.

Story continues