We've reached the midpoint of the season.
With the Ravens enjoying a few days off during this bye weekend, here are a few midseason awards for this year's team:
Most Valuable Player: Steve Smith Sr.
The 36-year-old receiver basically laughed father time in the face during the first half of the season. He was clearly the Ravens' biggest playmaker, despite playing through microfractures in his back for three games. Smith led the Ravens with 46 catches and 670 receiving yards, even though he basically missed two full games. He ranked as the eighth-leading receiver in the NFL, and was on pace for his best season since leading the NFL in receiving yards in 2005. In addition to all of that production, Smith also brought intangibles to the field and locker room in terms of his leadership and emotion. The Ravens have a tall task in front of them to replace all that he brought to the team.
Top Defensive Player: DT Brandon Williams
The third-year defender has made the offseason trade of perennial Pro Bowler Haloti Ngata a total non-issue. Williams has continued to establish himself as one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL, and he's ranked by Pro Football Focus as the league's best run defender by a wide margin. Williams has 29 tackles and a sack this year, and he's been the team's most consistent defender throughout the season.
Best Moment: Justin Tucker's Game-Winner In Pittsburgh
The Ravens picked up their first win of the year when Justin Tucker drilled a 52-yard field goal in overtime to take down the rival Steelers. The kick was the longest field goal ever by an opponent at Heinz Field, and it was the eighth game winner of Tucker's career. The primetime victory over Pittsburgh came in the most unlikely circumstances, as the Steelers had a late lead in regulation but couldn't put away the victory.
Best Defensive Play: Jimmy Smith's Pick-Six In Denver
The defense played its best game of the season in the opener against Denver. The unit kept future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and the Broncos offense out of the end zone the entire afternoon, and cornerback Jimmy Smith notched Baltimore's only touchdown on the day on this pretty pick-six.
Best Offensive Play: Steve Smith's TD vs. Bengals
Whenever the Ravens needed a play in the first half of the season, Smith was the man for the job. He basically put the offense on his back in several games, and his 50-yard touchdown in the third quarter of the Bengals game showed how he tried to will his team to victories with his effort.
Best Celebration: Tucker's Hotline Bling Dance
There aren't many kickers who could stockpile dances for their game-winning field goals. But Tucker is one of a kind, and his rendition of Drake's Hotline Bling dance went viral soon after it happened.
