ESPN.com's NFL Blog Network produced All-Division teams on Thursday. You can check out the AFC East installment here.
But we want to take it a step further. Here is our AFC East blog midseason award winners:
Midseason MVP: QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Thoughts: There is no more important player in the division that Brady. If he is not with New England, the AFC East is wide open. But Brady is playing at an MVP level once again. He’s thrown for 2,408 yards, 16 touchdowns and three interceptions. Brady, 35, says he wants to play until he’s 40. With this kind of production, he might have a shot.
Defensive Player of the Midseason: DE Cameron Wake, Dolphins
Thoughts: Wake has 8.5 sacks and is on a five-game sack streak. He is on pace to set a new career high in sacks. Wake got his money in the offseason from the Dolphins and is showing his worth. Wake is not one-dimensional. He’s also good at setting the edge in Miami’s stout run defense.
Rookie of the Midseason: DE Chandler Jones, Patriots
Thoughts: Jones looks like a game-changer for the Patriots. He has six sacks and is on pace for double-digit sacks. Jones will be a mainstay in New England for a long time. An honorable mention goes to Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill. His stats don’t stand out, but Tannehill has finally brought quarterback stability to the Dolphins.
Most Improved Player: RB C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills
Thoughts: Spiller has had several big games already this year and is on pace for his first 1,000-yard season. The former first-round pick is in his prime. He has rushed for 562 yards and averages 7.2 yards per carry. It’s baffling that Buffalo’s coaching staff doesn’t give Spiller the ball more. Maybe the coaching staff will figure that out in the second half of the season.
Coach of the Midseason: Joe Philbin, Dolphins
Thoughts: Philbin has done a good job of getting Miami to improve each week. The Dolphins were awful in the preseason and at times during their 1-3 start. But Miami got hot by winning three straight in October and is 4-4 at the midpoint of the season. Miami will now be trying to make a playoff run thanks to Philbin.