If somebody told you that after nine weeks of football Kerry Collins would be leading the only undefeated team, you would have to label them insane. The Tennessee Titans have been led by their solid defense and Collins, a 14-year journeyman quarterback. The Dallas Cowboys, a popular preseason pick to win the Super Bowl, have faltered early due to many key injuries, including their Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo. The reigning Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants, have used the “get no respect” attitude and started the season off with an impressive 7-1 record. Here are some midseason awards, based on the first half of the season.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans — The NFL Combine really put Johnson on the map, as he ran a 4.24 in the 40-yard dash, the fastest time ever recorded. He has jump-started the Titans’ offense with 715 yards and five rushing touchdowns.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Chris Long, St. Louis Rams — Before Long ever even stepped on a pro field, he drew comparisons to his father Howie Long, who was elected into the Hall of Fame. Chris has had a very solid start to his season with four sacks and 28 tackles, playing a big role in the Rams’ two wins.

Worst Offseason Acquisition: Javon Walker, Oakland Raiders — Over the past 15 seasons, Raiders owner Al Davis has hired a combined eight head coaches, who together had a record of 89-125. His ability to assess talent over the years has gone down dramatically and his years in football are starting to dwindle. In the offseason, he took a big chance in signing injury-plagued wide receiver Javon Walker to a six-year, $55 million deal. Through nine games, Walker has compiled 169 yards and one touchdown, and is now a candidate to be dropped by the team.

Best Offseason Acquisition: Chad Pennington, Miami Dolphins — In a move that flew under the radar late in the summer, the Dolphins signed Pennington after the Jets released him. After beating the competition to gain the starting role, he has never looked back, leading the Dolphins to four impressive wins. Pennington has taken his team to wins over the Patriots, Chargers, Bills and Broncos, four playoff-caliber teams. His quarterback rating of 95.2 is sixth-best in the NFL.

Surprise Team of the Year: Miami Dolphins — Last season, if not for a miracle overtime win over the Baltimore Ravens, the Dolphins would have won zero games. They ended the season 1-15, looking bad on defense and even more putrid on offense. This season, first-year head coach Tony Sparano has turned this team around. Sparano has implemented the Wildcat offense, which has brought this team back to life. On defense, Joey Porter has brought the play-every-game-like-it’s-your-last attitude, and it has spread to the entire team.

Letdown Team of the Year: San Diego Chargers — Last season the Chargers had another good season, finishing at 11-5, but losing in the AFC Championship to the New England Patriots. This season, the Chargers looked like one of the best teams in the league on paper, but that has not translated into wins. This team has had no problem putting up points; their weakness lies in their defense. They have given up 24.9 points per game, which has put a tremendous amount of pressure on their offense. Head coach Norv Turner has a huge task on his hands, trying to bring this underachieving team to the playoffs.

Most Valuable Player: Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins — Competing in the best division in football, Portis has taken the Redskins on his back with a league-high 995 yards and seven touchdowns. He has been instrumental in key wins over the Saints, Cardinals, Cowboys, Eagles, Browns and Lions. This team was looked over by many in the preseason, but now sits only 1.5 games out of first. Using Portis’s amazing season, Jason Campbell, the Redskins’ young quarterback, has had his best season to date. If not for Portis, this team could be at the bottom of the NFC East.