One of the NFL's most prestigious nights returns this week and it will be live from Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas.
NFL Honors — an annual awards show highlighting the best players and performances from the 2023 regular season — airs Thursday, Feb. 8 at 9 p.m. EST. This year's edition, hosted by Keegan-Michael Key, will air live on CBS and NFL Network and stream on Paramount+ and NFL+. Click here for more info on NFL Honors.
The Buffalo Bills will be well-represented on the red carpet as QB Josh Allen is a finalist for the Most Valuable Player (MVP), S Damar Hamlin is a finalist for Comeback Player of the Year (CPOY) and LT Dion Dawkins is a nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year.
Also, Del Reid is Buffalo's nomination for the NFL Fan of the Year, an award that celebrates the passion a fan shows for their team and community.
Here's how to tune in live to see NFL Honors as well as more details on each of the Bills' award finalists:
How to watch:
- Time: 9 p.m.
- TV: CBS, NFL Network
- Streaming: Paramount+, NFL+.
Awards to Watch For
Josh Allen — MVP Finalist
It was a record-breaking campaign for Allen in his sixth NFL season. Allen led the NFL in both total touchdowns (44) and yards (4,830) and helped lead the Bills to an 11-6 record, as well as a fourth-straight AFC East crown.
Here are just a few of Allen's standout accomplishments from the season:
- Set a perfect passer rating of 158.3 against the Dolphins in Week 4.
- In that game, he became the second player in NFL history with 300+ passing yards, 4+ passing TDs, 1+ rushing TDs & a perfect passer rating in a single game.
- Surpassed Hall of Fame QB Steve Young for 2nd most all-time rushing TDs by a QB.
- Set NFL record with 10 games in a single season with 1+ passing and 1+ rushing TD.
- Became the first player in NFL history to record 40 total touchdowns in four consecutive seasons.
- In a Week 18 win against the Dolphins, he set an NFL record with 9th career game of passing for 300+ yards and rushing for 50+ yards.
Allen is one of five finalists which includes Lamar Jackson, Christian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy and Dak Prescott. Allen finished third in MVP voting in 2022 and second in 2020.
Damar Hamlin — CPOY
Hamlin's journey in 2023 inspired not just the community in Buffalo, but countless other communities across the country. Hamlin made an incredible comeback to the NFL after going into cardiac arrest and needing to be resuscitated on the field when the Buffalo Bills played the Cincinnati Bengals on January 2, 2023.
The safety made miraculous improvements in the first few months of his recovery. By the time training camp came around, Hamlin was back on the field practicing with his teammates. He played in five games for Buffalo this season, including both of the team's playoff games.
In addition to making a full recovery and playing football again, Hamlin's impact in 2023 extended far beyond the gridiron. Hamlin became a global advocate for CPR training and greater access to AEDs to support youth sports and community groups.
The safety was part of several CPR training and AED distribution events in the past year, visiting communities in Buffalo, Cincinnati and his hometown of Pittsburgh. Hamlin also helped introduce the “Access to AEDs Act” in March of 2023.
Hamlin, along with the Bills and Bengals training and medical staffs and the staff at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center were recognized at last year's NFL Honors in Arizona.
Dion Dawkins — Walter Payton Man of the Year
For the second consecutive season, Dawkins is Buffalo's nominee for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year.
Dawkins' dedication to the grind saw him go from an under-recruited two-star prospect to becoming a star lineman at Temple University and now, one of the best left tackles in the National Football League.
But what has defined Dawkins' time in Buffalo has been his commitment to serving its residents.
Dawkins often takes time on Tuesday, the players' only day off during the season, to spend time with fans and give back to a community that has treated him like one of their own. His foundation, Dion's Dreamers, is dedicated to "providing mentorship and support to young men and women in underserved communities, as well as those in a place of mental, financial or physical hardship," according to the foundation's website.
During a Thanksgiving meal donation event on the East Side of Buffalo, Dawkins contributed nearly 2,000 meals to None Like You/We Care.
"Buffalo embraces me and because they embrace me, I feel like it's my duty to give them everything of myself," Dawkins said.
Del Reid — NFL Fan of the Year
Del Reid, co-founder of Bills Mafia and founder of 26 Shirts, is the Bills nominee for 2023 NFL Fan of the Year award.
A slogan that started accidentally and has now become a worldwide phenomenon thanks to Reid and two of his friends (Breyon Harris and Leslie Wille) that shared the same passion for bringing together Bills fans. 'Bills Mafia' isn't just some phrase thrown around without meaning. Bills Mafia is Family.
"Bills fans are Bills Mafia," Reid said. "Bills fans are an electric group."
