Stephon Gilmore and Joey Bosa Listed as Co-Favorites to Win NFL DPOY After Week 9
- Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa and New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore listed as +600 co-favorites to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award
- Neither team has ever produced a winner of this award
- Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald was NFL DPOY each of the past two seasons
Do you like Joey Bosa, or are you partial to Stephon Gilmore?
Either way, NFL history will be made on the defensive side of the ball this season.
The sportsbook is touting these two players as +600 co-favorites in its NFL Defensive Player of the Year future book.
If he wins, Bosa would be the first Los Angeles Chargers player to claim the award. And surprisingly, despite all of the team’s Super Bowl success, were Gilmore to get the nod he’d be the first New England Patriot to be recognized as NFL DPOY.
2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds
| Player (Team) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Joey Bosa (Chargers) | +600 |
| Stephon Gilmore (Patriots) | +600 |
| Aaron Donald (Rams) | +800 |
| Khalil Mack (Bears) | +900 |
| Myles Garrett (Browns) | +1000 |
| Jamie Collins (Patriots) | +1200 |
| Chandler Jones (Cardinals) | +1200 |
| Devin McCourty (Patriots) | +1600 |
| Cameron Jordan (Saints) | +2000 |
| Danielle Hunter (Vikings) | +2000 |
Odds taken on November 6, 2019.
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who’s won the award in each of the past two seasons, is the third betting choice at +800 in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds.
Usual Suspects are Suspect
For the first time this season, the frontrunner in the NFL DPOY Award odds isn’t Donald or Khalil Mack of the Chicago Bears. Mack was NFL DPOY in 2016 when he was with the Oakland Raiders.
A four-game losing streak isn't slowing down Khalil Mack. He's still unblockable.
A tight end and a 6th OL? Not enough pic.twitter.com/oupdEtny5t
— Lorin Cox (@CoxSports1) November 5, 2019
This year, though, neither of these usually dominant defenders are destroying offences in their accustomed manner.
Mack isn’t in the top 10 in the NFL in quarterback sacks. He isn’t even among the top 20. In fact, you’ll go all the way down to find him in a tie for 22nd with 5.5 sacks in eight games.
Watching Aaron Donald hype himself up has me ready to run through a wall. pic.twitter.com/C2iyMACWik
— Richie O'Reilly (@richieoreillyIV) October 29, 2019
Donald, so dominant last season with a league-leading 20.5 sacks, is tied for 30th this season with five. He’s third-best on his team in the category, behind Dante Fowler (6.5) and Clay Matthews (six).
Gilmore, Bosa Jump Up
The co-favorites to win this award were barely on the board at the start of the season.
Gilmore opened at odds of +5000 on Aug. 16.
🔊 Audio Breakdown
Stephon Gilmore and the Patriots are playing at an elite-of-the-elite level right now (duh)
I think this is straight man but watch what happens at the top of the route and how Gilmore nearly picked this pass. pic.twitter.com/oXehFDQKko
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) October 30, 2019
The opening odds on Bosa were +2000 but he’d skyrocketed to a +6600 long shot by Sept. 11 after the Chargers stumbled out of the gate.
As recently as Oct. 23, Gilmore was listed at +2000 and Bosa at +2500.
Could Bosa Brothers Double Down?
Might the season see both of the Bosa brothers clutching NFL defensive awards in the same manner that they corral opposing players?
The Bosa Brothers Officially Own The NFLhttps://t.co/4BSm5KecBR pic.twitter.com/oReMfltYeQ
— Barstool Memes (@barstoolmemes) October 30, 2019
Joey is now a co-favorite to be NFL DPOY. Younger brother Nick, a DL with the San Francisco 49ers, is the odds-on favorite to win NFL defensive rookie of the year honors.
There’s even a small constituency of support for Nick as NFL DPOY.
Too Many Patriots?
There’s three Patriots in the top 10 of the NFL DPOY odds. Safety Devin McCourty leads the NFL with five interceptions. Linebacker Jamie Collins has six sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Gilmore’s numbers are equally impressive. He’s picked off three passes.
Stephon Gilmore 2019 coverage stats:
9 games
46 targets
18 receptions
36% completion
220 yards
0 touchdowns allowed
3 INT
10 PBU
27.45 Passer RatingBest cornerback in football.@BumpNrunGilm0re @Patriots
— El Capitãn (@DomGonzo12) November 4, 2019
Opposing QBs own a 36.0 passer rating when throwing into his coverage. The biggest competition Gimore may face could come from his own defensive huddle.
Winning Matters
The last four NFL DPOY all suited up for playoff teams. But you’ve got to go back to 2010 to find a DB winning the award, safety Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers. You must go back to 2009 and Charles Woodson of the Raiders to seek out a cornerback who was NFL DPOY.
If the Chargers make the playoffs, Bosa wins. But that’s a big if.
Jamie Collins is the only guy in the NFL with 6 or more sacks and 3 or more INTs. No player in #Patriots franchise history has reached those marks in the same season, but a few have had "semi-similar" years. (Per @pfref, here are Pats w/ 3+ sacks & 3+ INTs in the same year.) pic.twitter.com/j8QKhnjEZI
— Christopher Price (@cpriceglobe) November 6, 2019
The Patriots are going to be in the postseason.
Voters also tend to look for flashy players, guys who consistently make significant, game-changing players. Teams tend to throw away from elite cornerbacks, making it more difficult for them to shine.
JAMIE COLLINS SACK! Boogeymen with the stop on 3rd down! #Patriots pic.twitter.com/Wk3UBFV6nn
— Binge Sports (@BingeSports) October 27, 2019
That’s why if you’re betting on one of the Patriots, Gilmore isn’t the go-to guy.
Take the price and bet on Collins.
Pick: Jamie Collins, New England Patriots (+1200).
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
