You don’t need the holidays to realize that the NFL is a constant source of entertainment.

Every year, the league and its players impress us – or make us cringe – with their remarkable skills, questionable officiating, nail-biting finishes, and puzzling situations. There’s never a Sunday, Monday, or Thursday in NFL that doesn’t spark some conversation at work. The buzz and debates rarely fail to engage, unlike the recent seasons of “Game of Thrones.”

Indeed, the NFL consistently brings drama. (Except perhaps for fans of the Jets.)

To put it simply: This league.

With that in mind, 2024 has proven to be another standout year for the NFL. Going back to last season’s playoffs, numerous events have caught the attention of fans: Group chats buzzing with debates, fantasy football players wrestling with tough choices, and Taylor Swift’s association with the league nearly breaking the internet.

So, let’s dive into some of the highlights – and lowlights – that NFL 2024 has offered.

Catch of the Year

Winner: Garrett Wilson, Jets (vs. Houston Texans)

This award goes to Wilson for his incredible leaping, one-handed catch against the Houston Texans on Halloween night. During a crucial third-and-19 situation, with the Jets behind, the third-year receiver twisted to snatch the ball with one hand while falling back, ensuring his foot touched in-bounds for the game-winning touchdown.

Many fans drew comparisons between Wilson’s catch and Odell Beckham Jr.’s famous reception against the Cowboys in 2014, each showcasing incredible skill. Which catch prevails is up for debate, but no reception this year – before or after – has outshined Wilson’s in Week 9. – Jack McKessy

The “Get Off Me!” Moment of the Year

Winner: T’Vondre Sweat, Titans vs. Bengals

There are times when you just need space, and that was definitely the case for T’Vondre Sweat, who pulled the ball free from Joe Burrow and took off.

The Tennessee Titans defensive lineman threw aside offensive lineman Alex Cappa with a stiff arm, reminiscent of a running back shaking off a safety. Watching a large defensive player lumber downfield is one of the most thrilling sights in any NFL game.

Sweat added a bit of drama to his run, clashing palm-to-facemask with Cappa. You can imagine him declaring, “get off me,” leading to the most memorable stiff-arm of the season. – Tom Viera

The “How Did They Miss That?” Call of the Year

Winner: Sam Darnold missed facemask on “Thursday Night Football”

Referees have a challenging job, but overlooking the facemask call against Darnold was a serious blunder. Rams defensive end Byron Young even reacted as if he had made a game-changing mistake, visibly distraught.

Despite the clear foul, the officials on the “Thursday Night Football” crew did not throw a flag. This misstep resulted in a safety and effectively ended Minnesota’s chances of coming back.

This call has led to discussions within the NFL about making facemask penalties reviewable in 2025, which is a sign that the officiating crew knows they’ve erred. – Jacob Camenker

The “WTF?” Moment of the Year

Winner: Saquon Barkley’s reverse hurdle

New Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley wasted no time making his mark with an astonishing play.

In their Week 9 match against the Jaguars, spectators were left in disbelief when Barkley executed a reverse hurdle over a defender. He eluded three defenders, showcasing a phenomenal spin move before the backward leap.

The No. 2 overall pick from 2018 is crafting a highlight reel that solidifies his MVP candidacy, but no single play this season left everyone questioning, “What did he just do?” like this one. – Tom Viera

The “Please Don’t Sue Us, Kyle Brandt” Run of the Year

Winner: David Montgomery runs through the Seahawks in Week 4

Ford Field is home to several tenacious players, and David Montgomery fits that description perfectly.

Known for their aggressive play, these Lions embody a tough attitude, making bold plays without apology. Although Montgomery’s season may be over, he still deserves recognition in this awards presentation.

Nicknamed “Knuckles,” Montgomery faced the Seahawks in Week 4, turning a simple pass from Jared Goff into a 40-yard spectacle. He bulldozed Devon Witherspoon, who tried to spring back for more at the end of the play, pushed through Tyrel Dodson, and managed to evade what felt like an entire team of Seahawks.

The drive wrapped up with an astonishing touchdown pass from Amon-Ra St. Brown to Goff. Yes, you read that correctly.

Clearly, the Seahawks had as much luck tackling Montgomery as they did with their fictional bird. Better luck next time, Seattle. – Nick Brinkerhoff

The Dan Skipper Award for Offensive Lineman Receiving Excellence

Winner: Dan Skipper, Detroit Lions

Not long after his touchdown catch against the Cowboys was ruled out last year, Skipper succeeded in scoring for the very first time in his career. Jared Goff connected with the backup offensive lineman on a play-action bootleg pass.

The towering player dashed into the end zone in what felt like a slow-motion moment.

Standing at 6’10”, Skipper ranks among the largest NFL players to ever find the end zone. More importantly, he finally lifted the weight of disappointment from his shoulders stemming from his previous game against Dallas last season. Fans across the league surely rejoiced when they saw him score his much-anticipated touchdown. – Jacob Camenker

The Must-Have Taylor Swift Moment of the Year

Winner: Taylor Swift celebrating with Travis Kelce after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl 58 victory

In the spirit of highlighting the most significant instances, we proudly award the must-have Taylor Swift Moment of the Year to Taylor Swift.

This marks Swift’s first year connected with the NFL, culminating in a championship ring, albeit not from Travis Kelce, but from the Super Bowl. While some naysayers might have anticipated a breakup between her and the Chiefs’ tight end and fans may be disappointed that this didn’t necessarily lead to a new album, 2024 was still a triumphant year for the pop icon.

Swift began the year by celebrating a Super Bowl win in Las Vegas, sharing a memorable moment on the field with Kelce following the game. This romantic tale even inspired a pitch for a Hallmark movie, which, though it garnered some consideration, ultimately did not get made.

With her tour concluded, Swift will have ample opportunity to attend NFL games as the season goes on. While a marriage proposal might be on the horizon for these lovebirds, they may very well prioritize another shot at the Super Bowl in February, followed by another offseason filled with rumors of Kelce’s retirement. How sweet. – Nick Brinkerhoff

The Most Questionable Coaching Move

Winner: Matt Eberflus, at the conclusion of Bears vs. Lions

In the entire 105-year history of the Chicago Bears, only one decision was significant enough to result in the dismissal of a head coach mid-season.

Congratulations to Eberflus for this rare feat, as he inexplicably neglected to use a timeout while the clock wound down on the Bears’ chance to rally against the Lions on Thanksgiving.

At least his firing afterward offered something for Bears fans to be thankful for. – Jack McKessy

Best Celebration of the Year

Winner: Camryn Bynum’s “Raygun” performance

Amid the emotional, financial, and fantasy football stakes of every Sunday, Thursday, and Monday, it’s easy to forget what fundamentally makes football so cherished in America: the sheer enjoyment of the game.

The excitement players display when celebrating a touchdown, turnover, sack, or decisive play serves as a joyful reminder of the fun this sport embodies.

In Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season, a thrilling game unfolded between the 6-2 Minnesota Vikings and the 2-7 Jacksonville Jaguars. With less than two minutes on the clock, Vikings safety Camryn Bynum captured a game-securing interception and entertained football fans with a performance inspired by one of the most popular moments from the 2024 Paris Olympics: Australian breakdancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn’s routine.

Bynum later revealed his admiration for Raygun and that he had been practicing the routine for weeks leading up to the game.

“I’m a big fan. She went out there and had fun, and that’s what I do on the field,” he stated after the match.

Honorable mentions in this category include Bynum and teammate Josh Metellus’ performance of a dance from “White Chicks” and Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions executing a headstand after a touchdown. – Ayrton Ostly

Worst Celebration of the Year

Winner: All players who dropped the ball short of the goal line, especially Jordan Battle

In recent months, there have been three separate occasions where this blunder occurred, with two happening in the same week (Week 15)! How is it possible that such mistakes continue in the year 2024?

The first incident this year involved rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley, whose first career touchdown was annulled after replay review found he dropped the ball behind him in front of the pylon.

This same unfortunate scenario played out twice more just six weeks later. First, Bengals safety Jordan Battle fumbled the ball out of the back of the end zone when he should have secured a fumble recovery touchdown.

Just hours after Battle’s misstep, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor nullified what would have been his first rushing touchdown since Week 8 by dropping the football behind him and falling short of the goal line during his celebratory moment.

Battle receives extra attention for his error, as it was a missed opportunity for a rare defensive touchdown.

An honorable mention in this category goes to Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, who fumbled short of the end zone in a Week 8 match but was fortunate enough to not have video evidence of his mistake leading to the overturning of his touchdown. – Ayrton Ostly

Game of the Year

Winner: Super Bowl 58

Within the 2024 calendar year, no NFL game held more significance than the Super Bowl, which determined the champion of the previous season.

Super Bowl 58 was especially memorable as it marked only the second time a Super Bowl has been decided in an overtime period – the first since the Atlanta Falcons lost to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 51.

This game set multiple records and included several “firsts.” Here’s a summary of the most notable occurrences and key details:

• Super Bowl 58 became the most-watched broadcast in the United States since the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969.
• It also claimed the title of the longest Super Bowl ever with a total of 74 minutes and 57 seconds of playtime.
• Jake Moody established a new record for the longest field goal made in Super Bowl history with a 55-yarder in the second quarter.
• Harrison Butker broke Moody’s record for the longest field goal in Super Bowl history later in the same game with a 57-yard kick.
• Wide receiver Jauan Jennings threw the initial touchdown pass of the game and later caught one himself.
• Super Bowl 58 was the first overtime playoff game since the rule change in 2022, which allows for both teams to have possession during overtime in postseason games, instead of finishing on a first-possession touchdown.
  • After the match, several 49ers players admitted they were unaware of this rule modification. In the end, the rule change didn’t come into play, as the 49ers kicked a field goal on their first possession.
• Quarterback Patrick Mahomes’