With the end of the regular season just one week away, here at BPL we thought we'd get in early and hand out our regular season awards a little ahead of schedule. But rather than just following the regular pattern for such accolades we've decided to view the award winners from a slightly different perspective...

THE RYAN GOSLING AWARD - BREAKOUT STAR OF 2011

Winner: Victor Cruz of the New York Giants.

Cruz was signed as to New York's practice squad an undrafted free agent prior to the 2010 season, and secured a place on the final 53-man roster on the back of an eye-popping preseason performance against the New York Jets. Cruz caught six passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns on that night against the Jets.

However, he only made three regular season appearances (without making a catch), before a hamstring injury resulted in him being shut down for the year.

Going into the season, it's pretty safe to assume that no one really knew who Cruz was.

Yet, with one game left on the year, Cruz has been the Giants most dangerous wide receiver. He has 76 receptions for 1358 yards and 8 touchdowns, plus over the weekend he tied an NFL record for the longest receiving touchdown, taking the ball 99-yards for the score.

Like Gosling, the 25-year old New Jersey native will be demanding big bucks for his work in the future.

THE UNINTENTIONAL PRODUCT PLACEMENT AWARD

Winner: Marshawn Lynch of the Seattle Seahawks

In the early years of Lynch's career with the Buffalo Bills, he was a solid, if not spectacular running back. After four seasons with the Bills, he found his way to the Seattle Seahawks prior to the 2010 season.

At first, it appeared that Lynch would continue to toil away as a secondary option in the NFL, but all that changed with an earthquake-causing run in the playoffs against the New Orleans Saints.

Ever since, Lynch has seemed to hit his stride.

He has amassed 1,118 yards (at an average of over 4 per carry) and carried the ball for 12 touchdowns. That should equate to a Pro Bowl selection for Lynch.

But it his post-score ritual that gives him this award.

During Lynch's two-touchdown performance on a nationally televised game against the Philadelphia Eagles, a keen-eyed cameraman spotted how Lynch celebrates once he return to the bench.

By treating himself to some Skittles, lots of them to be precise.

Seahawks fans were quick to embrace the trend, and just two weeks ago one fan was caught throwing a bag of the sugary sweets to Lynch after scoring a touchdown against the St Louis Rams.

Without doubt, expect Lynch's people to be getting in contact with Skittles so his endorsement can become official.

THE BRETT FAVRE AWARD - NOT KNOWING WHEN TO STAY AWAY

Winner: Brett Favre.

Ok Brett, we get it. You still think you can play quarterback at an NFL level.

But we also know that you have become quite the attention-seeker as you've entered your twilight years.

Whether it was the countless retirement/comeback sagas, the clichéd sound bytes or Ed Werder interviews on your front lawn, for a supposedly retired player with absolutely no involvement in the league, it's been hard to escape the Favre name.

But, finally in 2011, it would mercifully be over, surely...

However Favre couldn't avoid the limelight, taking time out of his busy schedule to firstly question his Green Bay successor in Aaron Rodgers and then to later suggest that he would be interested in playing for the injury-stricken Chicago Bears.

Please Brett, just leave us in peace next year.

THE PIPPA MIDDLETON AWARD - THE BEST..ahem..BACK END OF THE SEASON

Winner: The Denver Broncos

At the halfway point of the season, Denver had won just two games. They were dead last in the AFC West, and appeared to be better served switching their focus to the future.

Yet, the Broncos then reeled off six-straight wins, and find themselves in the middle of a battle with the Oakland Raiders for the AFC West title, and the playoff spot that goes along with it.

While they have slammed back to earth in the past fortnight, suffering two heavy defeats to the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills, their turnaround cannot be ignored.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Winner: Drew Brees

Granted, this is a real award, but with it being arguably the most important individual honour a player can receive, it's important that it gets a mention.

The consensus pick for MVP for the entire season was Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, but in recent weeks more and more pundits have been making the case for Brees.

No disrespect is meant to Mr. Rodgers by choosing Brees as MVP; it's simply a case of the New Orleans signal-caller being too great to ignore.

Brees has passed for 4,780 yards, 37 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions at a completion rate of 71.5% through 14 games this season.

He is on pace to break Dan Marino's previously-thought unbreakable single season passing record of 5,084 yards as early as Tuesday's game against Atlanta.

Bress has also thrown a touchdown in 40 straight games, the second longest streak in NFL history.

Plus, with just three losses he has his side in contention for a first round bye in the NFC.

If Brees produces the sort of numbers he has averaged this year in his final two games, he will total a fraction under 5,500 yards passing and 43 touchdowns.

Those numbers would set a new standard for quarterbacking, much like Marino's did back in 1984.