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What a weird season it has been. One that started in training camp with just about all of us expecting the Super Bowl, or at the least a strong playoff run. Now that the 2015-2016 season is over and the Ravens are 5-11 to end it all, there will be plenty of time to scratch your head, see what went wrong and what will happen moving forward. For now though, we take it one game at a time and see who did their best in the final game of the regular season.
For me, it's Kamar Aiken.
I have to admit that this isn't just on this singular game, though there could be an easy argument for it regardless. With 5 receptions for 76 yards, Aiken put up the best showing out of all the receivers on Sunday against the Bengals and continued to stack another game.
Yet my reason for choosing Aiken is more because of what he has compiled all season long. Starting off slowly and rather lackluster much like the rest of the team, he was able to shake off the problems and turn into a true matchup problem for opposing defenses by the end of the year. The growth is evident when you consider that Sunday's game against the Bengals had him break the Baltimore Ravens franchise record for most consecutive games with at least 5 receptions. He tops Derrick Mason's 8 game streak as he goes into the offseason and the 2016 season, obviously looking to extend that further.
On Sunday against the Bengals, Aiken showed that he might not have the elite speed, but that he catches just about everything in his vicinity. Tough targets that has defenders around him and Aiken will more than likely come up with the ball. Since Steve Smith Sr. went down, many figured that Aiken's slow emergence would be stunted as he would be facing off against the best defenders in the league. Yet, his 944 total receiving yards for this season shows a different story. One where the quarterback, whoever that happens to be, can count on Aiken to get open and make the reception. One that could see him be the top receiver in 2016 regardless of the veteran Steve Smith not retiring after all.
Kamar Aiken's streak, his consistency in the second half of the season, and his continued emergence despite being the main offensive threat has me sold on giving him the player of the game for closing out 2015-2016 like he should have.