This is a follow-up article to Clinton Portis for 2008 NFL MVP that I did after Week Eight. Here is how my MVP Candidates ranked.
No. 1 Redskins RB Clinton Portis
No. 2 Saints QB Drew Brees
No. 3 Cardinals QB Kurt Warner
After Week 11, however, a lot has changed. Clinton Portis has a partially torn MCL and still played on Sunday against the Cowboys. If he keeps playing without healing properly, I can't see him getting back to his pre-injury numbers. Kurt Warner has continued what he is doing, and so has Drew Brees.
With that said, here are my new top three 2008 NFL MVP candidates.
No. 1 New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees
Yes, I have him at No. 1. A lot of you would say, "Are you crazy, Warner is the best by far." Here is why Brees is my No. 1. Starting with his numbers, Brees has thrown for 3,251 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He has a QB rating of 95.4. Brees has also only been sacked eight times.
Now look at who he has posted those numbers with.
The Saints' top two receivers are Lance Moore, with 609 yards and five touchdowns, and Devery Henderson, with 554 yards and three touchdowns.
Moore is in his third season, and in his two previous seasons combined, he has 312 yards and two touchdowns. That's it. No one knew him before this season. Then you have Henderson, who in his previous four seasons combined has 1,497 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns—not too bad.
The Saints do not have a single rusher who has gained more than 300 yards this far in the season, and their defense is ranked in the bottom of the league. They have had no help from guys like Jeremy Shockey or Marques Colston, who have missed time with injury. That is why Drew Brees is my No. 1.
No. 2 Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner is having one of the best seasons of any QB, especially one by a guy who everyone thought should have retired by now. Warner's numbers stack up like this: 3,155 yards, 20 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a QB rating of 105.5.
Now Warner's QB rating is 10 points higher than Brees and he has more touchdowns and fewer picks, but you need to look at his supporting cast.
His top two wide receivers are doing what they are expected to do. Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald have already established themselves as two of the best in the league. Combined they have 1,731 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns. Drew Brees would kill for just one of them at receiver!
The Cardinals also have support in their run game, scoring 11 touchdowns on the ground. Plus the defense is a lot better than the Saints defense.
No. 3 Washington Redskins RB Clinton Portis
Portis did lose the top spot, but he is not off the list. Yet. Portis has had a great year up until now, but with his knee injury, I am not sure how he will hold up down the stretch. Other than Drew Brees, Clinton Portis is the most important player to his team. Without him, they cannot succeed.
Portis has 1,063 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. Adrian Peterson has the most rushing yards in the league with 1,100, but when you add Portis' receiving yards, he has more total than Peterson. The bad news for Portis is that the MVP race only has two competitors, and right now he is not one.
Well, there you have it: my updated MVP race. The Saints are 5-5, and if Brees can get them back to the playoffs he will win. Warner and the Cardinals are 7-3, but I think Matt Leinart could step in to get the Cardinals to the promised land. If the Saints did not have Brees, they would go nowhere.
Honorable Mention
Chicago Bears RB Matt Forte
Forte is the centerpiece of the Bears offense, averaging 99 yards a game from scrimmage this year. He has 777 yards rushing and 322 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. Key stat for Forte—no fumbles, and he is only a rookie. He should end up being the clear choice at offensive rookie of the year at least.
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