Which NFL Quarterback Deserves to Win the MVP?

With only one week left in the NFL season, the time has come to examine who the superlative players have been in the 2011 season.

This is the time of year when chatter over who deserves to win the MVP picks up and everyone makes a case for their respective "guy."  I'm not here to make a case for anyone in particular.

I'm a numbers guy.  Numbers do not lie.

I've decided to pair that basic theory to a personal belief that this has truly been the year of the quarterback.  In that vein, I compared players based on a few basic categories.  Those categories are: yards, touchdowns, completion percentage, average yards per pass, average yards per game, QB rating, interceptions and team record.

With those categories in mind, here is my list.

No 5: Eli Manning

Passing Yards: 4,587 (fourth overall)

Touchdowns: 26 (seventh overall)

Completion Percentage: 60.3 (14th overall)

Yards Per Pass: 8.3 (fourth overall)

Yards Per Game: 305.8 (fourth overall)

Quarterback Rating: 90.3 (ninth overall)

Interceptions: 16 (tied for fifth most overall)

Team Record: 8-7

Listen, I understand that Manning is a bold pick, but looking at the balance of his work this season and considering how well he has played (all things considered) it was tough to omit him from the list, let alone not have him in the top five.

I think what Eli does is vastly under-appreciated around the league and he has developed into a solid quarterback.

No. 4: Matthew Stafford

Passing Yards: 4,518 (fifth overall)

Touchdowns: 36 (tied for third overall)

Completion Percentage: 63.7 (fifth overall)

Yards Per Pass: 7.5 (tied for 13th overall)

Yards Per Game: 301.2 (fifth overall)

Quarterback Rating: 96.6 (sixth overall)

Interceptions: 14 (tied for ninth overall)

Team Record: 10-5

Nobody knew Matthew Stafford was going to be this good this season.  If they tell you otherwise, obviously they're lying.

Stafford and the Lions have been a great story and it's nice to see them actually winning again.

No. 3: Tom Brady

Passing Yards: 4,897 (second overall)

Touchdowns: 36 (tied for third overall)

Completion Percentage: 65.6 (third overall)

Yards Per Pass:  8.5 (second overall)

Yards Per Game:  326.5 (second overall)

Quarterback Rating:  105.1 (third overall)

Interceptions: 11 (tied for 20th overall)

Team Record: 12-3

Tommy Three-Rings is good.  Real good.  He does it every year and I really don't have to justify him being at the top of this list.

No. 2: Drew Brees

Passing Yards: 5,087 (first overall)

Touchdowns: 41 (second overall)

Completion Percentage: 70.7 (first overall)

Yards Per Pass: 8.2 (fifth overall)

Yards Per Game: 339.1 (first overall)

Quarterback Rating: 108.4 (second overall)

Interceptions: 13 (tied for 19th overall)

Team Record: 12-3

Fresh off of breaking Dan Marino's single season passing record, Drew Brees has been impressive once again.  The man is a machine.

I could make a compelling case for him to be the MVP, and trust me, it really is VERY close in my mind, but he's been edged out by just one man with a week to go...

No. 1: Aaron Rodgers

Passing Yards: 4,643 (third overall)

Touchdowns: 45 (first overall)

Completion Percentage: 68.3 (second overall)

Yards Per Pass:  9.2 (first overall)

Yards Per Game:  309.5 (third overall)

Quarterback Rating:  122.5 (first overall)

Interceptions: six (tied for third overall)

Team Record: 14-1

Is there any surprise here?  I mean, really?  Aaron Rodgers still holds the championship belt this season and his QB rating alone is off the charts.

Efficiency?  How's 45 touchdowns to six interceptions sound?

Oh, and even though they're no longer undefeated, his Green Bay Packers still have the best record in the league.  The MVP is his to lose, and I don't think that he will.