2015-16 NFL MVP: Updated Predictions and Odds Entering Divisional Round

The regular season and the Wild Card Round of the playoffs are in the books, and it's time for the elite teams in the league to decide who is going to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the conclusion of Super Bowl 50.

That's the trophy that every player and coach wants, but there are just a few players who have a chance to come away with the NFL MVP award.

It's an award that denotes consistent excellence and goes to a player who has huge impact on his team's season-long success. 

No team has been better in the regular season than the Carolina Panthers, and they will get a chance to continue their success when they host the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Playoffs Sunday.

No player has been more instrumental to his team's winning ways than Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. 

He has taken charge of the Panthers' offense since Week 1, and he has come through with big plays whenever his team has needed them. Newton has completed 296 of 495 passes for 3,837 yards with 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. 

But it's not just about passing stats with Newton. He is a brilliant runner who combines speed and power, and he gained 636 yards while running for 10 touchdowns. Newton can scramble when he feels pressure from the opposing defense, but he is also capable of making big plays on designed runs.

Position	Player	Team	Odds	Skinny
QB	Cam Newton	Carolina	3-2	League's dominant player from Week 1 through 17
QB	Carson Palmer	Arizona	4-1	Powerful leader of big-play offense
QB	Tom Brady	New England	9-1	Excellent numbers, but Pats' offense slowed down the stretch
QB	Russell Wilson	Seattle	12-1	Brilliant second half led Seahawks to postseason again
DE	J.J. Watt	Houston	15-1	NFL's consensus top defensive player
RB	Adrian Peterson	Minnesota	15-1	Led league in rushing

One of the most impressive aspects of Newton's season is that he accomplished so much without a No. 1 receiver. Kelvin Benjamin was injured before the start of the season, and Newton had to rely on outstanding tight end Greg Olsen and a makeshift crew of wideouts.

Newton, who loves to take on a Superman persona, has played like his alter ego on a nearly every-week basis.

That's why he is the leading candidate for the MVP Award.

The Arizona Cardinals have been on the heels of the Panthers throughout the season, and Carson Palmer has been chasing Newton as well.

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

The Cardinals earned the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a 13-3 record, and Palmer has been their rock-solid leader throughout.

Palmer was having a brilliant year in 2014 that came to a sad conclusion when he tore the ACL in his left knee. He has remained healthy this season, and he has completed 342 of 537 passes for 4,671 yards with 35 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Palmer is the picture of a confident leader because he reads defenses so well and usually makes the proper decision with the ball. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was a most consistent target for Palmer, catching 109 passes for 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns. However, explosive WR John Brown may have been even more important to him with his ability to get deep. 

Palmer is likely to finish second to Newton in the MVP race.

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Tom Brady is almost always in the discussion for the top individual honor, but the Patriots offense slowed down quite a bit in the second half of the season as a result of a series of injuries to players such as receiver Julian Edelman and running backs Dion Lewis and LeGarrette Blount.

While the Patriots dropped four of their last six regular-season games, Brady had a rather remarkable offensive year. He completed 402 of 624 passes for 4,770  yards with 36 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

If the Pats had remained intact for the full season, it seems quite likely that Brady would have soared past the 40-TD mark and possibly approached 50 scoring passes.

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks were in quite a bit of trouble in the first half of the season and beyond. The Seahawks were just 4-5 through the first nine games, as their offense lacked consistency and their defense was giving up fourth-quarter leads.

But after the Seahawks dropped a 39-32 decision at home to Arizona in Week 10, Wilson put the Seattle offense into overdrive. He threw 24 touchdown passes and just one interception in the final seven weeks of the season as Seattle went 6-1 in that stretch.

Wilson completed 68.3 percent of his passes for the season, and he threw for 4,024 yards. He had a 34-8 TD-interception ratio and he led the league with a 110.1 passer rating. 

If the award was for the MVP of the second half of the season, Wilson would likely win it. However, he is not likely to come close to the top finishers this year.