Tom Brady: Did He Put Stranglehold on NFL MVP Honors vs. Steelers?
Tom Brady made sure the New England Patriots wouldn't play like they did against the Cleveland Browns last week.
The former NFL MVP turned in a terrific performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night, completing 30-of-43 passes for 350 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
The Patriots got a huge win over a top contender in the AFC, and Brady added another memorable game to a career that's full of 'em.
But just how big of a resume booster was Brady's showing against the league's top defense?
Was it enough to give Brady a stranglehold on his second MVP award? Or does Brady still have some work to do?
Let's debate it!
5. No: Don't Count Out Peyton Manning
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Trust me.
I know it's starting to get old, but Peyton Manning is once again in the MVP conversation.
He's thrown for more than 2,600 yards, with a 64.2 completion percentage and 16 touchdowns to just four interceptions.
Manning has also accumulated these numbers with injuries to several key players on the Indianapolis Colts offense, including Austin Collie, Dallas Clark and Joseph Addai.
Believe it or not, Manningโwho won the MVP award last seasonโis actually on pace to have a much better season in 2010. Like usual, his Colts are right in the thick of the playoff hunt.
5. Yes: No One Expected the Patriots to Be this Good
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Prior to the season, conversations about the Super Bowl generally centered around the Ravens, Jets, Steelers and maybe a couple of other AFC teams like the Colts.ย
But no one outside of New England mentioned the Patriots as a possible AFC Champion.ย
As a pretty good team? Sure.
As a playoff team? Some thought so.
But as the No. 1 team in football's toughest conference? No one gave them a shot.
Yet here we are, just past the halfway point if the 2010-11 season, and New England has exceeded any and all of its expectations.
4. No: Matt Ryan's Nipping at His Heels
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Matt Ryan is in just his third NFL season, but he's playing like a seasoned veteran.
Ryan's thrown for more than 2,200 yards, 16 touchdowns and just five interceptions, and the Atlanta Falcons have the league's best record.
Ryan has three games with at least three touchdown passes. Heย has led the Falcons to two winning streaks of at least three games so far this season.
Plus, he's coming off a huge performance against another Super Bowl contender, the Baltimore Ravens. Ryanย topped 300 yards and threw three touchdowns.
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4. Yes: New England's Defense Stinks
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Don't let a couple of good performances by that New England defense fool you.
The Patriots have a terrible defense.
New England ranks 25th in points allowed, 29th in total yards allowed and 30th points in passing yards allowed.
Without Tom Brady lining up behind center, there's a very good chance that this team is under .500 because the Patriots can't stop anybody.
They've given up at least 20 points in seven games, and at least 26 points in four contests this season.
3. No: The Case for Philip Rivers
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The San Diego Chargers are still very much alive in the AFC playoff race.
And it's because of the play of Philip Rivers.
Rivers has thrown for 327 yards per game while completing 65.4 percent of his passes and throwing 19 touchdown passes on his way to 102.9 quarterback rating.
And he's done all of that while missing a ridiculous amount of players from that potent Chargers offense: Malcom Floyd, Legedu Naanee, Ryan Mathews, Antonio Gates andย Vincent Jackson.
Rivers is the mainย reason why the Chargers still have any shot at making the playoffs.
3. Yes: Brady's Done It without a Superstar
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Tom Brady has won football games this season the old-fashioned Patriots way.
With a good core of wide receivers, rather than one superstar.
Brady's had to transition in-season from having an incredibly talented wide receiver like Randy Moss to tossing the ball to a group of players that includes Rob Gronkowski, Danny Woodhead, Deion Branch and Brandon Tate.
I don't mean any disrespect to those players. It's just that having an all-time great lining up on the outside is a nice luxury that Brady no longer has.
It's one thing to lose a superstar. But it's another to lose him a few games into the season and still be able to develop chemistry with a new-look receiving corps.
2. No: Too Many Candidates
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In addition to Manning, Ryan and Rivers, there are plenty of other players who still have a very legitimate shot at winning the NFL MVP this year.
You could make a case for guys like Arian Foster, Roddy White or Michael Vick, among a slew of other players.
I'd even argue that Vick will win the award if he keeps playing like he has been and the Eagles continue to win.
But no matter what happens with Vick, this has been one of those seasons when it's hard to predict a winner because so many players have performed so well.ย
2. Yes: No QB Has Been as Accurate as Brady
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Some quarterbacks have thrown more touchdowns and others have more passing yards.
But no quarterback has been as accurate as Tom Brady.
Only three quarterbacksโEli Manning, Drew Brees and Philip Riversโtop his 64.5 completion percentage. But those three have combined for 33 interceptions while Brady has thrown a league-best four interceptions.
He's constantly guided the Patriots to victory by limiting his mistakes, which is something that is often overlooked in favor of passing yards and touchdowns.
1. No: Too Much Football Left
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To quote the old expression, don't put the cart before the horse.
Every team has played just nine games in aย 16-game season, which means that the 2010-11 campaign is barely past the halfway point.
There's just way too much time left in the season to predict how things will play out.
Other MVP candidates could get hurt. Tom Brady could start throwing a ton of interceptions.
Or a darkhorse candidate could emerge late in the season.
We just don't know.
1. Yes: The Patriots Sit atop the AFC
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The AFC has a ton of powerhouses this year, from the Jets to the Ravens to the Steelers.
And plenty of other quality teams like the Titans, Dolphins, Raiders, etc.
You could go on and on about which team is better than the other. But the bottom line is that the Patriots sit atop the conference despite having a less talented team than most of the squads sitting behind them.
Which teams have better wide receivers, running backs and defenses?
Ravens? Check. Jets? Check. Steelers? Check. Titans? Check?
The list is almost endless, but that doesn't matter.ย
Tom Brady somehow has the Patriots ahead of the pack in a loaded AFC.ย
The Verdict: Is Tom Brady the MVP Favorite?
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Tom Brady is in the midst of arguably the second-best season of his career.
He ranks at the top of the NFL in most major passing categories and is leading his team to the best record in the NFL.
He's done that without a celebrity cast of wide receivers. And with a Patriots team that wasn't supposed to be all that great this season.
Although Brady's certainly had a stellar 2010-11 campaign, he's also got some company.
There are several other quarterbacks, and even a few skilled players, who have matched Brady's success on the playing field through nine games.
Key phrase: "through nine games."
Though Brady has certainly emerged as a favorite, it's just too early to call him the favorite.
Let's give it a little more time until we hand him the NFL MVP award. Though it wouldn't be too surprising to see it actually happen.
Verdict: Too soon to tell
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