NFL Week 11 Picks: Which MVP Candidates Will Win Their Games?
The 2010 NFL season has been one filled with much parity. There is no clear No. 1 team in the NFL this year, and there are still many teams in contention for playoff spots even this late into the season. Week 11 brings back a full 16-game slate as the byes have been completed.
Just like the lack of a true top team this season, there are many players who are worthy of the MVP award. Each week it seems players juxtaposition every week based on performance, winning or even if they had a bye. These merry-go-round group of candidates are all in action this week and will likely impact their MVP chances.
Will the MVP candidates get wins this week? Here are the picks.
Clay Matthews: Green Bay vs. Minnesota
1 of 8
The Candidate
Clay Matthews has been the best player on any defense this season. Period.
He is a catalyst to the Packers' defensive attack and leads the league with 10.5 sacks through nine games. He thrives in the OLB role and is a disruption to offenses with his speed and power. He is on pace for nearly 20 sacks this season and if Green Bay can win the division, Matthews has a solid case for being a defensive MVP choice.
Matchup
The Packers are coming off a bye and a 6-3 record which has them at the top of the NFC North. Minnesota lost another road game last week and finds themselves on the brink of a lost season. Favre torched the Packers in Minnesota last season and should feel the comfort of home once again.
The Packers are playing for the division and the best record in the NFC and has a lot more motivation behind them aside from No. 4 in purple.
Pick: Green Bay
2 of 8
The Vikings are a much better team at the Metrodome, despite all their inconsistencies this season.
While Favre and Adrian Peterson will be a lot to handle, expect Matthews and defense to rise to the occasion to shut down the Viking offense. Aaron Rodgers will have all the defensive supports he needs to lead the Packers to an all important division win.
Green Bay 28, Minnesota 17
Philip Rivers: Denver vs San Diego
3 of 8
The Candidate
Philip Rivers is on pace to shatter several NFL passing records this season. His impressive stats include a 102.9 passer rating, nearly 3,000 yards passing and 19 touchdown passes. Rivers has been an offensive juggernaut for the Chargers, who have the league's best offense, despite only a 4-5 record.
Rivers is on pace to break Marino's 5,084 passing yard record for a single season and if he can rally the Chargers to a playoff berth, he might possibly collect an MVP award as well.
Matchup
The Chargers have must-win games from here on out. Denver is just trying to rectify their season after a big win against the Chiefs last week. The Chargers special teams have killed the team in several games and is to blame for their record. San Diego is dealing with numerous injuries and is coming off a bye week, which hopefully gave them time to heal up.
The Broncos have one of the league's best passing attacks along with San Diego. Unfortunately, they rank last in the NFL in rushing.
Which team can overcome adversity in what is a very winnable AFC West?
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Pick: San Diego
4 of 8
San Diego finally seems to have turned things around two weeks ago against the Texans and are just coming off a bye week. Rivers will be happy to have some of his wide receivers back and hopefully all-pro tight end Antonio Gates
Denver, despite blowing out Kansas City, still has a lot of questions with the run game and staying consistent.
With two potent offenses, the defense will be the difference here and the Chargers have the advantage there over the Broncos. Plus, playing at home on Monday Night doesn't hurt either.
San Diego 31, Denver 20
Michael Vick: New York vs. Philadelphia
5 of 8
The Candidate
Michael Vick has had the greatest season of his career so far this season for the Eagles. Expecting to be the backup to Kevin Kolb, his fortunes changed with Kolb's shaky start against the Packers and injury. Vick then took the ball and never looked back.
He is 4-0 as a starter with 15 total touchdowns, zero interceptions and a 115.1 passer rating. He would be the top candidate if he hadn't suffered a rib injury that cost him three games.
Matchup
In a Sunday night showdown, the 6-3 Eagles host the 6-3 Giants in a battle for first place in the NFC East. The Giants were arguably the hottest team in the NFL before they were surprised by the now Jason Garrett-led Cowboys at the Meadowlands.
The Eagles are coming off a historic win in Washington where they put up 45 first-half points en route to a 59-28 win.
Can the Giants pass rush take advantage of a suspect Eagles offensive line and contain Vick or will the quarterback continue his tear through 2010?
Pick: Philadelphia
6 of 8
The New York Giants will not take this game lightly at all coming into Philadelphia, but the Eagles are just clicking on all facets. Vick has seemingly made this offense unstoppable and to go along with an aggressive defense that always gives Manning fits, the cards just seem right in the Eagles favor.
I expect this to be a high-scoring affair, just not to the nature of last week's game.
Philadelphia 34, New York 27
Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady: Colts vs. Patriots
7 of 8
The Candidates
Peyton Manning is a candidate for the award every year so it seems. The four-time winner and reigning MVP has put up impressive numbers once again, but the way he is doing it may make it his most impressive work yet.
Manning's stats of 2,663 yards passing, 16 touchdowns to only four interceptions and a 93.1 passer rating isn't a personal best. However, the receivers he has done it with seemingly change every week because of injury. Add the loss of Pro Bowl tight end Dallas Clark and Manning is seemingly carrying this team with his play, the definition of a MVP.
Tom Brady is in a unique situation of his own as well. Brady started the season with Randy Moss as his top receiver and Laurence Maroney as his top back. By the time October was in full swing, both were traded away. Now Brady is with a wide receiver corp more similar to his Super Bowl winning teams.
Brady has thrown for 2,176 yards, 17 touchdowns to four interceptions and has a 98.8 passer rating. He is doing just as much as Manning is with perhaps a less talented offensive attack.
Matchup
These AFC elites are not strangers to each other. They have had several classic regular season and playoff meetings this decade and the quarterbacks always seem to bring out the best in each other.
New England sits with a 7-2 record while the Colts are at 6-3. The winner of this game seemingly has the inside track to home field advantage thanks to a head-to-head win. The Colts are coming off a win over the Bengals while New England had an impressive road win over the Steelers.
Pick: New England
8 of 8
These teams don't have the amount of talent as they had in years past but with their MVP-caliber quarterbacks at center, they don't need it.
Expect a classic playoff like game between Brady and Manning but I give the edge here to the Patriots based on intangibles and playing in Foxboro.
New England 20, Indianapolis 17
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")