Tom Brady MVP? New England Patriots Super Bowl Champs? Both In Position To Win

Tom Brady has played himself into contention for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award for 2010. More importantly, he has led his New England Patriots to a 9-2 record, tied with the New York Jets for the best record in the entire league. Despite trading away Randy Moss, the Patriots have rebounded offensively and are in prime position for a Super Bowl run led by Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick.

Tom Brady seems to have been more prepared in recent weeks following an embarrassing Week 9 road loss to the Cleveland Browns. Since then, Brady has been playing with more intensity and determination than at any other point in his luxurious career.

Brady is currently playing like a man possessed.

Brady opened the season playing well aside from a rough game against the Jets where he accumulated three turnovers in the division road loss. In the first eight weeks of the season, Brady had 12 touchdown passes, four interceptions and a lost fumble. Still, the Patriots were 6-1.

Bill Belichick determined during the Week 5 bye that superstar receiver Randy Moss could no longer help his team win a Super Bowl. Moss was shipped off to Minnesota where he failed miserably. While the Patriots won their next three games, the offense was sputtering. Brady had thrown just one touchdown in four straight games leading up to the Week 9 loss. During that span, Brady was sacked 10 times.

While the loss wasn’t expected or inevitable, it wasn’t as shocking as most would expect. The Browns have played tough all season and Eric Mangini, Belichick’s pupil at one point in his career, usually has his teams play the Patriots tough.

The loss opened the eyes of Brady and Belichick. The Patriots came out Week 10 on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers fully focused and determined to administer an old fashioned beat down.

The Patriots went on to rout the Steelers on prime time television led by their leader, Tom Brady. Despite battling a sore foot, Brady dismantled one of the league’s best and toughest defenses. He completed 30 of 43 attempted passes for 350 yards and three touchdown passes to rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Arguably the most impressive play was the quarterback sneak where Brady powered his way up the middle behind his offensive line. He got up and violently spiked the ball in the end zone, seemingly to declare that he was going to take this league by storm from this point further.

In one of the biggest rivalries of the past decade, Brady and his defense sealed a victory against the Indianapolis Colts to keep pace with the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons for the best record in the league with an 8-2 record. Brady was effective and efficient despite failing to throw for 200 yards. He completed 19 of 25 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns.

On just three days rest, Tom Brady marched his Patriots into Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. The Lions gave the Patriots a scare in the first half. Calvin Johnson scored early and the Patriots fell behind 17-10 at half time.

Brady came out in the second half and proceeded to carve up the Lions defense. He completed 21 of 27 attempted passes in the game for 341 yards. More importantly, he threw four second half touchdowns to give the Patriots a decisive 45-24 Thanksgiving Day victory.

In the past six games, Brady has thrown 13 of his 23 touchdown passes, rushed for one score while refusing to turn the ball over. With his Patriots in the running for the top record in the league and his incredible performances as of late, Brady is a top candidate for his second Most Valuable Player award.

The Patriots host the Jets next Monday night in what will surely be one of the year’s best and most intense games. With the top spot in the league on the line and both teams coming in with extra rest, this could be a showdown for the ages in what will be one of the most important games of the season with potential home field advantage on the line in the AFC playoffs.

Even if the Patriots lose the contest, they will still be in prime position to make the playoffs. As long as they are in the tournament, the Patriots are as deadly as any team in the league. A fifth Super Bowl appearance is in clear sight for Tom Brady and his New England Patriots.