NFL MVP Race Heats Up As Weather Cools
Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are the usual suspects in the Most Valuable Player race.
This year, they are joined by fresh faces. Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan and Mark Sanchez are all catching up to the Hall of Fame quarterbacks, making this year’s MVP race one of the hottest in recent memories.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ once incarcerated Michael Vick has already proven to be the league’s most improved player. But where does the elusive Vick rank in this year’s MVP race?
15. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs
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The Chiefs have been hot since the opening win over the San Diego Chargers. They still stand above their AFC West division rivals with a 7-4 record.
With their eyes set on the playoffs and a division crown, the offense has really picked up over the past two months under one of the best coaching staffs in the league.
Dwayne Bowe has been unstoppable, scoring a touchdown in seven straight games. He has five multi-touchdown games this season. He currently leads the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns.
Last week against the Seahawks, he scored three touchdowns and has scored at least two touchdowns in each of the past three games. He has caught 13 passes in two of the past three games.
Bowe currently has 14 touchdowns and 885 yards on 58 receptions.
14. Arian Foster, Houston Texans
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One of the biggest surprises this season, Arian Foster has taken the league by storm in his first year as the Houston Texans starting running back. Once a fumbling-prone rusher, Foster has only fumbled twice this season.
Foster started the season with one of the biggest bangs in recent memory. He gutted the Indianapolis Colts for 231 yards and three touchdowns on opening day.
Foster has displayed fantastic vision this season as his quick one-cut ability has him charging down the field and powering over defenders. Foster is proving doubters wrong, showing that he is the real deal.
Foster leads the league with 1,230 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground following the Week 13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He has also added 479 yards and two touchdowns on 50 receptions, proving to everyone that he is a dual-threat in the NFL.
13. Eli Manning, New York Giants
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Eli Manning continues to progress through his solid career. One of the game’s leading iron men, Manning continues to go out each week and help the Giants win games.
Despite all of the turnovers, Manning’s play, along with the defense, has the Giants in position to win the NFC East and make the playoffs once again after their absence last season.
Manning recently lost both starting wide receivers, Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith, due to injury but Manning got the job done last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Manning is on pace to throw for a career high in touchdowns as he already has 23 on the season. Manning is completing 65.2 percent of his passes for 2,821 yards although his 16 interceptions already surpassed last year’s total.
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12. Julius Peppers, Chicago Bears
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Last season, the Bears were terrible on both sides of the ball following the loss of Brian Urlacher. They added Julius Peppers, one of the game’s premier defensive players, in the offseason. The offense has been up and down in Mike Martz’s first season as offensive coordinator.
Now with Peppers on board, they boast one of the scariest defenses in the league.
Peppers is an absolute freak. Easily one of the most athletic players in the league, Peppers is too strong and quick for most lineman to guard. He has the moves and athletic ability to break through double teams, making him one of the premier forces in the NFL.
Peppers already has 34 tackles this season compared to 42 last year. He has three forced fumbles compared to five in 2009. He has one interception and six sacks for the season.
11. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
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Despite a season-ending knee injury to potential All-Pro tight end Jermichael Finley and Donald Driver hobbled by injury this season, Aaron Rodgers continues to produce MVP numbers.
One of the most gifted all around quarterbacks in the game, Rodgers has led his Packers to a 7-4 record and in position to win the NFC North division.
The Packers defense has also been decimated by injuries but it has been Rodgers’ fantastic play all season that has given Packer nation hope for the rest of the season. As long as Rodgers’ incredibly accurate arm and great scrambling skills are behind center for the Packers, Green Bay has as good a chance to make a Super Bowl run as any team in the NFC.
On the year, Rodgers has completed 65.0 percent of his passes for 2,945 yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He has also already rushed for four touchdowns.
10. Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens
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Although the Ravens are slowly shifting from a defensive-minded team to a more offense oriented team with their star weapons of Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin, Ray Lewis’ defense is not ready to completely give up the reins just yet.
Lewis still leads one of the most ferocious defenses in the NFL.
Easily one of the most feared men in all of the NFL, this defense would be hard pressed to find a suitable replacement for their emotional leader. Lewis amps and preps his team perhaps more than any other player in the league. His entire team feeds off his passion and intensity for the game of football.
Without Lewis leading this squad, it is difficult to imagine the Ravens fighting for the AFC North division lead.
Lewis has 95 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, two interceptions and one defensive touchdown this season.
9. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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The leader of the surprising “Young Bucs,” Josh Freeman eerily resembles a young Ben Roethlisberger. “The Comeback Kid” has as big of an arm to match his stature. Like Roethlisberger, Freeman avoids and eludes oncoming defenders behind the line of scrimmage with his great mobility.
Not many gave the Buccaneers a puncher’s chance to compete this season, myself included. They have been fantastic as a team though, standing 7-4. A playoff berth or even division title is not out of the question for these Bucs as they square off against the NFC South’s division leader Atlanta Falcons at home in Week 13.
On the season, Freeman is completing 59.3 percent of his passes for 2,261 yards, 15 touchdowns and just five interceptions.
8. Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers
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It is remarkable what a difference Troy Polamalu makes for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Last season the Steelers failed to make the playoffs. Now, they are in position to win the AFC North as they sit tied with the Baltimore Ravens with a 8-3 record.
The Steelers, with their superstar quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suspended for the first four games of the season, started the year 3-1 thanks to Polamalu’s defensive unit. It was a shock to everyone but head coach Mike Tomlin’s Steelers. They knew they would be able to weather the storm with Polamalu leading the team.
Polamalu’s defining highlight to open the season came against the Tennessee Titans in Week 2 when he dove over the line of scrimmage just as the ball was snapped and tackled Kerry Collins for a loss. His incredible anticipation and ball hawking skills makes Polamalu one of the most feared safeties in NFL history.
Polamalu has tallied 55 total tackles and four interceptions as he leads the “Steel Curtain” defense.
7. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
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One has to wonder just how many wins the Colts would have if Peyton Manning wasn’t on this team. It would actually be interesting to see how many points this team would lose by if he were to miss a game.
Manning has arguably the highest football IQ in the game. His field vision and knowledge is immaculate. He is simply irreplaceable. Manning acts as an offensive coordinator on the field, calling plays at the line of scrimmage and calling audibles to present mismatches against opposing defenses.
The ball has uncharacteristically gotten away from Manning recently as he has thrown seven interceptions in the past two games. Manning looks to get his team back on track this week against Dallas as he eyes another AFC South division title.
On the year, Manning is completing 65.2 percent of his passes for 3,344 yards, 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
6. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
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Drew Brees is always the MVP for the Saints, but this year he has had more on his shoulders than past seasons. Injuries to both Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas set the rushing game back, creating even more pressure on Brees and the passing attack.
The defending Super Bowl Champs have gotten the best each team has to offer now that the target is on their forehead. The Saints stumbled a bit in October, but they’re on the right track now winning four straight.
Sitting at 8-3, they are just one game out of first place in the NFC South and are in position to defend their Super Bowl Championship in the playoffs.
Although Brees has already passed last year’s interception total with 15, he is still on pace to throw for 30 touchdowns as he has 23 to date. Brees has already tossed 3,321 yards with a 68.6 completion percentage.
5. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets
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The biggest knock on the Jets entering the season was Mark Sanchez. Would Sanchez be able to duplicate his great 2009-2010 postseason play for an entire regular season as the Jets built themselves a Super Bowl contender in the offseason under Rex Ryan? Would Sanchez be able to cut down his interceptions after throwing 20 in his rookie campaign?
Sanchez has more than lived up to the hype. In recent comeback wins over Detroit, Cleveland and Houston, Sanchez has shown incredible decision-making, arm strength and accuracy. Although Sanchez has thrown an interception in the past six games, he opened the season without a turnover in the first five games.
Sanchez is proving that he has the ability to take this team to the coveted Super Bowl.
Sanchez answered his critics, throwing for 2,472 yards, 16 touchdowns and just eight interceptions while completing 55.2 percent of his passes. Sanchez has also rushed for two touchdowns.
4. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
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Rivers has been the one constant on the Chargers this season. The entire offense has been rearranged and gutted due to injuries. Rookie Ryan Mathews was in and out of the lineup, forcing Norv Turner to turn to Mike Tolbert, a former fullback. Legedu Naanee, Malcom Floyd, Antonio Gates and Patrick Crayton have all been injured at some point in this season. Vincent Jackson missed the first 11 weeks only to be injured in his Week 12 debut.
Still, Rivers plugs away and has his team 6-5 in prime position to take the AFC West division and make the playoffs once again. If Rivers wasn’t playing in rare MVP form, this team would be at the bottom of the AFC.
Rivers has completed 66.2 percent of his passes for 3,362 yards, 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
3. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
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Not many would have pegged “Matty Ice” as an MVP candidate prior to the season, but Ryan has his Falcons soaring high above the NFC and tied atop the NFL with a 9-2 record.
His chemistry with one of the game’s elite wide receivers, Roddy White, is incredible. They make up one of the best tandems in the league, proving to be almost unstoppable together.
Ryan stumbled a bit in his sophomore campaign after winning Rookie of the Year in 2008, but he is back on track this season looking every bit the winning quarterback many envisioned him to be coming out of Boston College.
Ryan has the Falcons on a five game win streak and has yet to lose at home this season. Ryan and his Falcons continue to prove doubters wrong and are making a strong case each week to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl with their clutch and resilient play this season.
Ryan is currently completing a career high 64.7 percent of his passes for 2,715 yards, 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions.
2. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
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Maybe it’s the new golden locks. Who knows? Tom Brady has been as focused and determined this season than at any point in his career. Brady is playing perhaps his best football of his career. Yes, including the record setting 2007 50 touchdown campaign.
Anyone who thought trading away Randy Moss would hinder Brady had another thing coming. Brady has been playing like a man possessed in recent weeks, toppling powerhouses like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts.
In the second half of the Thanksgiving tradition against the Detroit Lions, Brady carved up the Lions’ secondary like a Thanksgiving turkey for four second half touchdowns.
Brady has thrown at least three touchdown passes in four games this season. He has not thrown an interception in six straight games. Brady is playing in MVP form and has his Patriots seeking another Super Bowl run as his team is tied atop the NFL with a 9-2 record.
For the year, Brady has thrown for 2,703 yards, 23 touchdowns and just four interceptions while completing 66.3 percent of his passes.
1. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles
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No amount of praise will be able to rightly justify how spectacular Michael Vick has been this season.
He is everything he was in Atlanta except he has improved his passing game leaps and bounds. His rocket arm is still attached to his athletic frame, but this time around he has been incredibly accurate. His field vision has been almost impeccable. He is still just as quick and elusive now compared to when he was younger.
If Vick started from Week 1 and didn’t miss time with various injuries, the Eagles may only have one or two losses under their belt. Vick has the Eagles in prime position to win a Super Bowl this season. Without Vick, the Eagles may be a bottom of the barrel team.
Following Week 13’s win over Houston, Vick has thrown for 15 touchdowns, 2,243 yard and just two interceptions with a 63.8 completion percentage. He has rushed for 467 yards, six touchdowns and just one fumble.
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