New England Patriots: Tom Brady and Michael Vick Have Made MVP Two-Man Race
Tom Brady has returned to his old form, and that should tell you enough.
On the other hand, Michael Vick has become a monster.
No, no, not that kind of monster. A monster on the football field.
Most of us are willing to welcome that change.
But...as of now, who has the better shot at winning the league's Most Valuable Player award?
Tom Brady
1 of 4
Thirty-one touchdowns, four interceptions.
Sold yet?
Well, you should be.
Tom Brady is without a doubt the best player on the best team in the NFL. The majority of the time that is who wins the MVP award.
What adds to that is that he has done it without a big name receiver on his team aside from Wes Welker.
Even more impressive is that Brady has gone nine straight games without an interception and last night broke the recently departed Don Meredith's streak of consecutive two-plus-touchdown games without an interception.
Since the beginning of the year Brady has been close to automatic, and that's no joke.
After throwing four interceptions to go with 10 touchdowns in his first give games, he has thrown 21 touchdowns in his last nine games without a pick.
Brady's stats—3,561 passing yards, a 109.9 passer rating and the crazy touchdown to interception ratio—would usually guarantee him the MVP, if not for...
Michael Vick
2 of 4
Michael Vick is the best player on his team, and yesterday they practically secured a playoff spot in the most dramatic way possible.
A punt return for a touchdown in the waning seconds? That game is easily in my top five finishes of all time.
The only reason they were there was Vick.
As has become expected, Vick put the Eagles on his back and carried them to the Promised Land.
Vick's biggest shortcoming is that he missed a few games due to injury and that all five of his interceptions have come in the last four games.
On the season he has thrown for 2,755 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions in just 11 games.
Additionally he has 613 yards and eight touchdowns rushing.
If MVP voting were today, I would vote for Vick, but it would not be easy.
Frankly, I believe Vick is more valuable to his team than Brady is to his (see Matt Cassel in 2008).
While Brady holds the superior stats, possibly sitting out the season's final games while Vick is playing for a playoff spot could drastically alter this race.
Philip Rivers
3 of 4
Philip Rivers is another guy who deserves discussion.
Rivers eclipsed the 4000 yard mark on Sunday and has 29 touchdowns in contrast to 11 interceptions this year. His passer rating is just off Brady's at 105.7.
His interceptions are really the only thing that separates him from Brady.
Both have accomplished their stats without the help of marquee receivers.
Rivers had arguably one of his best games of his season on Sunday when he three for three touchdowns and zero interceptions. With his last two games against the weak defenses of Denver and Cincinnati, Rivers needs to have two more incredible games to give himself a shot at the MVP.
And he has to hope Brady and Vick have two awful games.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Cam Wake
4 of 4
Here comes my shameless plug for one of my favorite Dolphins.
Cam Wake has absolutely destroyed offensive lines this year to the tune of 14.5 sacks.
Two seasons ago Wake was playing in the CFL.
Pretty crazy. But to completely understand how good Wake is, you have to watch him play.
Of course, he has zero shot at winning the MVP, but I wanted to give him a shout out. Hopefully he will be rewarded with a Defensive Player of the Year award that he rightly deserves.
.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 🤩")