NFL MVP Watch: Did Michael Vick Show His True Colors Against the Vikings?

Michael Vick's MVP chances may have disappeared on Tuesday night.

The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback started off strong with a three-yard touchdown pass to Clay Harbor, giving them a 7-0 lead over Minnesota. After that it was downhill, as Vick lost two fumbles, threw an interception and was sacked six times. He finished 25-of-43 for 263 yards and also had eight carries for 63 yards and a touchdown in the 24-14 loss.

"We're a much better football team than we displayed tonight, much much better and we've all seen it," Vick said following the loss. "Starting with me as the leader of this football team as the quarterback, I had an interception and I had two fumbles. Two critical fumbles. It just goes back to being disciplined. If those things don't happen, then I think we dictate the outcome of this game. I take sole responsibility for not doing that. That's my job. That's what I get paid to do and I didn't do it."

You've got to commend Vick for holding himself accountable, but you also shouldn't have these issues against sub-par teams like Minnesota.

I also penalized two other previous MVP candidates and dropped them completely out of the latest MVP ratings. Maurice Jones-Drew and Philip Rivers are exceptional players, but losing to Washington and Cincinnati is unacceptable. Is it unfair to cut those two and keep Vick? Maybe, but I also know Vick is one of the top five players in the NFL.

Here's my previous story for those who want to look back. Time now for an update:

10. QB Sam Bradford, St. Louis

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ST. LOUIS, MO - DECEMBER 26: Sam Bradford #8 of the St. Louis Rams looks to pass against the San Francisco 49ers at the Edward Jones Dome on December 26, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams beat the 49ers 25-17. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Previous ranking: Not ranked

The St. Louis Rams rookie should coast to Rookie of the Year honors. It's absolutely incredible he came in and put up these kind of numbers, completing 335-of-554 passes for 3,357 yards and 18 touchdowns. A win on Sunday night over Seattle gives St. Louis the NFC West title, which would also be incredible considering just where this team was a year ago.

I knew Bradford would be a success in the NFL because he's an extremely intelligent player, but I thought it would take maybe two to three years before you saw this.

9. QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 23: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers laughs on the sideline during the game against the Carolina Panthers on December 23, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Previous rating: 10th

Roethlisberger missed the start of the season due to a suspension, but the Steelers still started strong.
Pittsburgh (11-4) is in first in the AFC North thanks in part to Roethlisberger, who has passed for 2,920 yards and 15 touchdowns with just five interceptions.

You have to give him a little MVP consideration, especially after the rematch with Baltimore, when he played with an injured foot and a broken nose and still passed for 253 yards.

I like the suggestion one reader gave of Troy Polamalu over Big Ben. Polamalu does have six interceptions on the season and 62 total tackles. Great numbers, but you would need to be absolutely dominating to get consideration as a defensive player.

8. QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay

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GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 26: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers rolls out of the pocket against the New York Giants at Lambeau Field on December 26, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Previous rating: Not ranked

When he got knocked out of the Detroit game and the Packers lost 7-3, did anyone else think, "Yup, there goes Green Bay's playoff chances?" He missed the New England game, but came back and shredded the Giants for 404 yards and four touchdowns in the 45-17 victory on Sunday. On the season, he's completed 293 of 447 passes for 3,693 yards and 27 touchdowns.

No way Green Bay's eyeing the playoffs without him. Now the Packers could be the one team no one wants to face.

7. QB Jay Cutler, Chicago

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears looks for a receiver as David Harris #52 of the New York Jets rushes at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Get

Previous rating: 9

The guy has had absolutely no blocking and been sacked 46 times. But he's still managed to throw for 3,106 yards and 23 touchdowns and helped the Bears (11-4) win the NFC North title.

He was held to 152 yards and no touchdowns in a 36-7 loss to New England, but he has big wins over Green Bay and Philadelphia. Against the Eagles, he went toe-to-toe with Michael Vick, completing 14 of 21 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns—with no picks—in a 31-26 win.

Is he an MVP favorite? Of course not. But Cutler deserves some respect. I'm moving him up a little, too, after his performance against the Jets.

6. QB Matt Cassel, Kansas City

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KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Matt Cassel #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs passes during the game against the Tennessee Titans on December 26, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Previous rating: 8

Kansas City (10-5) would definitely not be first in the AFC West if it weren't for Cassel, who has thrown for 3,001 yards and 27 touchdowns.

He missed the rematch with San Diego after having his appendix taken out. The following week, he returned and threw for 184 yards against St. Louis, then for 314 on Sunday against the Titans. He finished the game with a rating of 128.8. This year Cassel has finally found a big No.1 go-to option in Dwayne Bowe and the two have developed an incredible chemistry.

One note about Cassel: He had just one interception over a nine-game span this year and only five on the season.

5. QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis

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OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 26: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts looks on against the Oakland Raiders during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 26, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Previous rating: 7

Indianapolis would currently be picking in the top half of next year's NFL Draft if it didn't have Manning.

Manning has carried the offense. He's the NFL's leading passer with 4,436 yards and he is averaging 296 yards per game. At times, though, he has hurt his team trying to do too much, as his 17 interceptions prove.

Watch the Colts' ground game now. Indianapolis has had no rushing attack to speak of for most of the year, but finished with 191 yards Sunday against Oakland.

4. QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 27: Quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons looks upfield during warm-ups prior to the start of the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Georgia Dome on December 27, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Halleran

Previous rating: 3

It's incredible to think that in just three years since he arrived from Boston College, Ryan is already one of the league's elite quarterbacks. He has completed 335 of 539 passes for 3,469 yards, 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Judge him on big games and Ryan has shined: He had 228 yards and two touchdowns in Atlanta's 27-24 overtime win against New Orleans, passed for 316 yards against Baltimore and had 197 yards in a 20-17
win over Green Bay.

The player they call "Matty Ice" has to slip, though, after finishing with just 148 yards and one touchdown in Monday night's 17-14 loss to New Orleans. You don't get any bigger than that when it comes to regular season games. We'll see how Ryan does in the playoffs.

3. QB Michael Vick, Philadelphia

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 26: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles walks on the field after a play against the Minnesota Vikings at Lincoln Financial Field on December 26, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Previous rating: 2

The Minnesota game definitely was an off game, but how will he respond in Philadelphia's first playoff game? That will be interesting to watch, since Vick and the starters probably won't play in a meaningless game with Dallas this weekend.

Vick has completed 233 of 372 passes for 3,018 yards and 21 touchdowns, with just six interceptions. He also has 100 carries for 676 rushing yards and nine touchdowns and has the league's fourth-best quarterback rating (100.2). Under Vick, Philadelphia's offense is averaging 399.1 total yards and 28.4 points per game.

You could pick out plenty of top performances by Vick, but among them are the Chicago game, when he completed 29 of 44 passes for 333 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Teams know what to expect from Vick, but so far they really haven't been able to shut him down completely. Against Dallas, he didn't get free to run, but still finished with 270 yards passing.

2. QB Drew Brees, New Orleans

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 27: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates a touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham in the second half during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on December 27, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Phot

Previous rating: 5

I said last time that I could put Brees higher, but let's wait and see what happens with the Atlanta rematch. Well it's done and Brees was surgical, completing 35 of 49 passes for 302 yards, including the game-winning touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham with 3:24 left in the game.

The Saints have been the hunted this year and Brees has had to function without any sort of a running game to really speak of. New Orleans (11-4), however, is averaging 377 total yards per game (including just over 94 yards rushing) and still has a shot at the NFC South title entering its finale with Tampa Bay.

Brees is second in the NFL in passing with 4,424 yards. He's already had a big win this year over Pittsburgh, but his best game came against a pesky Dallas team on Thanksgiving Day when he rallied the team to a 30-27 victory that was capped by a game-winning 12-yard touchdown pass to Lance Moore with 1:55 left.

Brees finished 23-of-39 passing with one touchdown and one interception for 352 yards.

1. QB Tom Brady, New England

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 26: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks to pass against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. New England won 34-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Previous rating: 1

He's thrown for 3,701 yards, has the league's top quarterback rating (109.8) and is leading a Patriots team right now that is unbeatable.

Their game against the New York Jets was supposed to be a showdown of superpowers. What happened? New England shredded them 45-3.

Maybe Chicago would give the Patriots a test? Not so much. In snowy, awful conditions, Brady completed 27 of 40 passes for 369 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 36-7 win.

What's funny about Brady is that so many fans will write and comment about how they can't stand him. At the same time, no one can deny what we're watching is incredible.