4 Reasons Drew Brees is the NFL's MVP Through 1st Quarter of the Season

Let's imagine you and I are sitting next to each other in a bar—I'm on the left, you're on the right. Maybe it's the beer, maybe it's a civil duty one of us feels to not sit next to someone in a lonely bar and stay quiet. Whatever it is one of us decides to strike up a conversation. 

But what do two complete strangers talk about? Religion? No, especially not in a bar, right! Politics? No, that could get ugly fast. But sports are almost always a great option and, presumably with two guys, a relatively safe topic. But sports are such a broad concept. 

Let's assume we're somewhere in the New Orleans area (oh how I wish I were), then talking about the Saints would likely be the natural place to start. And after four weeks, it is a pretty natural time to start talking about the first quarter of the season. 

What's gone well, what's gone wrong, and does Drew Brees have a chance for the NFL MVP Award? If you're reading this, you're likely a loyal Saints fan, as am I. 

But remember we're in a bar, alone presumably. We can't just agree, we have to have good arguments, consider all the arguments, all the legitimate candidates. And no matter how much alcohol you or I have had, we need to come to a reasonable conclusion. 

Where the analogy breaks down is that point—sober I would not come to the conclusion that Drew Brees is the early favorite for NFL MVP. Honestly, Peyton Manning is having his most valuable season to date—and he's already won the award, what four times?

Then there's the amazing Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers who defeated Drew Brees when the two met head-to-head in Week 1, and the Fantasy Football MVP Darren McFadden, who is a legitimate threat for MVP—or at least Offensive Player of the Year—if the Raiders head for the playoffs as they seem to have a legitimate chance to do.

You could make a reasonable argument for each of those players, and since it's become your job to convince me that Drew Brees is more deserving than all of those guys, and I want to win the argument, I must also know your argument before you present it. Here it is.  

4. RB Darren McFadden Oakland Raiders

Considering how bad the Oakland Raiders have been since 2002, 2-2 is relatively amazing, especially considering the schedule the Raiders have faced to this point. They've only had one opportunity to beat up on the rest of the AFC West (last season they were 6-0 in the division). 

The major reason they're 2-2 and have been competitive in each game (they were much closer to the Patriots than the 31-13 score would indicate) is one man—Darren McFadden. 

Despite facing defenses loaded up to stop the run, McFadden leads the NFL in rushing with 468 yards (117 yards per game). His yards per carry average is a gaudy 6.8. He's also added 15 catches for 132 yards and a touchdown. 

He's been nothing short of amazing. Clearly without McFadden, the Raiders are not one of the most exciting teams in the league. And McFadden's presence has made Jason Campbell a quarterback who has a chance to be successful for the first time in his career—though you could and should add Head Coach Hue Jackson to your reasons in that discussion. 

But the truth is that the Raiders are just 2-2—the worst record on this list. McFadden only has one touchdown per game, as Michael Bush has capitalized on many of McFadden's runs down to the goal line. 

And the Raiders defense is so bad, 8-8 or 9-7 is about as good as this Raiders team can realistically hope for this season. 

At this pace, McFadden is the undeniable Offensive Player of the Year—the award that should go to the most impressive offensive player, but not the MVP of offense. That award will go to one of the three QBs listed next. 

3. QB Tom Brady New England Patriots

If the NFL had a Johnny Unitas award or a Namath award, like college football Tom Brady would be the undeniable winner. Heck, he might even win the Maxwell award—the second most prestigious player of the year award next to the Heisman Trophy. 

But in the NFL, awards are relatively scarce. You either win offensive player of the year and/or MVP, or you get nothing. Sure there will be an All-Pro selection, but that's obviously not as prestigious as MVP. 

Speaking of Brady, one cannot not be blown away by his stat line. He's completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,553 yards, 13 touchdowns and a 111.3 QB Rating. I said McFadden's stat line was gaudy, I guess Brady's is un-universal. 

But there's one problem with Brady's MVP resume: He was the main reason his team lost a game. None of the other candidates through Week 4 can say that. Brady threw four interceptions in one game. No other QB in the NFL can say that to date (don't quote me on that one though). 

The Patriots defense might be the worst in the league right now. They certainly are the worst in yards given up. They couldn't stop Darren McFadden, they simply contained him by keeping him off the field. That is a testament to the Pats' newfound running game and Tom Brady's ability to move the chains at seemingly all costs. 

But Brady threw a touchdown that practically lost the game for his team and then was seen not even trying to make the tackle. I feel pretty confident Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers would have done everything in their power to make the tackle on that play. 

I'm not saying Brady doesn't have a compelling case, I'm saying it comes up short when you lose the game for your team both by being inaccurate on some throws and then not giving all you have to make up for a mistake. 

2. QB Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers

Here's the guy I would ultimately go with personally, and would do everything in my power to convince you in that bar debate that he is MVP. 

Rodgers has completed 73.1 percent of his passes. Wait, what?! He's completed almost three out of every four passes. If he continues that pace, he would shatter Drew Brees' previous best of 70.1 percent. 

Let's not forget his touchdown-to-interception ratio is an NFL best 12-to-2. And he's thrown for 1325 yards and a 124.6 rating. If he stays on pace, Rodgers would have the greatest quarterback season of all-time, and it wouldn't even be close. 

Additionally, Rodgers is doing this with not much of a running game, and a defense that at times has been good, but has been mostly spotty this season. 

Here's the thing, I really don't have an argument against Rodgers. He's 4-0, he's playing better than anyone on the planet. He's defeated Brees and the team everyone else is saying is the second best team in the league (our Saints). 

I suppose your argument is that Rodgers is doing it with a better supporting cast than Brees. Greg Jennings is probably the most underrated receiver in the league, Donald Driver is that old productive veteran that few teams succeed without, Jermichael Finley looks like he never got hurt, Jordy Nelson might be the best no. 2 receiver in the game today and rookie Randall Cobb continues to make plays. 

And you may make the argument that the Packers' offensive line has had more continuity and is simply better. And the defense, though spotty at times, over the course of the season has probably been better than the Saints' defense. 

That's your argument against Rodgers. But honestly, it's weak. You're simply going to have to prove to me that Drew Brees is better. Keep in mind I want to believe you—if I worshipped someone other than God, it might be Drew Brees. But you have to have a great argument. Here it is. 

1. QB Drew Brees New Orleans Saints

The numbers alone are phenomenal—69 percent completions, 10 touchdowns and 1,410 yards. He's on pace to throw for well over 5,000 yards—which would be the second time in his career (oh crap!). He'd almost throw 40 touchdown passes—which would be a career high—and he would lead his team to a 12-4 record. 

If Brees does that, it's hard to imagine him not winning MVP. But remember the pace of Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are even more impressive.

Now you must convince me of two alternate arguments. First, why is Drew Brees' pace more MVP-worthy than Brady's or Rodgers'? Second, what makes you convinced he will maintain that pace, while the others either will not, or again what makes that a more MVP-caliber season? 

I'll allow you to order your argument in the order that I asked the questions: First, assuming that Brees finishes with 69 percent completions, 5200 yards, and 40 touchdowns, he would have done it without his best receiver realistically for three games (Colston was virtually non-existent in Sunday's victory over Jacksonville). 

Until Sunday, the Saints running game didn't provide the offense much balance. Brees was practically moving the ball all by himself. That doesn't even begin to explain the near perfection Brees had to play with the first few games, since the defense was having a difficult time getting off the field. Brees' numbers those first two games really were pretty unworldly considering how little he actually possessed the ball. 

Let's not forget that in those first three games the Saints trailed in each one. The near comeback against the Packers, though aided by a suddenly stout defense, would have been the most impressive comeback of the season for any quarterback, had Brees completed it. He was that close to doing so against a better than average defense. 

But the thing that has always made me adore Brees—and my no.1 reason he is an ideal MVP candidate—is what he does with failure. He's rattled off three straight victories after the heartbreak at Lambeau. But how about what he did against Houston? 

Find me another quarterback that after playing so poorly in the first half—arguably his worst half of football all season—and then throwing a bad pick in the second half (though it may have been avoided if Jimmy Graham cut off his route) led his team back from a nine-point fourth quarter deficit to win by seven. 

It's not that Brady or Rodgers can't do that. They may do so this year, but have yet to do that. 

Second, Brees will continue this pace because he will have a healthy Marques Colston, familiar opponents more often (still have all six NFC South games), a bad Indianapolis Colts team at home on a Sunday night, a rapidly improving Jimmy Graham, the second most exciting player in football—Darren Sproles, two speed demons in Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem, and the best slot receiver in football after Wes Welker in Lance Moore. And I forgot to mention that the running game finally seems to be gaining its legs at the right time. 

If the offensive line can get back to full health—and it should in a few weeks—the Saints should remain the offensive juggernaut they've been for six seasons. In fact, they are likely better than ever. And if the defense comes around, which they've shown signs of doing in recent weeks, this could be the best team in the league by season's end. 

And that, my new friend at the bar, is MVP-worthy!