Peyton Manning Finally Puts the Controversial 2008 MVP Argument to Rest

This year has been one of those years where there has been no clear MVP winner all season. Week to week the favorite for MVP has been changing all season.

Early in the season I thought the MVP was Drew Brees. Then in the middle of the season I thought it was Kurt Warner. Then just two weeks ago I thought it was Tony Romo. People just like me have been unsure of who the real MVP is throughout the entire season.

The lack of a favorite this year has even caused many people to go on a defensive craze. I’ve see more articles written about defensive players deserving MVP’s this year more than I've ever seen before.

Defensive players like Albert Haynesworth and James Harrison have been considered viable MVP candidates when in most other years they wouldn’t be.

This year there has also been no dominating running backs. Even with how great Adrian Peterson and Michael Turner have played, their stats aren’t near good enough for a running back to win MVP. 

You can’t even compare Turner's and Peterson’s stats to the last five previous running back winners, Shaun Alexander, LaDainian Tomlinson, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, and Marshall Faulk.

Even though a wide receiver has never won an MVP before, the WR position this year has also had no clear dominating player like Randy Moss last year. If Randy Moss had put up the same numbers this year as last year, he would probably be MVP this year.

Realistically, the favorite to win the MVP every year is a quarterback. In a sence the MVP is the quarterbacks position to lose.

However, there isn't much seperation between the top quarterback candidates as the top 10 quarterback have all thrown between 20-28 touchdowns this season.

For most of this year there have been so many very good quarterbacks but none clearly above the rest like Tom Brady last year.

However, for the past eight games, a quaterback who has been under the radar the entire season has seperated himself from the rest by winning eight straight games while passing for 17 touchdowns and three interceptions.

While everyone has been making case for certain MVP candidates all season, the real MVP has been the old reliable former two time MVP Peyton Manning himself that was counted out by many early on in the season. 

Peyton Manning has been slowly building his case for the MVP the last eight games, and it all came to a high point in the Colt's 31-24 victory against the Jaguars this past Thursday night.

Peyton Manning's three touchdown performance was remarkable as he refused to let his team lose as he won his sixth 4th quarter comeback of the season.

Even though Peyton Manning has not had the best statistical season he’s ever had this year, in a way it might be his most remarkable. 

For virtually all of Manning’s career he has played with a good running game and a stable offensive line.  This year the offensive line has been banged up, especially early in the season, and Manning has been getting hit the most he has been in his entire career.

From Edgerrin James for most of his career to Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai the past few years, he has always had a good running game to rely on. 

This year, the Colts running game is ranked 30th in the NFL and thus Manning has had more pressure on him and his play-action pass hasn’t been as effective.

But even with a lack of running game, Manning has been outstanding all season ecpsecially in the Colt’s eight game winning streak.

The Colts who are now 11-4 clinched the playoffs this past Thursday night and because of the MVP Peyton Manning they are now Super Bowl contenders once again.