Chad Pennington: Making a Case For MVP

So far I have heard his teammates describe him as brilliant, a leader, coach and "The Man."

He does not have the yards, touchdowns, or national coverage of a Manning, Brees, Rivers, or Peterson, but people who have seen the Dolphins play this season know Chad Pennington is more valuable to his team than any of those other players.

All he has done this season was throw for 3,453 yards, 17 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while losing no fumbles and amassing a 96.4 quarterback rating.

He has led a team who was 1-15 last season to a 10-5 record and a chance to win the division title with a win in the final game of the season.

Pennington has played well late in games, not turning the ball over and leading drives in the final quarter during a season in which his team has won many close games.

In week nine, he drove the dolphins 15 plays and 80 yards to put the game out of reach from the Broncos. Then again in week 10, it was a 16-play, 79-yard drive late to seal it for the Dolphins. In week 11, it was a 61-yard drive against Oakland in the fourth quarter to set up the game-winning field goal.

Then, against Kansas City, in the frigid cold, he led a fourth-quarter drive of 13 plays and 85 yards to ice it. He also had an impressive 73-yard drive late against Houston to give the Dolphins the lead, only to see the defense give up a touchdown as time expired in the loss.

He has done this without a real No. 1 receiver or "go to guy" as well as the loss of his leading receiver in week 12.

Down in Miami, if you ask the coaches, players, and fans, he is the MVP of this league.

He has changed the entire outcome of what everyone thought the season was going to be.