NFL MVP: This might be the toughest season in a while to pick the MVP of the NFL. Most of the possible candidates are having good solid seasons but not really MVP type seasons. Matt Ryan and Chad Pennington have been good this year, but I can't see either of them winning the MVP because they they are more game managers than QB's who take over a game. Adrian Peterson leads the league in rushing, but only has 9 touchdowns and has had major fumble issues all season. Kurt Warner and Drew Brees both have big numbers, but their teams really aren't all that good and both struggle to win on the road.With that being said, here are my top 10 candidates for MVP in no particular order:
Peyton Manning: Manning is not having his best season, but is still better than most QB's. The Colts have won 8 games in a row and are next to last in rushing offense. Without Peyton Manning, this team would be in big, big trouble with such a pathetic rushing attack.
Stats: 3,907 yards, 26 TD, 12 INT, 66.4% comp, 93.8 QB rating
DeAngelo Williams: Williams has been pretty much non-existent in MVP talks this season, but the man leads the league with 20 TDs, which is 4 more than any other player in the NFL. Williams might be hurt because he splits carries with Johnathon Stewart, but he still has the 11th most carries in the NFL and is 4th in the NFL in rushing. I think he's legitimate candidate and someone who will probably be overlooked.
Stats: 1,337 yards rushing, 20 TD
Tony Romo: Romo will most likely only be a candidate if the Cowboys beat the Eagles and make the playoffs, but there is now denying his value to the team. The Cowboys were left for dead when Romo got hurt, but have gotten themselves right back into the playoff picture behind the right arm of Romo.
Stats: 3,265 yards, 26 TD, 13 INT, 62.0% comp, 94.8 QB rating
Matt Cassel: It may come as a surprise to some but I had a hard time leaving Cassel off the list. He's carried the Patriots the last couple weeks, who would be in big trouble without him this season. I don't think many people gave the Patriots a chance this season once Brady went down, but Matt Cassel has been the main catalyst behind the Patriots success this season.
Stats: 3,615 yards, 21 TD, 11 INT, 63.2% comp, 89.2 QB rating
Thomas Jones: Let's face it, Brett Favre has been slighty above awful this season and the Jets would be screwed without the play of Thomas Jones this season. He's the main reason that the Jets haven't had to tell Brett to chuck the ball up 40 times a game. He's also 3rd in the league with 15 TD and 5th in the league in rushing.
Stats: 1,289 yards rushing, 15 TD
Michael Turner: Turner is the ying to Matt Ryan's yang and I think they deserve equal credit for the Falcons unexpected success this season. 2nd in the NFL in both rushing and TD is definitely MVP worthy.
Stats: 1,491 yards rushing, 16 TD
Kurt Warner: Warner is having a fine season, but I can't see him winning the MVP, when his team can't win a road game and is just 3-7 outsides of thr NFC West.
Stats: 4,320 yards, 26 TD, 13 INT, 67.3% comp, 95.5 QB rating
Drew Brees: If the Saints were any good then Brees would be the MVP without question, but since they won't be making the playoffs he probably won't get enough consideration to win the award.
Stats: 4,683 yards, 30 TD, 16 INT, 65.4% comp, 95.5 QB rating
Chad Pennington: Pennington has brought a stability to the Dolphins QB spot that they haven't seen in years, so it's no surprise that the Dolphins have a chance to win the division. Pennington has had lots of help from Ronnie Brown, Joey Porter, and others, so while he should be considered I don't think he's the league MVP.
Stats: 3,453 yards, 17 TD, 7 INT, 67.0% comp, 96.4 QB rating
Phillip Rivers: Rivers is the best QB statistically in the league and if the Chargers beat the Broncos and make the playoffs, he at least will be in the conversation for MVP. He's probably a long shot, but with all the issues that SD has had this season, Rivers has at least kept them alive in a few games to give them a chance to beat out the Broncos for the division
Stats: 3,802 yards, 32 TD, 11 INT, 64.8% comp, 104.0 QB rating
NFL MVP: I honestly think this is Peyton Manning's award right now. The media loves him and the Colts have been red hot to finish the season. Manning hasn't had a historic season statistically, but he's still been very good and he led the Colts to some huge come from behind victories early in the year that really saved their season.
Playoff Scenarios:
NFC
CLINCHED: New York Giants, NFC East, first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs; Arizona, NFC West; Carolina, playoff berth; Atlanta, playoff berth.
ELIMINATED: Detroit, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, Green Bay, New Orleans, Washington
Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons clinch the NFC South title and a first-round bye with an Atlanta win and a Carolina loss.
Carolina Panthers: The Panthers clinch the NFC South title and a first-round bye with a Carolina win or tie OR Atlanta loss or tie.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers clinch a wild-card spot with a Tampa Bay win and Dallas loss or tie OR Tampa Bay tie and Dallas loss and Minnesota loss or tie OR Tampa Bay tie and Dallas loss and Chicago loss or tie OR Tampa Bay tie and Dallas tie and Minnesota tie and Chicago win or tie OR Tampa Bay tie and Dallas tie and Chicago tie and Minnesota win or tie.
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings clinch the NFC North title with a Minnesota win OR Minnesota tie and Chicago loss or tie OR Chicago loss. The Vikings clinch a wild-card spot with a Minnesota tie and Dallas loss and Tampa Bay loss.
Chicago Bears: The Bears clinch the NFC North with a Chicago win and Minnesota loss or tie OR Chicago tie and Minnesota loss. The Bears clinch a wild-card spot with a Chicago win and Dallas loss or tie and Tampa Bay loss or tie OR Chicago tie and Dallas loss and Tampa Bay loss.
Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys clinch a wild-card spot with a Dallas win OR Dallas tie and Chicago loss or tie and Tampa Bay loss OR Dallas tie and Minnesota loss or tie and Tampa Bay loss OR Dallas tie and Chicago loss and Tampa Bay tie OR Dallas tie and Minnesota loss and Tampa Bay tie.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles clinch a wild-card spot with a Philadelphia win and Tampa Bay loss and Minnesota loss OR Philadelphia win and Tampa Bay loss and Chicago loss.
AFC
CLINCHED: Tennessee, AFC South, first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout playoffs; Pittsburgh, AFC North and first-round bye; Indianapolis, wild card and No. 5 seeding
ELIMINATED: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Oakland, Buffalo
Denver Broncos: The Broncos clinch the AFC West title with a win or tie against San Diego.
San Diego Chargers: The Chargers clinch the AFC West title with a win over Denver.
Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens clinch a wild-card spot with a Baltimore win OR Baltimore tie and Miami loss or tie OR Baltimore tie and New England loss or tie OR New England loss.
Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins clinch the AFC East title with a Miami win OR Miami tie and New England loss or tie. The Dolphins clinch a wild-card spot with a Miami tie and Baltimore loss.
New England Patriots: The Patriots clinch the AFC East title with a New England win and Miami loss or tie OR New England tie and Miami loss. The Patriots clinch a wild-card spot with a New England win and Baltimore loss or tie OR New England tie and Baltimore loss.
New York Jets: The Jets clinch the AFC East title with a Jets win and New England loss. The Jets clinch a wild-card spot with a Jets win and Baltimore loss.
Fantasy Stars of the Week:
Matt Cassel: 345 yards passing, 3 TD
DeAngelo Williams: 108 yards rushing, 4 TD
Jay Cutler: 359 yards passing 30 yards rushing, 2 TD
Brandon Jacobs: 87 yards rushing, 3 TD
Phillip Rivers: 287 yards passing, 4 TD
Peyton Manning: 364 yards passing, 3 TD
More: NFL & NFL Weekly
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