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The race for NFL MVP has been Aaron Rodgers award to lose for much of the season and rightfully so. Rodgers has lead the Packers to a 14-1 mark on the season. The only blemish on the Packers resume this season was an upset loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15. Rodgers has dominated the competition this season and definitely has the numbers to back up his claim that he should get the MVP nod. An incredibly high passer rating at a 120.1 and has thrown 45 touchdown passes on the year, to go with only six interceptions and a total of 4, 643 passing yards. That total is good enough for third highest in the league this season, trailing only Tom Brady (4,897) and Drew Brees record setting total of 5, 087.
Rodgers closest competition for the award is Brees. He broke Dan Marino’s single season passing yards record, which previously stood at 5084 yards. If this were in any other season, Brees would be a no doubt about it choice for league MVP. In comparison to Rodgers, Drew Brees has a 109.1 passer rating, has four less touchdown passes than does Rodgers, and has thrown 11 interceptions. These statistics clearly give the nod to Rodgers.
However, the case can be made for Brees to win the award over Rodgers or, at the very least, Brees and Rodgers could share the award. Undoubtably, both quarterbacks deserve the award. Co-MVPs aren’t a foreign concept for the NFL. On three previous occasions, the most valuable player award has been shared by two players. The 2003-2004 season, was the last time in which the NFL’s MVP award was shared. Peyton Manning and the late Tennessee Titans Quarterback Steve Mcnair, received co-MVP honors that season. According to USA Today, there is some precedence in naming co-MVP’s in the NFL.
In my opinion, the real question is this: Should Drew Brees draw serious MVP consideration by himself?
When the Packers bid for perfection was denied by the Kansas City Chiefs two weeks ago, the same day Brees was launching five TD passes in Minnesota … perhaps opening his window of opportunity in the MVP race. It was the latest exclamation point on a season where Brees has a record 11 300-plus yard passing games, extended his streak to 42 consecutive games with a TD pass leaving him just a few shy of breaking Johnny Unitas record.
Could Drew Brees’ record breaking statistics be enough to knock Aaron Rodgers off the top of the mountain?
Showtime’s Inside the NFL analyst Cris Collinsworth also suggested Rodgers’ lead is insurmountable, saying:
“What’s really incredible to me is the fact that Drew Brees this year has already shattered Dan Marino’s record for most yards — I mean shattered it — and is a little bit of an afterthought for the MVP.” - Cris Collinsworth
So, Collinsworth right, or is he minimizing Brees’ late push for league MVP?
