Is the 2014 NFL MVP Race the Greatest Ever?
Is the 2014 NFL MVP Race the Best Ever?
Every once in a while in professional sports (NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB), the fans get treated to a memorable MVP race between a fabulous number of worthy candidates that we’ll remember for a long time.
In baseball, the 2012 and 2013 race between Miguel Cabrera and Mike Trout for AL MVP was intense. The 2001 AL MVP battle between Jason Giambi and Ichiro Suzuki is a vivid one for me. The 1962 NL MVP race between the Dodgers Maury Willis and the Giants Willie Mays was definitely one of the more controversial races in baseball history with Willis winning. Although, the most historic MVP race might have been the duel in 1941 between the Yankees Joe DiMaggio and the Red Sox Ted Williams in which DiMaggio won in a tight finish.
In football, the 1997 MVP race between Barry Sanders and Brett Favre — that ended in a tie and both players were co-MVPs – quickly comes to mind. The 1987 race between John Elway and Jerry Rice was interesting. The 1984 fight between Joe Montana and Dan Marino was a classic. The 1995 race paired Brett Favre and Emmitt Smith against one another. The 2009 race was a pretty exceptional three-way battle as well between Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Brett Favre. The most recent top-notch race was in 2012 and it involved Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson going toe-to-toe.
In basketball, the 1987 NBA three-way race between legends Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan might have been the greatest MVP race the league has ever seen. The 1972 race between Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, and teammate Wilt Chamberlain and the 1970 race that pitted Jerry West against Willis Reed were both pretty special. Larry Bird vs Julius Erving in 1981 and Magic Johnson vs Larry Bird in 1985 were both all-time races. The 1990 battle amongst Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan was possibly the most controversial MVP race ever. The 2009 clash between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant was a favorite of mine… and believe me, there are a couple more exciting races that I didn’t mention but these were some of the best ever in each sport that I highlighted.
(I’ll leave hockey out of it since I’m not as knowledgeable on that topic. Forgive me hockey fans.)
Well, this year’s MVP race in the NFL has a shot as going down as one of the greatest. The 2014 NFL MVP race this season features an unheard of six legit MVP candidates in Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, and Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray. It’s a great race right now with each player having a legit shot at taking home the NFL’s most coveted individual prize.
Let’s break down each player’s chance at winning the MVP…
New England Patriots Tom Brady
Remember when we all thought Tom Brady was finished and we wrote him off as one of the best passers in the league after that 41-14 shellacking the Chiefs gave the Patriots in Week 4 on Monday Night Football? Well, think again people. Ever since that putrid performance in Week 4, Brady has taken his game to another level, leading the Pats to a 9-1 record in their last 10 games with Brady throwing 28 TD passes to only 6 INTs during that stretch. With Brady suddenly pulling a total 180-reverse on us, he’s put himself comfortably in the MVP race and was the front-runner about two weeks ago until Aaron Rodgers snatched the lead from him.
The two-time MVP has looked better than ever these last 10 games and if you wanna bring up season statistics, Brady’s certainly pass the test: 32 TD passes, 8 INTs, 3,847 passing yards, 64.4% completion percentage, 99.8 passer rating, and has the Patriots at 11-3, the NFL’s best record. If the Patriots can clinch the league’s best record heading into the playoffs, then I think Brady would have to be the favorite.
MVP Chances: 75 percent
Denver Broncos Peyton Manning
Wouldn’t it be something if the five-time MVP added a sixth award to his trophy case? Well, Manning is in position to do just that. No player in NFL history has been as consistent of a threat to win the MVP every year like Manning is. Every year, we all know he’s going to be in the mix and every year he usually is. He’s won the award five times and has been runner-up twice. He’s a statistical machine that is guaranteed to lead his team to 12-14 wins a year.
As of right now, the Broncos are an NFL-best 11-3 (tied with the Patriots) and the NFL’s all-time leading touchdown passes leader has been brilliant once again tossing 37 TD passes with 11 INTs, has completed 67.1 percent of his passes, has notched another 4,000 passing yard season (4,143), and has a passer rating of 106.4. Voters fatigue might come into play for Manning and we all know that voters like choosing fresh faces and newcomers to hoist the trophy. Just off the voters fatigue notion, Peyton’s chances will be hindered.
MVP Chances: 40 percent
Indianapolis Colts Andrew Luck
The “Next Guy” or the “The Future Great Quarterback” are just some of the monikers that media pundits have thrown out there for Luck. Luck is not only the future but he’s the present as well and that continues to be on display in 2014. The dude just keeps elevating his game and he’s living up to the considerable hype that surrounded him when he came out of college.
The best quarterback prospect since Peyton Manning is currently leading the NFL in TD passes (38) and passing yards (4,492) and has the Colts in the hunt to win the AFC at 10-4 having just clinched the AFC South division. Luck is a newbie when it comes to being an MVP candidate and that could work in his favor. He’s the next big NFL star and the voters might want to give him a taste of some individual success this year. If he can cut down on the interceptions in the last two games (has 14 on the year), then I like his chances.
MVP Chances: 65 percent
Dallas Cowboys DeMarco Murray
Since he entered the league, DeMarco Murray has been looked at as a top 10 running back in the NFL. Not overly spectacular or overwhelming, but just a real solid back. This season, Murray has been given more responsibility from the Cowboys and they have made more of a conscious effort to control the game at the line of scrimmage and it has paid dividends for Dallas. Murray has taken his new role in stride and has been tearing up the NFL on the ground, along with the massive help of the best run blocking offensive line in the game.
On the season, Murray is leading the NFL in rushing (1,687), carries (351), rushing yards per game (120.5), and rushing touchdowns (11). During this season, Murray became the first running back in NFL history to start a season with seven straight 100-yard rushing games, breaking the great Jim Brown’s 56-year-old record.
That’s great company right there.
Murray has been patient, consistent, reliable, and just a workhorse for Dallas this season. With Dallas sitting with a 10-4 record and if Murray can somehow go crazy in these last two games and get to that glorious number of 2,000 rushing yards for a single season, then his MVP odds will surely go up.
MVP Chances: 30 percent
Houston Texans J.J. Watt
I don’t think J.J. Watt will win the Most Valuable Player award, but the fact that he’s in the conversation alone as a defensive player is pretty remarkable. You see, defensive players hardly ever win the MVP. Only two defensive players have ever been named MVP: Alan Page in 1971 and Lawrence Taylor in 1986. The Defensive Player of the Year award is a lock right now for Watt and it ain’t even close. 2014 J.J. Watt is submitting one hell of season, filling up the stat sheet in multiple categories.
On the year, Watt has 46 total tackles, 16.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 1 touchdown from an interception, 10 pass deflections, 1 blocked kick, and to top it off the dude has played offense too and has caught 3 touchdowns as a receiver.
Watt’s chances will get gashed because the Texans will not be a playoff team and for a defensive player to truly be deserving of winning the MVP, his season would have to be transcendent and quite frankly Watt hasn’t been that good. He might not win; though let’s give a round of applause to J.J. for even being mentioned in the MVP conversation to begin with.
MVP Chances: 10 percent
Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers
If you want an MVP favorite (a close one at that), then this player is your guy. Aaron Rodgers’ season has been downright scary. His 2014 campaign has probably been better than his 2011 MVP season where he threw 45 TD passes to only 6 INTs and had a passer rating of 122.5 – which is the highest passer rating in a single season in NFL history. Rodgers on the year has thrown 35 TD passes, 5 INTs, 3,837 passing yards, has a 64.0% completion percentage, and is leading the league in passer rating at 111.2.
During this 2014 season, Rodgers has set a good number of records:
• He tied the NFL record for the most consecutive games (four) with at least 3 touchdown passes and no interceptions
• Threw 214 consecutive passes without an interception, which was the second longest streak in Packers history
• Became the first quarterback in history to throw 10 touchdown passes against the same team (Bears) in the same season
• Set an NFL record for the most consecutive passes at home without an interception, breaking the 288 consecutive passes held by Tom Brady
Yep, Rodgers has been pretty special this season and with the Packers holding a 10-4 record, having a strong chance of getting home-field advantage in the playoffs, he has the best odds in my opinion of winning.
MVP Chances: 80 percent
This is how I think the 2014 MVP voting will play out at the end of the season:
1. Aaron Rodgers
2. Tom Brady
3. Andrew Luck
4. Peyton Manning
5. DeMarco Murray
6. J.J. Watt