NFL Week 1 awards: J.J. Watt is still J.J. Watt
By Brad Rowland
Week 1 Most Valuable Player
Tom Brady, QB New England Patriots
After the exhausting offseason of speculation concerning his availability, Tom Brady was electric in the opener against Pittsburgh. Brady completed 25 of his 32 attempts on the day, compiling a 143.8 quarterback rating and a brilliant 91.2 QBR. And that was just the beginning of what the reigning Super Bowl MVP was able to accomplish.
Brady used those 25 completions to pick up 288 yards, and above all, his four touchdowns proved to be the difference between winning and losing for the Patriots. Of course, it certainly helps to have Rob Gronkowski available as a pass-catcher, but Brady was in complete command of the offense throughout the evening, and that certainly matters when dealing with a “most valuable” distinction.
For the purposes of this space, the weekly MVP award will likely go to a quarterback each week, simply because the position commands that type of impact. Still, Brady’s performance went above and beyond the competition. The debate will rage on for months (or years) as to whether Brady should have been allowed to play at all, but since he did, we can all agree that he was fantastic on Thursday night.
Runner-up: Philip Rivers, QB San Diego Chargers