The way in which this NFL season has started has lent itself to the idea that Philip Rivers could very well become the NFL’s Most Valuable Player, but does that mean he’s the best bet on the board? That’s a very different question.
The Case For Rivers
The success of the San Diego Chargers has certainly put Rivers in position to be able to view for the award. This was not something a lot of people anticipated at the beginning of the season, but Rivers’ performance has certainly been worthy of MVP consideration so far. Rivers has lit up opposing defenses for over 1,700 passing yards through week six of the season. He’s thrown 15 touchdown passes against only two interceptions. You can’t get much better than that, and for good measure, he’s completing around 70 percent of his passes. He’s excelling in just about every component of football, and that’s a huge reason why the Chargers are 5-1 and keeping pace with the Denver Broncos in the AFC West. This is why Rivers is at 4/1 odds for the MVP, alongside Peyton Manning of the Broncos.
The Case For Manning
Speaking of Manning, though, the Denver quarterback sets the standard in the NFL. It’s true that Manning did not have a dazzling performance this past Sunday against the New York Jets, but he’s not making very many mistakes. He has thrown for 15 touchdowns and only three interceptions, very similar to Rivers. His completion percentage is just under 67, but he’s had receivers drop a lot of his passes this season. If you were to bet on one quarterback winning the two duels between Manning and Rivers this year, you would probably go with Manning, though it’s not an easy decision.
The Case For Murray
Another team that has come out of nowhere to play really well this season is the Dallas Cowboys. As a result of everything Dallas has done, DeMarco Murray, the team’s starting running back, is 7/2 for the MVP award after rushing for at least 100 yards in each of his games this season. Murray has been so consistent and at such a high level that Dallas’ success is being traced back to him, even more than to Tony Romo, who currently stands at 20/1 odds. If Murray continues to run the way he did against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks this past Sunday, he could remain in the race until the final weekend of the season and remain a legitimate option for bettors.
The Case For Brady
A player who offers great value right now is Tom Brady. He’s at 15/1, but he was written off so quickly by ESPN and other national media outlets after his embarrassing Monday Night Football loss to the Kansas City Chiefs that he just might be able to sneak in the back door and make a run at this award this year.
The Others
Aaron Rodgers and J.J. Watt are at 10/1, and Andrew Luck is 13/2. One must keep an eye on those candidates, but we’re waiting to see more from their teams.
It has been over 25 years since a defensive player has won the award. The Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor had 20 1/2 sacks and the Giants won the the Super Bowl.
I think Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is headed for a great season.