Aaron Rodgers Is Outplaying Peyton Manning For MVP By A Wide Margin And Here Is Why

Both Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning are putting together great seasons, but upon closer inspection it is clear that Green Bay’s quarterback is having the much better season.

Heading into Week 13 the NFL’s legitimate MVP candidates list has been significantly trimmed. Most outlets are still including Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and DeMarco Murray as candidates for the award. You can’t discount J.J. Watt either, of course. When it comes to Manning and Rodgers most people think that both are having similarly incredible seasons. Although this couldn’t be farther from the truth.

The two are leading the NFL in touchdown passes, Manning (34) and Rodgers (30). Even though Manning is leading the NFL in touchdown passes, he isn’t outplaying Rodgers. Manning has four more touchdown passes than Rodgers, but he has thrown exactly 100 more passes than Rodgers has this season. Rodgers has been incredibly more efficient than Manning this year and has been averaging 8.6 yards per attempt, whereas the Broncos’ signal caller is averaging 8.0 yards per attempt.

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Both quarterbacks have their teams in first place in their divisions with 8-3 records, but Rodgers has his team riding a three-game winning streak (Manning’s squad is riding a one-game winning streak). The Broncos have scored 332 points this year, but Rodgers’ Packers have put up 354 points on the season.

When it comes to turning the ball over Rodgers has thrown just three interceptions on the season whereas Manning has thrown nine — three times more than Rodgers. Not to mention the Packers’ quarterback has been sacked 22 times and Manning has only been thrown to the ground with the ball 12 times. Manning has been protected better than Rodgers, but still has thrown for significantly more interceptions.

The best way to judge an NFL quarterback is by rating and Rodgers is leading the league with a 119.2 rating. Manning is third in the league with a 109.5 rating. Tony Romo has a higher passer rating than Manning — that says it all. In fact, Rodgers has thrown less passes than the NFL’s seven touchdown passing leaders, but still has the second most passing scores in the league.

Manning has thrown for more first downs than Rodgers, but a higher percentage of Rodgers’ passes go for first downs than Manning. Meaning, Rodgers is more efficient at moving the chains than Manning. To be exact, 39.6 of Manning’s passes have gone for first downs in 2014. Rodgers is gaining first downs on 41.8 of his passes.

As far as deep balls go — over 40 yards — Rodgers has thrown more (12) than Manning (10), despite the fact that he’s thrown 100 less passes this season.

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Can you now see that even though their statistics are comparable, their level of execution isn’t actually comparable? If Rodgers had thrown as many passes as Manning he’d have dramatically better statistics than everyone.

The aspect that hasn’t been discussed yet is both quarterback’s mobility.

Manning has ran for -8 yards in 2014. His longest run on the season is 4 yards and he hasn’t ran for a first down yet. Rodgers has ran for 178 yards this season with a long of 18 yards. The Packers’ quarterback has also ran for 14 first downs this year (50 percent of his runs) and one touchdown. The comparison of this part of their game cannot even be compared.

The overall impact that both of these quarterbacks have on their teams is significant, but Rodgers is having the greater season. Both are legitimate MVP candidates, but Rodgers is severely outplaying Manning for the entirety of 2014. Could Manning still win the MVP? Definitely. As could Tom Brady or DeMarco Murray, but at this point of the season — it has to be Rodgers.

You have to look into the statistics not just at them to get the full picture. Yes Manning is leading the league in touchdown passes (and has been impressive), but he isn’t the most efficient or the most dynamic quarterback in the league. Rodgers is better per play than Manning and that can’t really be debated when looking at the stats.

The next five weeks will determine which quarterback will end up with the better season, but at this point it looks like Rodgers will put together the best season of all NFL quarterbacks. If he continues to play like this he may just end up winning his second MVP award at the season’s end.