NFL MVP race: Comparing the top 7 candidate’s final games
By Daniel
Week 17 in the NFL was the last chance for these seven MVP candidates to state their case as to why they should win the award. Two players stepped up in a huge way in the final game of the season and they are easily the front-runners for the award. Those two players are the Houston Texans’ defensive end J.J. Watt and the Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The NFL is deep with talented players putting together massive 2014 seasons, but these seven players are the ones that deserve consideration for the award. I broke down the final game that each of these six players had as it is the lasting memory for the MVP voters. Yes it is a season-long award, but MVP voters often vote for a player that is hot and carrying a team into the playoffs (whether that is right or wrong we aren’t discussing here).
Here is how the NFL MVP race played out in Week 17 as each player got their final chance to shine in the 2014 regular season.
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7. Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson is the longest shot to win the MVP award (I’d say there’s a one in a million chance), but since he is currently leading the NFL’s hottest team he deserved some recognition. That said Week 17 was one of his worst outings of the year (0 TDs, 1 INT) with just 239 passing yards and seven rushing yards. He is a great leader, but lacks the overall statistics to be considered for an individual award such as the 2014 AP MVP.
6. Peyton Manning
The Broncos’ quarterback Peyton Manning ended the season by leading Denver to a blowout victory over the Raiders. Unfortunately for his MVP chances he didn’t have his biggest game of the season. He threw for zero touchdowns and zero interceptions in the game and was 21 for 37 on the day. His numbers this season are stellar (39 TDs, 15 INTs), but not good enough to be considered for the AP MVP considering the year a couple other players had. Do you think he cares though? I mean, he already has five MVPs — what is one more?
5. Tony Romo
The Cowboys’ quarterback needed an unbelievable game in Week 17 to sneak into the legitimate AP MVP award discussion. His team won big, but his overall game wasn’t jaw-dropping enough (2 TDs, 1 INT). Romo has been on fire for the last month, however his MVP dreams should be kept to a minimum despite the fact that some think he should win the award. He had a great year (34 TDs, 9 INT) and he led the NFL in quarterback rating (113.2), but that won’t be enough for him to win the award.
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4. Tom Brady
Tom Brady played in just the first half of the New England Patriots’ meaningless Week 17 game. He was in the game pretty much to just prevent rust. The Pats weren’t aggressive on offense, but they weren’t trying to be either. Brady was 8 for 16 for 80 passing yards, zero touchdowns, zero interceptions. This game neither hurt nor helped his MVP chances. The fact is Brady put together a great year (33 TDs, 9 INTs) but he has no real shot at the hardware.
3. DeMarco Murray
The Dallas Cowboys’ running back secured his 12th 100-yard rushing game of the 2014 season against Washington, running for exactly 100 yards. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry and scored one touchdown for the ‘Boys. In most seasons throughout NFL history Murray would be the clear MVP winner, but not this year. His 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns are impressive, but will probably not be enough for him to take home the award. He had a good Week 17, but it wasn’t as monstrous of a game as he needed to steal the award from one of the top two candidates.
1. (TIE) J.J. Watt
The Texans’ Hall of Fame bound 25 year old defensive end ended 2014 on the highest possible note. J.J. Watt’s entire season was incredible as he scored multiple defensive touchdowns and caught three touchdowns, too. His 20.5 sacks and four forced fumbles are incredible, but looking at what he did in Week 17 is even more so. He snagged three sacks in the final game of the season and caused a safety, but his team will miss the playoffs. That fact could doom Watt’s MVP hopes, fairly or not.
Watt definitely deserves the award and I don’t think many would be upset if 2014 saw the first co-MVP awarded handed out since 2003 (Peyton Manning and Steve McNair). If Watt does share the award it will be with the below player.
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1. (TIE) Aaron Rodgers
The NFC North was on the line and Rodgers entered the game with a calf injury. In the second quarter the pain got to him and dropped him to the ground as he threw a touchdown pass. The Packers were up 14-0 at the time of his injury. In a matter of minutes the score was 14-14, but then he emerged from Lambeau Field’s tunnel and came back into the game. Gimpy and determined he led the Packers down the field for the go-ahead score. He would even run for a one-yard touchdown to seal the game.
Rodgers finished Week 17 with two touchdown passes, zero interceptions, one touchdown run and was 17-22 on the day playing through the pain. The performance just screamed MVP. His season as a whole was ridiculous (38 TDs, 5 INTs) and for that I think he’ll bring home the award. Although I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the 2014 AP MVP was shared by two players. Watt and Rodgers are both beyond deserving.
Who do you think will win the award?