There are always a few names that rise and fall throughout the NFL season as possible MVPs. We have seen our fair share of names this season. Still, as we enter the final week of the season we are down to the last few names and there is not time for new names to build enough momentum. One of those names at this point is Aaron Rodgers.
Aaron Rodgers’ MVP Candidacy Is As Strong As Any
With that in mind let’s take a look at what are Aaron Rodgers’ chances, and who is the competition seeking to prevent a possible third MVP crown.
Tom Brady MVP Candidacy
True, any number you mention with Tom Brady has to be discussed on a per game basis since he did miss the first four games. The case for Brady is that New England is again poised to take the top seed in the AFC playoffs. Brady has also been making this recent push without Rob Gronkowski. Brady has been averaging 2.27 touchdowns a game and 298 yards per game. Only the Oakland Raiders offense has scored more points in the AFC, and only the Atlanta Falcons and the Dallas Cowboys have scored more on the NFC side. Brady is also the unquestioned driving force of the Patriots offense as everything runs through him.
The argument against Brady is that he did not actually play a full season and is being compared against players who played in 16 games, and kept up the numbers Brady has. Brady has had a few difficult games down the stretch as well. The Seattle Seahawks held Brady to no touchdowns and an interception. The Denver Broncos also held Brady without a touchdown. Even the Los Angeles Rams managed to hold Brady in check in New England. Brady has been padding his stats in some games against the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers. It does feel that a small portion of the push for Brady as MVP is a vote as much to spite Roger Goodell as much as to reward Tom Brady.
Matt Ryan MVP Candidacy
The case for Matt Ryan is that he holds possibly the best collection of statistics in the NFL among passers. Ryan leads the most potent offense in the NFL. Ryan even won the head to head game with Green Bay as each team completed a touchdown drive on the final possessions of the game. Ryan’s 307.5 yards per game is only behind Drew Brees and Kirk Cousins. Only Brees and Rodgers have thrown more touchdowns.
The case against Ryan is that he played all his signature games early. He played well against Seattle in a loss. Ryan also looked great against Green Bay in the middle of the season. Since the Week Nine win at Tampa Bay, where Ryan had 344 yards and four touchdowns, Ryan has not crossed 300 yards again and only had three touchdowns once more. Also, Ryan will have to deal with the fact that he had just one Monday Night Game in New Orleans and a Thursday Night Game in Tampa Bay as his only prime time events.
Ezekiel Elliott MVP Candidacy
It is Ezekiel Elliott and not Dak Prescott who is the leading MVP candidate on the Dallas Cowboys. Elliott has led the league in rushing the whole year. The race is not even close at this point as Le’Veon Bell is the only other running back averaging more than 100 yards per game. The biggest case for Elliott is that he is a dominant player and playing on the most dominant team of the season thus far. Elliott has been solid, going over 100 yards in two of his last three games, and had 80 yards on just 12 carries in the other game.
The case against Elliott is he was brought in to play behind what has been called the best offensive line in football for the last three years. DeMarco Murray averaged 115.3 yards a game behind the line that is allowing Elliott to average 108.7 yards per game. Even Darren McFadden had 1,000-plus yards and averaged 4.6 yards per carry behind this line.
Aaron Rodgers MVP Candidacy
Rodgers has the benefit of being strong in the final games, with four 300-plus yard games in the last seven games, to boot. In the last six games, Rodgers has thrown no interceptions and has three or more touchdowns in three of those six contests. In these last several weeks, Rodgers has picked apart the Philadelphia Eagles, the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks. Rodgers has also led the Packers through the time when they lost their first and second string running backs as well as their top three cornerbacks to injury.
Rodgers will also get one final say on the matter. With the Packers-Lions game being flexed to the Sunday Night, Rodgers will be the last performance of the year before the votes are cast. One more strong performance (something like 300 yards, three touchdowns and no picks) could seal a third MVP for Rodgers. It would certainly help if the last thing we see of this season is Rodgers walking off the field a champion.
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