Brett Favre is on Track for MVP Award

Over the summer every football fan in America was critical of the possibility of a Brett Favre return, again. The 40 year old quarterback, who holds multiple NFL records, couldn't have been a more dramatic story line.

ESPN NFL anylists (and virtually any other sports commentator in the US) had their way with the Favre story and literally seemed to disown the idea that he would actually make the Vikings a better team. Now, after a four touchdown passing performance on the road at Green Bay, Brett Favre is looking like a possible front runner for the prestigious award.

It's not only his 16 TD's to only 3 INT that is impressive. Favre has led his team to two huge game winning drives, one of them being a last second touchdown while being chased by defenders. He is currently ranked fourth in quarterback rating, top ten in yards, and out of all QB's in the league, only Kyle Orton has thrown fewer interceptions. (Donovan McNabb, Seneca Wallace, Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Hill don't count due to not starting and/or playing in every game.) He's also third in completion percentage.

The argument isn't necessarily in the numbers though, it's in the complete turnaround of the Vikings offensive performance. Could Tavaris Jackson throw those oh so important last second strikes to preserve a win? Could Tavaris Jackson control the game clock with such efficiency? That is the difference: Favre has turned a promising team into a legitimate contender.

Now we all know that Peyton Manning is in the middle of yet another stellar year, but nothing signifigant has really changed. He does that every year with the same framework of players. Certainly Drew Brees deserves some attention as well since his Saints are the only NFC team left unbeaten, but then again, his defense has won several games for him. Tom Brady is picking up some serious steam, but then again, he also has Randy Moss and Wes Welker.

The argument also extends toward his playmaking ability without having substantial playmakers. No other quarterback has ever been able to turn Sidney Rice into a go to receiver. Bernard Berian has been hurt on and off this season but Favre has still gotten him in the end zone 3 times. Visanthe Shiancoe is now tied for second in the NFL for touchdown catches. None of these players would have done near this well with Jackson.

So Adrian Peterson is the best player in the NFL, no one is arguing that. Heck, Maurice Jones-Drew is awesome, as has been his year so far, but that hasn't been winning games for the Jags has it. Peterson is a catalyst and a game changer no doubt, but without Favre, defenses were daring him to beat him last year, wreaking havoc on Tavaris. Favre has made the team better. Period.

The funniest thing about the Vikings this season is that they may have three players taking home trophies at seasons end. Not only is Favre on the short list right now for MVP, but Jered Allen is looking like the Defensive Player of the Year. His 10.5 sacks currently leads the NFL and that goes with 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 defensive touchdown.

Percy Harvin may end up with the Rookie of the Year award at years end as well. He now has 3 receiving touchdowns and two more on returns and seems to be gaining rhythm with Brett Favre.

Whether or not the old man wins the award is one thing but it seems clear as day that he is as, if not more than, deserving as any one else in the league. And don't be surprised if the Vikings make a serious run for the Super Bowl as well.