Why Favre and Manning Are the CO-MVPs

Why Brees Should not be the MVP despite MVP numbers this season.

There's no disputing, Drew Brees is the New Orleans Saints most valuable player this season. Brees is directing the number one offense in the NFL, which averages thirty-eight points a game, but most importantly, his team is 9-0 on the season and appears to be on their way to a magical season. Thus far the ninth year quarterback out of Purdue is completing sixty-eight percent of his passes for 2,559 yards, 19 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Those numbers translate to an impressive 104.6 quarterback rating. These are numbers that most fans have come to expect from Brees on a yearly basis.

Most experts will tell you that Brees is this season's MVP due to his gaudy statistics and the Saints undefeated record. Last season Brees had equally impressive numbers; completing sixty-five percent of his passes, 34 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, however the Saints were only 9-7, which kept them out of the playoffs. I would argue that defensive coordinator Gregg Williams bringing his blitzing schemes and the Saints improved running game are equally responsible for the Saints becoming an elite team this season. However Brees is not the MVP this year. That honor goes to Brett Favre and Peyton Manning.

Why Brett Favre? Under Favre's guidance, the Vikings are 8-1 on the year. Last season, the Vikings were 10-6 and counting on their defense and running game to propel them to an unlikely Super Bowl berth. Favre has been the perfect compliment to star running back Adrian Peterson, completing sixty-eight percent of his passes for 2,269 yards, 17 touchdowns and 3 interceptions for a 107.5 quarterback rating. These numbers are quite the contrast when Favre lead the league with twenty-two interceptions in his one year stint with the New York Jets. What makes Favre's numbers impressive this season is that he missed the majority of training camp after changing his mind several times about coming out of retirement before Vikings head coach Brad Childress convinced him to unretire. The nineteenth year pro out of Southern Mississippi came into training camp with some question marks about whether or not he was fully healthy after struggling with a torn biceps injury that limited his effectiveness as the season worn out last season with the Jets.

Critics questioned whether or not Favre could still be an effective leader in the locker room and on the field. Fans and media alike were curious to know whether Favre was committed to being a starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings for a sixteen game season. You may remember last season as the New York Jets starting quarterback, Favre was criticized by some teammates, most notably by safety Kerry Rhodes for being introverted from his teammates and receiving favorable treatment by the Jets coaching staff. If that wasn't enough, Favre also had to face his old team the Green Bay Packers twice this year, and left no doubt that he was still a top-flight quarterback by throwing seven touchdowns and interceptions in those match ups. It's that type of veteran savvy Favre has displayed that has given the Vikings a confidence and swagger that simply was missing when Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson were the signal callers under center last season. If Favre can continue his excellent play while building chemistry with his receivers, then Minnesota could be Super Bowl bound in Miami.

Why Peyton Manning? His team is 9-0 after an impressive come from behind victory over a tough New England team on Sunday Night Football. This season may be Peyton Manning's impressive season to date, however Manning was not immune to adversity. You may remember Colts head coach Tony Dungy retired in the off season and there was some indecision as to whether or not Manning's offensive coordinator Tom Moore was going to return back to the team. Defensive coordinator Ron Meeks left the Colts for the Carolina Panthers to run their defense. Rookie head coach Jim Caldwell was untested and unproven as far as being a head coach in the NFL. If that was not enough for Manning, he would be without his long time target Marvin Harrison who was cut by the team in the off season due to salary cap restrictions and a decline in his production. These actions left Manning frustrated and he was not afraid to voice his displeasure with the media over the uncertainty of the team's direction. Instead of pouting, Manning worked harder than ever to help a team that coming into the 2009 season winning its last nine regular season games dating back to the previous season. The results have been amazing. He's completed seventy percent of his passes for 2,872 yards, 20 touchdowns and 7 interceptions for a 104.2 quarterback rating thus far this season.

What makes Manning's numbers impressive is that unlike New Orleans and Minnesota, who rank five (151 yards a game) and tenth (122 yards a game) in rushing respectively, the Colts are 29^th in the league in rushing, averaging just 86 yards a game. The Saints and Vikings also have the luxury of a good defense they can lean when their respective offenses are not clicking on all cylinders. Indy's defense is mediocre at best. That puts the onus on Manning to be efficient with the football when the Colts have the ball. The twelfth year pro out of Tennessee is directing the NFL's number passing offense despite playing with some several new players on the offensive side of the ball. Manning has instrumental in the development of rookie receivers Austin Collie (38 receptions for 401 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Pierre Garcon (26 receptions for 403 yards, 3 touchdowns). His veteran savvy, leadership, and mentoring has helped keep the Colts among the league's elite despite the many changes in personnel and the coaching staff. If the Colts can run the ball more efficient and their defense can find ways to keep them in games as the season wears on, you know the Colts will be a tough out in the playoffs because you know what you're going to get from Peyton Manning.

However, there's still a lot football left in the season and a lot can change between now and then. Just ask Favre and Manning. These two veteran quarterbacks are the players who would receive my MVP vote in this point of season.