MVP Watch: Same Old Peyton

Looks like I started writing this feature at the perfect time. For the majority of the season, it appeared there was a three-headed monster (the Peyton Brees-Favre) for MVP with another quarterback and an electric running back fighting to stay on their heels. All of a sudden, Week 15 gave us some obvious separation. Sure, it was only one week, but that's how close this race is. One game can make a huge difference.

The Front Runner

Peyton Manning is actually fifth in quarterback rating, due to throwing his most interceptions since 2002, but it's still above the century mark at 101.2. If the Colts play the final two games with the intention of winning instead of resting, he'll set a career high for passing yards in a season (he's averaging 300.9 yards per game; his previous career high in this category was 284.8). His 33 passing touchdowns tie him with Drew Brees for the league lead. As always, though, numbers rarely tell the whole story with Manning.

His Colts are undefeated (14-0). He's the best on-field leader in the NFL -- and maybe in the game's history. He's actually more like an offensive coordinator who moonlights as a quarterback.

If you want to talk about his weapons, that's fine. I'm sure Pierre Garcon would be a solid receiver for the Browns. I'm sure Bucs' fans would be flocking to purchase Austin Collie's jersey had Tampa drafted him. Is Dallas Clark really 11 catches, 177 yards and four touchdowns better than Tony Gonzalez?

I could see arguments for Brees or Rivers, but Peyton is en route to his unprecedented fourth MVP at this point.

The Contenders

2. Drew Brees, QB, Saints (last week: 1) - They lost, but Brees wouldn't have dropped out of the top spot had Peyton not been so nails without the help of his defense in Jacksonville. This wasn't so much of a demotion as it was someone speeding by. Brees still has an NFL-best 109.4 rating. He's tied with Manning in TD passes and third in passing yards. When the Saints destroy Tampa Bay this weekend, Brees will have anchored the NFC's No. 1 seed all season long. He's definitely in the mix and pushing Peyton down to the wire.

3. Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers (4) - He has a better rating than Manning and is leading the Chargers on a nine-game winning streak. In many other seasons, Rivers would already have this award in the bag, but it's just bad timing. As I said last week, Rivers is doing this without a running game (3.3 yards per carry). Plus, he's made Vincent Jackson into a star.

Under Different Circumstances, Maybe ...

4. Chris Johnson, RB, Titans (5) - Make that 10 straight 100-yard rushing games. His pace has actually fallen down to 1,977 yards, but there's still hope for the 2K barrier. The Chargers (Sunday's opponent) allow 116.9 yards per game on the ground and the Seahawks (Week 17's opponent) seem to have mailed in the rest of the season.

5. Brett Favre, QB, Vikings (2) - I'll leave the negativity to what we've already read this week -- and will probably continue to read. I'll just say he's having a remarkable year for anyone of any age, much less a 40 year-old. Now if the offensive line can just keep him in one piece for the playoffs ...

6. Darrelle Revis, CB, Jets (7) - Roddy White caught four passes for 33 yards on Revis last Sunday. It was one of the worst games of the season for Revis, who has an overwhelming lead with 30 passes defensed (second most is Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie with 23).

7. DeSean Jackson, WR/PR, Eagles (NR) - Five 100-yard receiving games, eight receiving touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and two punt return touchdowns -- in addition to leading the NFL in yards per reception and yards per punt return -- don't do any justice to the damage Jackson inflicts upon the opposition. Preparing for him during the week leading up to facing the Eagles is the real headache.

8. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers (10) - Let the naysayers pile on all they want. He deserved to win that game Sunday. It's too bad his defense was shredded all afternoon by Ben Roethlisberger. Rodgers is top-five in yards, touchdowns and rating, while only throwing seven interceptions (no full-time quarterbacks have thrown less, not even the game managers!).

9. Charles Woodson, CB, Packers (6) - I love Woodson and he still might win Defensive Player of the Year over Revis, but I had to knock him down a few spots due to being on a defense that allowed 503 passing yards and lost a game in which their own quarterback accounted for four touchdowns. You gotta make that effort stand up, even if there are 10 other guys on defense (hey, QBs get all the praise or blame, so why can't I pick on Woodson?).

10. Josh Cribbs, KR/PR/WR/RB, Browns (NR) - Sunday, I heard someone say, "where would the Browns be without him?" It sounded a bit lame, since they're only 3-11. How much worse could they get? Well, I'd be willing to argue they'd be 0-14 without him. Stud returners have much more an impact on a game than simply their returns, too. Teams cough up good field position to avoid a touchdown. Make no mistake about this, I realize there's no chance in hell a player on a 3-11 team should be in MVP consideration. I'm just trying to give Cribbs his due. I know what it's like to cheer for a player like this, being a Bears fan (thanks for the memories, Devin), so I guess you could say this selection is one of sentiment. He'll probably fall out next week, but at least I got him mentioned.

Dropped Out

Jared Allen, DE, Vikings - In retrospect, I feel like his inclusion last week was a bit lazy. He was more valuable last year. Don't get me wrong, though, he's still a stud and would make a top-20.

Darren Sharper, FS, Saints - The Saints have allowed 77 points in the past three games and we haven't seen the playmaking ability of Sharper in that time. He's in the conversation based upon his huge first half, but will need a resurgence in the last two games to get serious DPOY consideration.