I woke up this morning to a text message from ESPN alerts (which is one of the coolest things ever, you should sign up for it if you haven't already) saying that Peyton Manning has won his record 4th MVP. Before I could even close my phone I already knew what I was going to write about on here.
Manning had an MVP like season and is deserving of the honor, but not this year. He was not the MVP in football this year. I like Manning, I always have. Well that's not completely true, I was one of the guys who thought Leaf would be the better player. Once I realized how wrong I was I became a fan of Manning. I've always defended Manning in the Brady vs Manning debate but this time I just can't defend him.
Let's get his stats this year out of the way first. Manning had a QB rating of 99.9 (6th in the league), tossed 33 TD's (3rd in the league), 68.8% percentage (2nd in the league), and threw for 4,500 yards (2nd in the league). He definitely put up MVP type numbers compared to the rest of the league this year but he didn't lead the league in any major category (except wins and I will get to that). Plus he tossed 16 INT's, more then Jason Campbell, Kyle Orton, and Joe Flacco to name a few. He also was 10th in the league for yards per attempt so it's not like everything he threw was a big play. Manning's numbers were good but you can easily make the argument, on stats alone, that there are other players who could have won the MVP this year just from the QB position.
So the big argument for Manning winning the award is the fact that he's the best player on the best team this year. He lead the Colts to 14 wins this year and without him they're probably not even a playoff team but there's a lot of guys in the league who are just as important to their team as Manning. No one can tell me that the Saints are nearly as good without Brees, or the Packers without Rodgers. Look at how big the loss of Troy Polamalu was to the Steelers success this year. There's a lot of players out there who are extremely important to their teams success and they can't win without them.
So yes, Manning was the best player on a team that won 14 games this year. His numbers compared to the rest of the QB's this year maybe aren't the best out there but definitely MVP worthy. But you look at the history of the game the year he had won't even rank in the top 10 for QB's. Why does the history of the game matter when deciding the MVP award for a single year. Manning tossing 33 TD's this year was the 32nd time it happened in NFL history. There have also been 18 4,500 yard passing season now. As far as the history of the game his season will rank as a great year, but not one of the best.
Chris Johnson, on the other hand, had one of the greatest seasons in NFL history. He became only the 6th player in the history of the game to run for 2,000 yards. He set the record for the most yards from scrimmage. The Titans had next to nothing going in the passing game, outside of Johnson catching screen passes, so the opposing defense did nothing but try to stop him. You take Johnson away from that team they maybe win 3, 4 games this year.
Yes his team only won 8 games and they didn't make the playoffs and it's never easy to give the award to a guy like that but he had one of the best years in the history of the game and you cannot argue that. His team had zero passing game to speak of most of the year. He had no lead blocker and no real threat as a back-up to help spill him. The Titans defense was one of the worst in the league this year. Yet he still runs for 2,006 yards and sets the record for yards from scrimmage. Why punish a guy out of an award because his team sucks?
Manning has one of the best receivers in the game, one of the best tight ends, a very good running back, and a solid defense to pick him up from time to tim
e. Manning had a few games where he didn't play that good this year. He had a few games where he tossed 3 INT's yet they still won. Manning has the team around him to help pick him up when he maybe isn't at his best. If Johnson was at his best his team still lost. Perfect example was week 2 vs the Texans. Johnson ran for 197 yards and had another 149 yards receiving. He scored 3 TD's (from 57 yards, 64 yards, and 91 yards!!!). Final score of the game, Texans 34, Titans 31. What more could he have done?
e. Manning had a few games where he didn't play that good this year. He had a few games where he tossed 3 INT's yet they still won. Manning has the team around him to help pick him up when he maybe isn't at his best. If Johnson was at his best his team still lost. Perfect example was week 2 vs the Texans. Johnson ran for 197 yards and had another 149 yards receiving. He scored 3 TD's (from 57 yards, 64 yards, and 91 yards!!!). Final score of the game, Texans 34, Titans 31. What more could he have done? At the end of the day the best player on a team that won 14 games will overshadow the best player on a team that won 8 games and that's the biggest hole in my argument. So my question to all of you, outside on winning more games (Johnson was the only reason they even won 8 games), what type of numbers would Johnson have had to put up for him to win the award this year?
Answer to your question: 10 wins. He had an outstanding year and put up huge numbers but whether you like it or not, if your team doesn't win your most likely not going to get MVP consideration. Take a look at Aaron Rodgers last year. 28 TD's, 13 ints, 4038 yards and a 93.8 QB rating. Possibly the best numbers ever by a QB in this first year starting (especially considering the situation). The team goes 6-10 with the defense blowing about 4 games. If that team goes 10-6 and makes the playoffs A-Rodg gets MVP votes. Same thing here. Johnson had a great year just not enough wins.
ReplyDeleteNow, on to Manning winning. He was not only the best player on the best team, he was the most valuable player on the best team. He is the heart and soul of the Colts. He is the on-field coach. He calls his own plays. He makes Jim Caldwell's jobs easy. No other player in the NFL does that. So my questions to you is, How many games do the Colts win without Peyton Manning?
Of course, it comes down to wins... and there is nothing you say to change anybody's mind.
ReplyDeleteI would like to tell you however, that your numbers are off. Manning had those numbers through 14 games, not 16. He didn't really play the last two. I could argue that there is a good chance Manning could have thrown for 5,000 yards this season if he had to try at the end of the season. It is very likely that he would have thrown for at least 38 touchdowns as well. While his INT's are still high, he dominates in all other aspects.
And, like I said, Chris Johnson just didn't get there. There is a reason why it is hard for running backs to get mvp awards, it takes a lot of other players to make them look good. An offensive line, a coordinater who calls your number, etc. Manning does his thing, in the spotlight EVERY game. The only thing Chris Johnson did this year was land the Titans a bad first round pick. If he would have saved this season for next, he might have actually had a chance to be in contention, at least get a vote.
Sorry, but you lose this argument.
For both comments. I know this is a losing argument on my part but it needed to be said. End of the day football is a sport where results are all that matters and people will look at wins over anything else.
ReplyDeleteLau,
How many games do the Titans win without Johnson? You can say that for a lot of guys on a lot of teams as commented on in my post. Manning just happens to be on the best team. That argument really holds no water.
Ben,
It takes a lot of players for Manning to look good too. He has an above average o-line, a top 3 WR, top 3 TE and a above average RB. He has great pro bowl players (5 other Colts players made it) around him who help him to be as good as he is. After Johnson zero Titans made it. He was the Titans this year.
For both thanks for commenting and keep coming them coming.
Here's the problem with what you're saying. The first one is that you said he has 5 other players on his team (Manning) that make him great. Well, 2 of those play on defense. And only one has a chance to make him look good-Jeff Saturday. Manning makes the 2 receivers look good by padding their numbers. Here's the thing- Manning makes everyone around him better, kind of like what they used to say about Jordan in the 90's. Albeit it is hard for a RB to make people look good around him, Johnson still fails to do this.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing is that you say he has an above average o-line and an average rb. Well, the Colts ran for 80 yards per game, the LOWEST in the LEAGUE! and also ranked 2nd to last with 3.5 yards per carry. I wouldn't really call that average, would you?