MVP as we head out of November

[Bucs_Rule]

Originally Posted by G Mobile

It probably shouldn't play into it, but the Colts massive sucktitude last year reflects largely positively on Manning and it will carry over into how he is viewed for MVP this year. You can explain more reasons why the Colts were awful last year (coaching, Painter, quitting), but I still believe that Manning gets that team to the playoffs despite the rosters deficiencies. I wouldn't give the MVP to a hurt player, but Manning was practically the only reason the Colts were decent, let alone playoff teams, in those last years. The entirety of the teams success rested on his shoulders; the offense and defense didn't work with out him.

Denver was a playoff team last year, but let's not pretend the were that good. The had multiple 'miracle' wins and scathed by to get into the playoffs where they barely won a beat up Steelers team in OT while in Denver. They have talent but Manning is actually able to utilize it while elevating guys like Stokely & Tamme into productive players. Denver is getting better and better each week. They should be humming by the end of the year with the schedule they have coming up, and if Manning keeps winning then he will be at the very top for MVP.

Last year shouldn't affect the voters this year, but I sincerely doubt that voters will be able to avoid it.

So both Manning and Luck get a lot more credit because Polian had such an awful backup last season? Its impossible to know how many more games the Colts would have won with an average starter. Say they had a QB that was decent and went 5-11. Would that have made Luck and Manning's season this year worse?

The Cardinals have shown this year how extremely difficult it is to win with dreadful QB play. The defense has been playing great and their wins have been real struggles. If the Cards had just an average defense they would have only beaten Philly.

I'm not taking everything away from Manning or Luck. If things keep going how they are, Manning and Brady will be neck and neck for MVP.

The Colts going 2-14 reflects just as much on Painter as it reveals about Manning or Luck.

The quality of a backup should have no bearing on how well the starter is judged. It should be comparing how well the team would do with an average player at that position.