This NFL season saw unforgettable performances from the top athletes in the league. With stand out play from quarterbacks to defensive ends there is no shortage of talent to pick as MVP. The following players have the best chance of being selected as the next possible NFL MVP.
J.J. Watt-Since the NFL started honoring the best player in the league with an award in 1957 only two defensive players have ever won. With his outstanding play this season Watt has the potential to be the third. He dominated on the defensive side of the ball all year and occasionally joined the offense to help out. There is no doubting that Watt was the most exciting player in the league as he earned spots on the All Pro first and second teams. His 20.5 sacks helped him break the Texans all time sack record and become the first player in NFL history to have 20 or more sacks in separate seasons. He would finish the season with 78 tackles, 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, an interception, two defensive touchdowns, and three receiving touchdowns.
Aaron Rodgers-Rodgers had probably one of the best and most efficient seasons as a quarterback since his own MVP season in 2011. Rodgers was outstanding all season and was hands down the best quarterback in the league. After the Packers started the season 1-2 Rodgers gave the fans more than enough reasons to R-E-L-A-X as he would lead the Packers to a league leading 30.4 yards per game dropping more than 40 points five times. Rodgers put on a clinic all season as he lead Green Bay into the playoffs throwing for over 300 yards on eight occasions and going over 400 yards once. He was voted to the All Pro team receiving 41 more votes than the runner up. Rodgers finished the season with 4,381 yards, 38 touchdowns to only five interceptions, 65.6 percent completion rating, 112.2 passer rating, and two rushing touchdowns.
Tom Brady-Brady, the perennial winner added to his Hall of Fame resume with another MVP candidate season. At the start of this season questionable losses and poor play had the experts wondering if Brady had anything left in the tank. After an embarrassing 41-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs Brady lead the Patriots on a seven game tear that saw them drop more than 40 points four times. This success was largely due to the resurgence of Tom Brady. Make no mistake that Brady is the number one reason that the Patriots have made it all the way to the Super Bowl. He finished the season with a completion percentage of 64.1 percent, 4,109 yards, 33 touchdowns to only nine interceptions, and a passer rating of 97.4.
Andrew Luck-Luck might not have done it as pretty as Brady or Rodgers but he willed the Colts to the AFC Championship game by himself. With no running game to speak of Luck single handedly made the Colts offense work. Put it this way, the Colts were twenty second in the league in rushing yards per game while Luck was second in the league with 297.6 passing yards per game. His play may not have been as efficient as Brady or Rodgers but he still performed at a high level all season with less help. Luck might not have been the best in the league but he was certainly the most valuable player on his team. He finished the season with a completion percentage of 61.7 percent, 4,761 passing yards, 40 interceptions to 16 interceptions, passer rating of 96.5, and three rushing touchdowns.
Demarco Murray-Murray was finally able to stay healthy for an entire season and he did not disappoint. Make no mistake, as spectacular as Dez Bryant and Tony Romo were this season it was all because of Murray. Behind the Dallas offensive line, that you can make a strong case for as the best offensive line in the league, Murray was able to use his speed and power to run over defenses. Murray proved he was a force to be reckoned with as he broke Jim Brown’s record for consecutive 100 yard games to start a season with eight. He went on to break the Cowboy’s record for most yards in a single season set by Emmitt Smith and set the Cowboy’s record for most 100 plus yard games in a season with 12. Murray finished the season with 1,845 rushing yards for 115.3 yards per game, 4.7 yards per carry, and 13 touchdowns.
Although it’s probably a long shot to happen, I’d like to see Watt win MVP. Watt was simply the best player in the league this season. He did everything and was largely responsible for the Texans turn around after an abysmal 2013. If Watt doesn’t win the award expect Rodgers to win. Outside of Watt, Rodgers was the most effective player in the NFL.
