AP might not win the league's MVP award, but he's certainly been the league's most sensational player. |
On Christmas Eve last year Adrian Peterson tore his ACL, ending his season, shelving his offseason and many thought benching him for most of this 2012 season. In June of last year, Peyton Manning had to have a spinal fusion surgery that, to some, was going to be the end of his career. But here we are a little less than a year after a knee-shredding injury and more than a year off of a career-ending spinal surgery, both AP and Peyton Manning are sitting at top of the football world, playing some of the best football of their careers. Both are front runners for Comeback Player of the Year and some contend that they're both MVP candidates, here we'll evaluate each player with pros and cons (and when we say cons we're honestly nit-picking) and well tell you who has the better chance to win each.
Adrian Peterson
1,812 yards, 6.3 yards per carry, 11 TDs
Pros:
AP has had two ACL surgeries in his life, but it looks like his knees are only getting better. This guy came back from his second ACL surgery in only eight months, starting Week 1 and scoring two TDs. While Peterson was getting readjusted to his ACL-less knees, he entered Week 7 with only 499 yards, but after that Week, AP took his game to the next level. His 1,313 yards in the last eight games is a record in that span and he has done it in such unbelievable fashion. Not only has he been putting up absurd 150-plus yard games, he's been breaking off 60-yard runs like it was his job. He's far and away the leader of 20-plus runs with an average of 6.3 yards per carry on the second most attempts (289) in the league.
Without Peterson the Vikings would be an absolute joke. Their defense is solid, but Christian Ponder is beyond a bad quarterback. When you have a guy like AD back there making all the plays it's hard to mess things up. One of the things that AP's always been known for is his violent style of running; the guy looks like he wants to hurt every LB and DB he runts into. Last year, when he had his worst season, he didn't seem to display that same vicious characterisitc and it had an effect on his game. The fact that his team was 3-13 certainly didn't help either. Yet, it could said that this injury reinvigorated Peterson and warned him that his time in this game could be quite short. Just look at Chris Johnson, three years ago he rushed for 2,000 yards and now the Titans are on the verge of cutting him. There's no question breaking Eric Dickerson's single season rushing record will help his case immensely.
Cons:
It isn't clear if the Vikings are going to make the playoffs, even if they currently hold most of the tiebreakers against the other 8-6 teams. Minnesota still has to go to Houston to play a motivated Texans team and then they finish at home against the NFC North champion Packers. Obviously if the Vikes make the playoffs, then his season is all that more meaningful, especially with the team ranking dead last in passing offense. This is AP's team and they'll easily crash and burn if someone can shut him down (if it was only that easy).
Another factor is that a good percentage of Peterson's yards have come off big runs of 64, 74, 61 and two 82-yard scampers. Whether or not you think that's a good thing or not, it shows he's a home run threat and that isn't always a good thing. You don't expect him to reel off those kind of runs in the playoffs against more focused defenses. The thing is, if that's your worst problem, then you're doing something right.
Peyton Manning
67.9% completion rate, 4,016 yards, 31 TDs, 10 INTs, 103.5 QB rating
Pros:
I was one of the people last season that believed Peyton Manning would never step on a football field ever again. So the fact that he's even playing is impressive enough in my eyes. He ranks third in QB rating (if you exclude the benched Alex Smith) but unlike AP, it took Manning far less time to recover and get back into the swing of things. He hasn't put up the silly numbers like he did in Indianapolis, but that's because he doesn't need to. Willis McGahee (before the injury) and Knowshown Moreno have really opened up the field for Manning and that has allowed him to put up the consistent number he's put up all season.
Even though Peyton's put up monster stats over his years, his aura is even more impressive. Many thought it would take a while for Manning to bring that air of confidence to Denver, but it has been quite apparent all year that Denver is his team just like Indianapolis was. Tebow's stretch last year has all but disappeared from the minds of the Broncos faithful and that's all thanks to Manning. More importantly than his MVP numbers, his team has become a true championship contender and having the legend at the helm only adds to their contender status.
Cons:
This same Broncos squad was able to get to the second round of the playoffs last year with terrible Tim Tebow at the helm. Denver's defense is among the best in the league and Manning has certainly been the beneficiary of that. His running game has helped him out greatly as well as Demariyus Thomas and Eric Decker being a lethal wide receiver duo.
Denver's also benefited from one of the weakest divisions in the history of the AFC. Taking care of business in your division is always an underrated item to check off the list, but when it's this bad, it doesn't have as much pull.
MVP:
It's hard to argue this point with two more games to finish the season, especially with the chance that the Vikes end up losing their next two games and missing the playoffs. AP has been doing more with less and he's carried his offense, but there is something about Manning this year that won't deny him. He's led his squad to a phenomenal nine-game winning streak and is playing the quarterback position at as high of a level as you could at this point. If Manning can put his stamp on these next two games and throw 6-8 more TDs and help continue this Denver dominance then we'll certainly see him lift the MVP trophy. However, if AP can break Dickerson's record and help the Vikes defeat the Texans and Packers in the process then he deserves the award.
I'm predicting Manning to win it, because he's been insanely efficient on the league's most dangerous darkhorse and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
Peyton Manning.
Comeback Player of the Year:
How do you win the MVP and not win the comeback player of the year? Well when you go up against Adrian Peterson.
AP's recovery time combined with how impressive and explosive he's been, makes him the best comeback player of the year. He won't probably won't be the league's MVP because he hasn't been doing it all season. Yet, his 20, 20-plus runs are undeniable. Who really makes you say "WOW" this year? It's Adrian Peterson. All day.
Adrian Peterson
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