The NFL writers of the Associated Press have voted. Peyton Manning is the Most Valuable Player in the league for the third time in his career. It was a landslide! Amazing, considering how close the race was heading into the Week 16 game at Jacksonville. I guess the voters didn’t want to be caught on the wrong side of history. I can’t blame them. Manning won with 32 votes. What a remarkable season, and hopefully this is just the beginning.
From Mike Chappell: During the nine-game streak, he compiled a 109.7 quarterback rating with 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Manning was especially efficient over the past four games, compiling a 130.8 rating by completing 90-of-110 passes (81.8 percent) for 1,054 yards with eight touchdowns and no interceptions.
Manning directed six fourth-quarter drives this season, four during the nine-game winning streak.
Peyton Manning – 32 Votes
Chad Pennington – 4 Votes
Michael Turner – 4 Votes
Adrian Peterson – 3 Votes
James Harrison – 3 Votes
Philip Rivers – 2 Votes
Chris Johnson – 1 Vote
Kurt Warner – 1 Vote
Links: Paul Kuharsky gives a somewhat half-hearted tip of the cap to Manning.
The other ESPN bloggers cope with the results.
The Pats fans over at CHFF are hating it.
CHFF marvels at the Indy Pass D. Indy’s opponents completed a league-high 68.5 percent of their passes. At the same time, the Colts managed to set the NFL record for fewest passing touchdowns allowed in a season. That redefines bend, but don’t break. Some will argue this record was set thanks to a weak run D, but this is only partially correct. The Colts gave up 18 rushing TDs, but they were far from worst in the league (Detroit allowed 31). League average was around 14 rushing scores allowed.
Please take note of Sportsline’s Weekend Weather Watch. Perfect conditions for my kind of football. Now, anyone want to bet that wild card weekend’s games are much more watchable than the sludgefests that await in the next two rounds?
• Phoenix (Saturday): Partly cloudy, high of 66.
• San Diego (Saturday): AM showers, high of 59.
• Miami (Sunday): Partly cloudy, high of 77.
• Minneapolis (Sunday): Dome
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