The case against his ascension into the Philadelphia Eagles' lineup grows weaker by the start. The case against his MVP candidacy discounts the Eagles' Vick-led victories over Detroit and Jacksonville. The case against Vick says one losing performance in relief and two starts against weak teams proves little.
But the case against Vick gets harder to make with every pass he delivers well downfield with laser-guided precision. He looks terrific so far.
Vick ranks tied for third behind Jay Cutler and Peyton Manning in pass plays of at least 30 yards, helping the Eagles maximize what DeSean Jackson offers to their offense. Vick's third-down passer rating is 122.6, putting him behind only Matt Ryan (132.3) in that category. And his fourth-quarter rating (97.7) ranks sixth.
For the first time, the case for Vick rests on what he's doing with his arm, but his legs still appear fresh as well. That makes him a unique talent and a legitimate MVP candidate until the evidence suggests otherwise.
1. PEYTON MANNING
Quarterback | Indianapolis Colts ... Next Game: 10/3 at JAC ... Last Week: 1 
Ten Pro Bowls and four MVP awards make Manning the favorite as long as he's on top of his game. And he is definitely on top of his game. Manning leads the NFL with nine TD passes and has yet to throw an interception. That puts him on an impossible pace (48 TDs, 0 INTs). Before this season, Manning had not gone three consecutive games without a pick since throwing none in the final four games of the 2008 season.
Week 3 at DEN
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | LNG | TD | INT | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 43 | 325 | 62.8 | 48 | 3 | 0 | 109.2 |
2010 Statistics
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | 126 | 1013 | 69.0 | 8.04 | 73 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 116.9 |
2. JAY CUTLER
Quarterback | Chicago Bears ... Next Game: 10/3 at NYG ... Last Week: 2 
I took some heat for ranking Cutler second on the MVP Watch a week ago. Truth be told, I felt he was the second-best quarterback on the field when the Bears played Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay on Monday night. But it's tough to say Cutler's candidacy has fallen off after the Bears improved to 3-0, so Cutler remains in the second spot pending the string of interceptions that always seem to be around the corner. Cutler ranks third in passer rating to this point and no one can match his 9.56-yard average per pass attempt.
Week 3 vs. GB
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | LNG | TD | INT | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 27 | 221 | 59.3 | 35 | 1 | 1 | 82.5 |
2010 Statistics
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 91 | 870 | 65.9 | 9.56 | 89 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 109.7 |
3. MICHAEL VICK
Quarterback | Philadelphia Eagles ... Next Game: 10/3 vs. WAS ... Last Week: 6 
Six TD passes, no INTs and the second-highest passer rating in the league tell us Vick is much more than the athletic scrambler he portrayed earlier in his career. It's not just the stats, either. It's the way he's slinging the ball around the field with accuracy and bad intentions. Some of the throws he makes are inspired. He also has two rushes of at least 20 yards. Only five running backs have more.
Week 3 at JAC
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | LNG | TD | INT | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 31 | 291 | 54.8 | 61 | 3 | 0 | 119.2 |
2010 Statistics
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | 89 | 750 | 60.7 | 8.43 | 61 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 110.2 |
4. DREW BREES
Quarterback | New Orleans Saints ... Next Game: 10/3 vs. CAR ... Last Week: 4 
Brees is completing a league-best 75.9 percent of his passes with a passer rating (107.6) that ranks fifth in the league. The Saints' schedule should help Brees pad his MVP credentials over the next month or so. The team faces Carolina, Arizona, Tampa Bay and Cleveland in its next four games. Let's see if Brees can start hitting a few more big plays.
Week 3 vs. ATL
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | LNG | TD | INT | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 38 | 365 | 78.9 | 80 | 3 | 2 | 111.1 |
2010 Statistics
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85 | 112 | 856 | 75.9 | 7.64 | 80 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 107.6 |
5. TOM BRADY
Quarterback | New England Patriots ... Next Game: 10/4 at MIA ... Last Week: 10 
Only Manning has thrown more TD passes this season. Only Manning, Vick and Cutler have higher ratings. Brady has taken only two sacks this season even though the team is missing Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins. The line gets some credit, but quarterbacks are key in keeping sacks to a minimum. Tony Romo is the only QB with fewer sacks and as many attempts as Brady.
Week 3 vs. BUF
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | LNG | TD | INT | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 27 | 252 | 77.8 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 142.6 |
2010 Statistics
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | 98 | 758 | 67.3 | 7.74 | 46 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 109.1 |
6. MATT RYAN
Quarterback | Atlanta Falcons ... Next Game: 10/3 vs. SF ... Last Week: NR 
Beating the Saints enhances Ryan's MVP credentials. Ryan and WR Roddy White lit up the 49ers' defense at Candlestick Park last season. The struggling 49ers visit the Georgia Dome in Week 4. Perhaps that means Ryan will have another chance to pump up his numbers.
Week 3 at NO
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | LNG | TD | INT | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 30 | 228 | 63.3 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 108.8 |
2010 Statistics
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | 106 | 705 | 63.2 | 6.65 | 34 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 94.3 |
7. AARON RODGERS
Quarterback | Green Bay Packers ... Next Game: 10/3 vs. DET ... Last Week: NR 
Rodgers took a break from the MVP Watch last week as I sought to recognize teammate Clay Matthews for getting 6.0 sacks in the first two games. Rodgers was subsequently brilliant in defeat against the Bears. Critics can point to the fact that Green Bay has never won its division or a playoff game since making the switch to Rodgers. That has to change if Rodgers keeps playing at his current level.
Week 3 at CHI
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | LNG | TD | INT | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 45 | 316 | 75.6 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 92.5 |
2010 Statistics
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 105 | 759 | 68.6 | 7.23 | 34 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 93.3 |
8. PHILIP RIVERS
Quarterback | San Diego Chargers ... Next Game: 10/3 vs. ARI ... Last Week: 5 
The Chargers lost in Seattle, but Rivers passed for 455 yards, leaving him in the league lead in passing yards this season. Rivers trails only Cutler in YPA, a reflection of the Chargers' penchant for pushing the ball downfield (even without Vincent Jackson). The Chargers' schedule delivers Arizona, Oakland and St. Louis over the next three weeks.
Week 3 at SEA
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | LNG | TD | INT | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 53 | 455 | 54.7 | 49 | 2 | 2 | 80.3 |
2010 Statistics
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | 121 | 1087 | 60.3 | 8.98 | 59 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 95.3 |
9. CHRIS JOHNSON
Running Back | Tennessee Titans ... Next Game: 10/3 vs. DEN ... Last Week: 9 
Johnson ranks only fifth in rushing yards to this point and his 4.0-yard average is down from 5.6 last season. The Titans bounced back from their Week 2 defeat, however, and Johnson figures to keep producing 100-yard games. He has two 100-yard games already this season after posting only one in the Titans' first five games last season. Johnson's big push last season began in Week 6.
Week 3 at NYG
| ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | REC | YDS | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 125 | 3.9 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
2010 Statistics
| ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 301 | 4.0 | 76 | 4 | 9 | 27 | 3.0 | 17 | 0 |
10. ADRIAN PETERSON
Running Back | Minnesota Vikings ... Next Game: 10/11 at NYJ ... Last Week: 7 
The Vikings appear determined to funnel their offense through Peterson while the passing game fights through injuries and Brett Favre's inconsistency. That means Peterson's stats should surge. It's debatable, however, whether the Vikings will win enough games -- and win impressively enough -- for Peterson's MVP candidacy to flourish.
Week 3 vs. DET
| ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | REC | YDS | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 160 | 7.0 | 80 | 2 | 5 | 30 | 6.0 |
2010 Statistics
| ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 392 | 5.6 | 80 | 3 | 13 | 85 | 6.5 | 17 | 0 |
Mike Sando | email
NFL- NFC West Blogger
- Joined ESPN in 2007
- Lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Mike Sando
Sando joined ESPN.com in 2007 after nine seasons covering the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune. He lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons.
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