Measuring Peyton Manning's value can be easy.
Take one look at his contract. It's counting more than $21 million against the team's salary cap this season.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick provided another measurement tool during the Colts' 35-34 victory over New England. His decision to go for it on fourth-and-2 from the New England 29 while protecting a 34-28 lead reflected quite a few things, including Manning's value when it matters most -- with the ball in his hands late in a game.
Yes, Belichick was showing faith in Tom Brady to pick up 2 yards with the game on the line.
We can debate whether Belichick showed too little confidence in his defense, but the other side of the argument says he showed too much.
On Manning, we can all agree. There is no good time for an opponent to put the ball in his hands. Belichick's gambit only reinforced my decision to move Manning back into the No. 1 spot in the weekly MVP Watch.
Worthy candidates come and go from the list each week. Here are 10 I couldn't overlook heading into Week 11:
1. PEYTON MANNING
Leading the NFL in TD passes for a 9-0 team.
2. BRETT FAVRE
Leading the NFL in passer rating for an 8-1 team.
3. DREW BREES
Second only to Favre in rating for a 9-0 team.
4. ADRIAN PETERSON
Second in rushing yards and rushing TDs for an 8-1 team.
5. TOM BRADY
Second in passing yards and rating has hit triple digits.
6. CHRIS JOHNSON
Titans must continue winning streak for Johnson's MVP chances.
7. BEN ROETHLISBERGER
Drops some after first game this season without TD pass.
8. MAURICE JONES-DREW
Jaguars are over .500 and Jones-Drew is sensational.
9. RANDY MOSS
Leads NFL in receiving yardage and has 15.4-yard average.
10. REGGIE WAYNE
Belichick gushed over him after latest performance.
Take one look at his contract. It's counting more than $21 million against the team's salary cap this season.
Rank 'Em: NFL MVP Candidates
How do you size up the NFL MVP race?
The Titans still have a long way to go to even get a sniff of the wild-card race, but is Chris Johnson ripping off big enough chunks of yardage to earn a place in the MVP race?
Yes, Belichick was showing faith in Tom Brady to pick up 2 yards with the game on the line.
We can debate whether Belichick showed too little confidence in his defense, but the other side of the argument says he showed too much.
On Manning, we can all agree. There is no good time for an opponent to put the ball in his hands. Belichick's gambit only reinforced my decision to move Manning back into the No. 1 spot in the weekly MVP Watch.
Worthy candidates come and go from the list each week. Here are 10 I couldn't overlook heading into Week 11:
1. PEYTON MANNING
QB | Indianapolis Colts
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 249 | 357 | 2,872 | 69.7 | 8.05 | 80 | 20 | 7 | 8 | 104.2 |
Leading the NFL in TD passes for a 9-0 team.Last Week: 2
2. BRETT FAVRE
QB | Minnesota Vikings
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 194 | 285 | 2,269 | 68.1 | 7.96 | 63 | 17 | 3 | 19 | 107.5 |
Leading the NFL in passer rating for an 8-1 team. Last Week: 4
3. DREW BREES
QB | New Orleans Saints
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 199 | 291 | 2,559 | 68.4 | 8.79 | 66 | 19 | 9 | 13 | 104.6 |
Second only to Favre in rating for a 9-0 team.
Last Week: 1
4. ADRIAN PETERSON
RB | Minnesota Vikings
| ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 181 | 917 | 5.1 | 64 | 11 | 21 | 199 | 9.5 | 44 | 0 |
Second in rushing yards and rushing TDs for an 8-1 team.Last Week: NR
5. TOM BRADY
QB | New England Patriots
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 233 | 352 | 2,739 | 66.2 | 7.78 | 71 | 19 | 6 | 12 | 100.6 |
Second in passing yards and rating has hit triple digits.Last Week: 5
6. CHRIS JOHNSON
RB | Tennessee Titans
| ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 170 | 1,091 | 6.4 | 91 | 8 | 30 | 262 | 8.7 | 69 | 1 |
Titans must continue winning streak for Johnson's MVP chances.Last Week: NR
7. BEN ROETHLISBERGER
QB | Pittsburgh Steelers
| CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205 | 302 | 2,469 | 67.9 | 8.18 | 52 | 14 | 8 | 27 | 97.1 |
Drops some after first game this season without TD pass.Last Week: 3
8. MAURICE JONES-DREW
RB | Jacksonville Jaguars
| ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 169 | 860 | 5.1 | 80 | 12 | 32 | 220 | 6.9 | 19 | 0 |
Jaguars are over .500 and Jones-Drew is sensational.Last Week: NR
9. RANDY MOSS
WR | New England Patriots
| REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58 | 891 | 15.4 | 71 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Leads NFL in receiving yardage and has 15.4-yard average.Last Week: NR
10. REGGIE WAYNE
WR | Indianapolis Colts
| REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69 | 879 | 12.7 | 39 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Belichick gushed over him after latest performance.Last Week: NR
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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.
