16 Dec 10 Philadelphia Eagles: Does MVP Stand for Michael Vick in Philly?

Nick Laham/Getty ImagesIt was Christmas Eve 2006. The Atlanta Falcons were hosting the Carolina Panthers in Week 16.Down by seven with just six seconds on the clock, Michael Vick took the snap from shotgun and threw a 35-yard dart intended for Roddy White.The pass was not a good one. Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
Shaun Williams, the Panthers defensive back, intercepted the pass and sealed the Falcons' eighth loss of the season.That was the last time Michael Vick threw an interception.Four years, 218 pass attempts and 13 touchdowns later, Michael Vick has taken the NFL by storm. He has his Philadelphia Eagles sitting atop the division and playing as well as any team in the league.He leads the NFL in passer rating at 108.7.In games that Michael Vick both starts and finishes (without injury) the Eagles are 5-0 with an average point differential of plus-14.2.In the other five games, the Eagles are 2-3 with an average point differential of minus-2.6.In the five games that Michael Vick both started and finished, the Eagles have a combined total of two turnovers.In the other five games the Eagles have nine turnovers.With Vick at the helm, the Eagles play efficient, productive football.Vick's streak of 218 consecutive pass attempts without an interception already ranks among some of the best. He is 90 pass attempts away from Bernie Kosar's all-time record of 308.If he keeps up his average of 30 pass attempts per game, he needs just three more games without an interception to reach the record.He has already set an Eagles franchise record by starting the season with 191 pass attempts without throwing an interception.Assuming that Michael Vick is able to stay healthy and continues to play at the level that he has shown, he has to be the favorite for MVP.Other quarterbacks, such as Phillip Rivers and Tom Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
Brady, are putting up more numbers. But nobody is putting up more efficient numbers.Nobody is playing better, and nobody is as big of a reason that his team is winning.Remember before Vick took over, many people—Philly fans included—counted 2010 as a rebuilding year.Vick has clearly and single-handedly changed those expectations with his MVP-caliber level of play.