As we now enter the end of the NFL regular season for 2014, with playoff scenarios both taking shape and being decided, the NFL’s annual yearly awards are soon to be handed out.
The NFL MVP is one that every player wants – at least from an individual standpoint.
This year, like every year since 1986 (more on that later) an offensive player has taken home the award and in most cases it’s quarterbacks that win. Last year we saw Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning collect his fifth MVP award and rightly so, in what was a record-setting year for him and his greatest year statistically in his Hall of Fame career.
Most of you would have heard that this year’s NFL MVP talk seems to be heading in the direction of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray among others.
Amongst those others and considered in the top three is Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, and here is my case as to why he should be named NFL MVP for 2014.
For those that don’t know, J.J. Watt is just a beast of an athlete who is simply so much better than any defensive player in the NFL.
He is currently second in the NFL in sacks with 17.5 – only .5 sack behind the leader, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston.
But that’s not all statistically. He also has 72 total tackles, 10 passes defended, three forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, a fumble recovery for a touchdown, an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown and also three receiving touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball lined up as a tight end!
In short, J.J. Watt can just about do everything. Teams have tried to double team him but he has proven time and again that he’ll beat your double team to get to either the quarterback or ball carrier.
This season he has dominated games on a consistent basis and I truly believe that if it were not for him, the Houston Texans would be a lot worse off than 8-7 where they currently stand.
In fact, I’d say his level play has given the Texans 3-4 wins this year alone.
This sets up a possible playoff berth for the Texans, although they will have to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars this week and hope both the Baltimore Ravens and San Diego Chargers lose their games. Still, it is possible.
Before the start of the season the Houston Texans and J.J. Watt agreed to a six-year contract extension, worth $100 million.
Worth. Every. Penny.
The last defensive player to win the NFL MVP award was Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants back in 1986, who, like J.J. Watt had one of the most dominating seasons we’ve ever seen from a defensive player in the NFL.
Most of you reading this are probably thinking that J.J. Watt can’t possibly win with somebody like Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers having the type of season he is having.
However, consider this – in what is regularly considered a passing league where 30 total touchdowns is now a formality, it seems for a lot of quarterbacks and efficiency ratings keep getting higher. How can we truly tell the difference of who’s ‘more valuable’ than the other, let alone who’s ‘most valuable’ at the quarterback position?
If we’re going to give this award to quarterbacks year in year out then we may as well just rename it to something like the ‘NFL’s Best Quarterback Award’ or something similar.
The only other positional player with a chance of the award is running back, but for a running back to be seriously considered they’ll need to rush for over 2,000 yards – something Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson did back in 2012 when he was named NFL MVP.
J.J. Watt has given us the most dominant season by a defensive player we’ve seen since the aforementioned Lawrence Taylor and in my eyes is truly deserving on the NFL MVP award for the 2014 season.
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