Peterson the forgotten man in MVP debate

So far this season the NFL MVP debate goes something like this. Tom Brady or Cam Newton?

The best players and signal callers on the two last undefeated teams were always going to dominate the conversation.

But what about another guy whose play has been equally influential to his team’s success?

I’m talking about Adrian Peterson.

The Vikings are 8-3 and lead the NFC North ahead of the floundering Packers (7-4) and surprisingly resurgent Bears (5-6) and Lions (4-7). The Vikes currently hold the third seed in the NFC and have the sixth best record in the NFL.

And there is no doubt the catalyst for their success in 2015 has been the running game. With young quarterback Teddy Bridgewater still developing, Peterson has routinely put this team on his back and carried them to victory.

Slow down, I’m not putting this all on Peterson.

Bridgewater has been a solid game manager at times and occasionally the other offensive weapons have come up with critical plays. But as well as Peterson, the Vikings defence should get the remainder of the credit for the team’s record.

Their mix of recent draft picks and veterans has been impressive in 2015, ranking second overall in points allowed and fourth in passing yards allowed.

But without Peterson carrying the ball, controlling the clock and wearing defences out, this Vikings team would likely be facing another season of mediocrity.

He leads the league in rushing yards (1164), rushing attempts (237), yards per game (105.8) and is second in touchdowns (8) behind Devonta Freeman.

Peterson has rushed for more than 100 yards six times in 11 games. The Vikings have won each of those games. In fact, every time the Vikings hand the ball off to Peterson more than 19 times in a game they win.

Peterson turned 30 this season and, of course, is coming off a season on the commissioner’s exempt list after highly publicised allegations of child abuse. There were those willing to write him off at the start of the season.

History shows when a running back turns 30 their statistics fall off a cliff. No one is immune.

Well, almost no one.

Peterson is an absolute beast, a physical specimen who combines natural ability with an incredible work ethic. If anyone was capable of leading the league in rushing at age 30 after a season out of the game, it is Peterson.

Don’t forget his 2012 campaign, when he rushed for 2097 yards, just nine yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season all-time record.

Peterson did that coming off a season-ending torn ACL and MCL. That season he won the NFL MVP award.

This season he is being talked about as a good candidate for the league’s ‘Comeback Player of the Year’ award. But he deserves more credit.

After gashing the Raiders for 203 yards in Week 10, Peterson was ahead of where he was in 2012. Since then he has fallen somewhat behind that incredible rate. But he is doing it behind a subpar offensive line that lost starting right tackle Phil Loadholt to a torn Achilles in the pre-season.

Disclaimer: His 2012 MVP-winning season was fueled by an otherworldly second half in which he racked up 1322 yards in the final eight games and 1140 yards in the final seven.

He went over 100 yards six times in the final seven games and over 150 yards five times in that span. His third-best game was 199 yards and he posted 409 alone in two December meetings with the Green Bay Packers.

Peterson just needs a remarkable final five games this regular season and average about 167 yards per game to reach 2000 yards.

Unlikely? Maybe. Impossible? No way. This is Adrian Peterson we are talking about. The greatest back of his generation.

The Vikings play a few tough run defences, but won’t be shying away from handing the ball to number 28. In fact, they should lean on him more than ever as they look to conserve their lead in the division and earn a playoff berth.

If he gets anywhere near 2000 yards then he should be in the conversation for MVP.

Because if he dominates then the Vikings will likely win the remainder of their games and head into the playoffs as one of the top teams in the NFC. And who predicted that at the start of the season?

The MVP award is just that, the league’s most valuable player. Most valuable to his team.

When Peterson won it in 2012 the Vikings finished 10-6 and lost a Wild Card game to the Packers.

That same season Calvin Johnson broke Jerry Rice’s single-season receiving yards record, JJ Watt had 20 sacks, Drew Brees threw for 43 touchdowns and 5100 yards and Luke Kuechly had 164 tackles.

Peterson was deemed the most valuable of them all.

This season the Vikings are better and Peterson has played an even more pivotal role in their success. The MVP debate should go – Brady, Newton and Peterson.