The NFL Most Valuable Player Award will be handed out ahead of the Super Bowl and for the 2015 season, Cam Newton appears to be the favorite to win over Tom Brady, Carson Palmer and Russell Wilson.
Newton led the Carolina Panthers to a 15-1 season and the first overall seed in the NFC while taking some steps forward at the quarterback position. Newton helped lead the team to a 14-0 record before losing a game and that should help put him over the top for the award this year. Palmer, Brady and Wilson all had fine seasons and should get consideration for the award, but Newton was the most impressive and valuable of the group.
Newton is already off to a good start, as he was awarded the NFL Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year by the Professional Football Writers of America this week. Newton has already been named to the AP All-Pro First Team and won the Sporting News Offensive Player of the Year award.
Here is a look at the top MVP candidates:
Cam Newton, Panthers
Newton had the best season of his career in 2015, combining for 45 total touchdowns and leading the Panthers to the top seed in the NFC. Newton put up a career high in passing TDs with 35 and he threw for 3837 yards and also added 636 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Newton had a career low 10 interceptions and he is the favorite for the award after keeping his team undefeated through 14 games this season.
Carson Palmer, Cardinals
Palmer had the best season of his career this year and in any other season he likely would get strong consideration for the MVP, but this year it looks like it will be Newton's. Palmer returned from a serious knee injury and put up 4671 passing yards with 35 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions while completing over 63 percent of his passes.
Tom Brady, Patriots
Brady also would be a prime candidate for the award in any other season, as Brady put up some of the best numbers of his career and dealt with some major injuries on offense. Brady threw for 4770 yards and 36 touchdowns this season with just seven interceptions while completing over 64 percent of his passes. Brady did this with players like Dion Lewis, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, LeGarrette Blount and Rob Gronkowski all missing various amounts of time with injuries.
