The NFL is past its midway point, and the MVP race is starting to take a clearer picture. ESPN surveyed its 32 NFL Nation reporters to get their thoughts on who the front runners are for the award.
Half of the votes went to Tom Brady and the suddenly resurgent New England Patriots' offense.
"Tom Brady," John Keim wrote. "Earlier this season, the question was whether Tom Brady was nearing the end. The answer? No. He's now thrown 22 touchdowns to only three interceptions for the season. And in the past five games, it's 18 touchdowns to one pick for a 120.5 passer rating during that stretch."
New England has reeled off five straight wins - including a 43-21 beat down over Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos - after starting the season 2-2. Brady ranks fifth in the NFL in passing yards (2,392), sixth in passer rating (103.5) and third in touchdowns (22).
Dallas Cowboys' running back DeMarco Murray came in second with six of a possible 32 votes. Murray gained at least 100 yards from scrimmage in eight of his first nine games.
"The Cowboys were supposed to be mediocre," Phil Sheridan wrote. "And maybe they would have been if Murray hadn't turned in the best half-season by a running back in recent memory. In an era when passing yardage is Monopoly money, Murray has been pure gold."
Murray leads the league in rushing with 1,133, more than 200 yards ahead of No. 2 Arian Foster. The fourth-year rusher also has seven touchdowns, and is running at a 5.0 yards per carry average.
Peyton Manning received just five of the votes for third place on the MVP list. The loss to New England didn't help his cause, but it didn't ruin his chances either.
"As tempted as I was to go with Brady after his latest tour de force over Manning on Sunday, the vote still goes to the guy in the Mile High City," Paul Gutierrez wrote. "A one-game hiccup does nothing - at least, not at the season's midway point - to throw shade on how valuable he's been to the Broncos, not when he's still leading Brady in TD passes, yards and QB rating."
