Peyton Manning Is NFL MVP Halfway Through 2010 Season

It's boring and a predictable but who else could this award go to? Peyton Manning could win the MVP every year so it makes sense that he gets SB Nation's midseason MVP award. This one, in particular, is even more impressive because of what he's been missing.

One of his favorite targets, All-Pro tight end Dallas Clark, is out for the year. Pierre Garcon has been in and out with injuries, as ha running back Joseph Addai. Receiver Austin Collie has been beat up this year while Anthony Gonzalez hasn't been available much of the year. A guy named Blair White was catching passes for him last week.

The Colts have had a ridiculous run of injuries this year but, believe it or not, Manning's numbers are still among the elite. He's on pace for nearly 5,000 yards passing and completes, as usual, a very high percentage of his passes. Last year, as an All-Pro, Manning had 33 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. This year he's on pace for 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions. With less to work with, he's making less mistakes.

It's almost unfair that he wins awards like this because, frankly, no one really comes close in terms of value to their team. I think Tom Brady is a great player but he's not as valuable to the Pats as Manning is to the Colts (and Matt Cassel agrees). Philip Rivers is having a Manning-esque year but his team is under .500. Texans RB Arian Foster leads the league in rushing and Broncos WR Brandon Lloyd leads the league in receiving and they were considerations but their teams have combined for six wins.

The Colts are 5-3 and setting themselves up for another division title (although things are more competitive this year). They've won at least 12 games in each of the last seven seasons and won less than 10 games just once since '99. Nearly all of that is due to Manning and this may be one of his most impressive performances yet. This year he's had pieces missing seemingly on a weekly basis yet his numbers continue to blossom. He had a 11:1 touchdown to interception ratio through the first four games and continues to stack good performances on top of each other.

Manning gets our MVP for the first half of the season. If he continues at the pace he's at now, he could be getting the MVP award at the end of the year.