NFL: Could Arizona Cardinals QB Carson Palmer Win MVP Award This Season?
We're only two games into this NFL season, and so much has happened already. The Dallas Cowboys' injury problems, Philadelphia Eagles' struggles and the Green Bay Packers' dominance have highlighted the first two weeks. However, the lone team in the Grand Canyon State has been the most impressive so far.
The Cardinals have been the highest scoring team after two weeks of play, and they have the best point differential in the league.
Front and center of the Cardinals offense is veteran quarterback Carson Palmer. Palmer (tied with Tom Brady) leads the NFL in touchdown passes with seven thrown this season and has an exceptional 124.4 passer rating. Palmer isn't new to this game at all. He is a former No. 1 overall draft pick who did win the Heisman trophy.
The biggest concern with Palmer is health. Palmer missed 10 games last season after tearing his ACL. His most infamous injury came against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2006 postseason when he was with the Cincinnati Bengals. Palmer also missed 12 games in 2008 because of elbow issues.
The Cardinals have struggled mightily to find a replacement quarterback since the Kurt Warner era, but it appears as if Palmer is ready to fill those shoes. Palmer is a perfect 8-0 in his last eight games with 18 touchdowns and four interceptions. In that same time span Palmer has a 101.8 passer rating with notable wins over the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.
It's only been two games, so christening an MVP already is a little premature at the moment. The usual players will be there in the end such as Brady, Aaron Rodgers and others, but Palmer definitely has a realistic chance at winning the award this year. If Palmer can just stay on the field, continue his winning ways, and maintain passing the ball at a high level, you can bet he will get some votes at season's end.
Often times we see quality quarterbacks play well, but they just don't have the talent around them to succeed. That's clearly not the case with Palmer and the Cardinals. Larry Fitzgerald, one of the greatest receivers of all-time, currently has the fourth most receiving yards of any wide receiver in the league. Fitzgerald and Palmer have a great connection with one another, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Michael Floyd, who led the Cardinals in receiving yards last year, clearly has to get going.
The Seattle Seahawks may be 0-2, but they're still "top dogs" in the NFC West after winning the conference the last two consecutive seasons. Palmer and the Cardinals will get their chance to knock off the Seahawks this year and retake the NFC West division.
If Palmer can maintain the same high level of play this entire season that he has shown over the last year, he will be in the MVP conversation. What's more, the Cardinals will be a Super Bowl threat, and Palmer will be playing in his first playoff game since 2010.
Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1