Drew Brees vs. Kurt Warner

by MtnExile on Nov 25, 2008 2:25 PM CST Comment 5 comments

By now, every Saints fan should know that Drew Brees is having an MVP-caliber season; that the Saints have the league's top-ranked offense, mainly due to the prolific passing game; and, most famously, that he's on track to break one of Dan Marino's last records: passing yards in a season.

What has gotten lost in all the background noise is that Drew has a rival who is also on pace to break Marino's record. Kurt Warner of the Cardinals is being heavily touted as an MVP candidate as well; but most don't realize that if things continue as they have, he too will break Marino's record...and may very well pass up Brees before the end of the year.

Arizona faces Philadelphia, New England, St. Louis, Minnesota, and Seattle to finish out the year. Only Philadelphia is at all formidable on paper: they boast the league's fifth-ranked pass defense. The others are ranked 18th, 21st, 22nd, and 31st.

The Saints, on the other hand, play Tampa Bay, Carolina, Detroit, Atlanta, and Chicago. Their rankings are 2nd, 9th, 19th, 23rd, and 30th. Clearly, Brees will be facing tougher competition down the stretch.

When it comes to MVP consideration, Brees and Warner are nearly equal. Brees has thrown for more yards by the slimmest of margins; but he has also thrown for more completions of 20+ and 40+ yards. He has more TDs (1), but also more interceptions (3). Warner has more attempts, more completions, and a higher completion percentage than Brees. He also has a higher passer rating--102.4 against 99.9.

Perhaps more importantly, Warner plays for an unexpectedly good team. Nobody believed the Cardinals would be this good, and Warner is getting much of the credit for their success. Brees and the Saints, on the other hand, were chic picks to make a deep playoff run--even into the Super Bowl. Brees gets less credit for the phenomenal year he's having because everyone expected if of him; few expected Warner or the Cardinals to be this good.

The record, of course, will be what it will be--not a matter of opinion. But the MVP vote will most likely be determined by the Saints' success as a team: if they make the playoffs, Drew Brees is a legitimate MVP. If they don't, then no matter how good a statistical season he had, it will be perceived as a failed campaign, and Warner will get the nod.

This FanPost was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.

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Comments

The key difference in

my opinion would be the weapons both had at their disposal to this point. Although Boldin missed 2 games, the Saints have had much more substantial injuries to deal with.

Ask this, take away Brees, and what is this team’s record?

by Brian.Corbett on Nov 25, 2008 3:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah. Take away Warner, and they’ve still got Leinart.

M-E, that was a damned good post, I rec’d it. I’d rather read you than Peter King.

Of course I can quibble with a few points, but I’ll pick one: I’ve been waiting for the Cardinals to emerge for some time now, since McCown was there. That is a very dangerous team on both sides of the ball.

Green Bay safety Nick Collins put it simply: "We got embarrassed."

by stujo4 on Nov 25, 2008 3:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

SI

SI has a article saying much the same. They point out that Fumbles as well and Brees wins the turnover ratio when you factor that in.

Both are prime candiates for the MVP, especially when we remove our homer goggles and bring Brees down from godhood.

Both should break Marino’s record.

If the award had to be given right now tho… I would vote Brees. Without him the Saints are nothing.

by MT_always on Nov 26, 2008 10:26 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Brees gets my vote

of course, but as has been mentioned, a lot may depend on the success of the team down the stretch.
Also, about Marino’s record: With 5 games to go – Brees has to average over 366 yds just to tie. 366 yds per game is not exactly a cake-walk. Brees is averaging roughly 325 per game. Marino put up huge numbers his last 3 or 4 games that season. Just saying. I’m hopeful for the record, but that may be safe. The MVP is a more reasonable goal.

by CajunCavern on Nov 26, 2008 5:56 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

And Warner chucked 3 INTs last night in the loss to Philly,

so that tightens up both the “individual stats” and the “team success” portions of the MVP race.

And while it is truly AWESOME to go from 5 years of Aaron Brooks and infuriating inconsistency to steady Big Easy Breesy, I must say that I am much more interested in the playoff race right now.

"One thing that we've talked about is pulling off five, six games in a row," McAllister said. "Well, you had to get two before you got six."

by HansDat on Nov 28, 2008 4:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs