Barring an unforeseen disaster of Kramer-like proportions, LaDainian Tomlinson will be voted NFL MVP at the end of the season.

 

When you’re the best player in the league for the best team in the league – the Chargers top our Dominant Dozen this week for the first time in 2006 – an MVP nod is more or less a done deal.

 

It doesn't hurt to shatter a few records along the way: LT has scored 26 touchdowns already, with four games to play. The single-season TD record of 28 was set just last year by Shaun Alexander. Tomlinson has scored 23 of those touchdowns on the ground, which gives him a good shot to set the rushing TD record, too. Alexander shares the record of 27 rushing touchdowns with Priest Holmes, who set the mark with Kansas City in 2003. If LT can get in the end zone just four times in San Diego's final four games, he'll also set the single-season scoring record. The current mark is held by Hall of Famer Paul Hornung, who scored 176 points for Green Bay in the 12-game 1960 season (15 TDs, 41 PATs, 15 FGs).

 

In the 40 years of the Super Bowl era, only 10 running backs have been named league MVP by the Associated Press:

Of that list, Smith and Davis won the Super Bowl MVP in the same year as their regular-season nods. Brown, Thomas and Alexander lifted their teams to the Super Bowl and lost. Only Simpson won an MVP as a running back for a non-playoff team – and it took a record 2,003 yards in a 14-game season for him to pull off that feat. Four other players, all quarterbacks (Bart Starr, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana and Steve Young), won regular-season and Super Bowl MVP honors in the same season.

 

Will Tomlinson be the third running back (and seventh player) to double-dip? Ah, if we only had a time machine (and X-ray Specs that worked) …

 

1. SAN DIEGO (previous rank: 2)

2006 records: 10-2; 2-2 vs. quality opponents (teams over .500).

Last week: It wasn’t easy, but the Chargers held off the perpetually wagon-circling Bills in Buffalo.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: The Chargers are fifth in the NFL with 382 rushing attempts, but have only been stuffed for a loss 22 times – 5.8 percent, lowest rate in the league (the Eagles are second with 5.9 percent).  

 

Next: vs. Denver.

2006 records: 10-2; 2-1 vs. quality opponents.

Last week: The dysfunctional Bears somehow managed to blow out Minnesota in a game where they passed for 34 yards and netted 107 yards of total offense.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: QB Rex Grossman can’t blame the receivers for his lack of success; the Bears are tied with Buffalo for the fewest dropped passes in the league (seven).

Next: at St. Louis.

 

2006 records: 10-2; 4-1 vs. quality opponents.

Last week: The Colts became the latest team to lose on one of those trendy, last-second 60-yard field goals.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne have a combined 2,012 receiving yards this year – that’s more than seven entire teams.

Next: at Jacksonville. A win wraps up Indy’s fourth straight AFC South title. 

 

2006 records: 9-3; 3-3 vs. quality opponents.

Last week: New England newspapers all used a variety of the “Ugly Win” headline after the team's seven-point home defeat of the pathetic Lions.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: Reche Caldwell’s 112-yard receiving game was the first for New England since David Givens chalked up 137 yards against Tampa Bay last December.

Next: at Miami.

 

2006 records: 9-3; 3-2 vs. quality opponents.

Last week: A 13-7 loss in Cincinnati snapped Baltimore’s franchise-best-tying six-game streak of scoring 20 points or more.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: The Ravens have held eight of their 12 opponents to 14 points or fewer; their 2000 Super Bowl team held 12 opponents to that mark (and did the same to all four playoff foes).

Next: at Kansas City.

6. DALLAS (6-4, previous rank: same)

2006 records: 8-4; 1-1 vs. quality opponents.

Last week: The Cowboys sent the hated Giants further into their tailspin with a 23-20 win.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: Safety Roy Williams is still the face of the Dallas defense, but his numbers are way off this year: He averaged 5.4 tackles per game in his first four seasons but is at 3.8 per game in 2006. He also has no forced fumbles or sacks but has tied his career high with five INTs.

Next: vs. New Orleans (Sunday night). Thank you, flexible scheduling.

7. NEW ORLEANS (previous rank: 9)

2006 records: 8-4; 0-2 vs. quality opponents.  

Last week: With the 49ers in town, it was a coming out party for Reggie Bush (four TDs) and the defense (second straight game allowing 14 points or fewer). 

Cold, Hard Football Facts: The Saints have had 10 100-yard receiving games this season, tops in the league (Colston 4, Henderson 3, Horn 2, Bush 1).

Next: at Dallas (Sunday night).

8. SEATTLE (previous rank: 10)

2006 records: 8-4; 1-2 vs. quality opponents.

Last week: Josh Brown kicked his fourth game-winning field goal of 2006 as Seattle won in Denver.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: The 8-4 Seahawks allow a half-yard more per play on defense (5.3) than they generate on offense (4.8), and have been outscored 263-260 this season.

Next: at Arizona.

2006 records: 7-5; 3-3 vs. quality opponents.

Last week: The Bengals climbed back into contention with a 13-7 win over the Ravens.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: The Bengals’ defense has been oddly effective on the road, allowing just 14.3 points a game away from Cincy as opposed to 25.7 a game at home.

Next: vs. Oakland.

 

10. KANSAS CITY (previous rank: 7)

2006 records: 7-5, 3-2 vs. quality opponents.

Last week: The Chiefs took a major hit, losing in Cleveland 31-28; it was the first time in 2006 that they had allowed more than 30 points (nine times in 2004-05).

Cold, Hard Football Facts: With 61 career TD receptions, Tony Gonzalez is one behind Shannon Sharpe on the all-time TD list for tight ends. When asked for comment, Sharpe said something loud, fast and unintelligible.

Next: vs. Baltimore.

2006 records: 7-5; 2-1 vs. quality opponents.

Last week: The Jaguars claimed an impressive 24-10 road win in Miami.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: In David Garrard’s six starts at QB, the Jags have averaged 167 YPG rushing and 5.0 YPA. In Bryon Leftwich's six starts, it 119 YPG on the ground and 3.9 YPA.

Next: vs. Indy. 

 

2006 records: 7-5; 3-4 vs. quality opponents.

Last week: The Jay Cutler Era started poorly (as expected), with a home loss to Seattle that put the team’s playoff chances in further jeopardy. But the Broncos did save a bunch of money on car insurance by switching to Cutler.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: The Broncos have averaged more points in their losses (21.6 PPG) than they have in their wins (16.7).

Next: at San Diego.

 

13. N.Y. JETS (7-5, previous rank: 14) – Jets have posted back-to-back wins of 14+ points; they had one 14-plus-point win in their previous 30 games.

14. PHILADELPHIA (6-6, previous rank: 18) – Philly’s next three games are on the road against NFC East rivals.

15. NEW YORK GIANTS (6-6, previous rank: same) – Eli Manning leads NFL QBs in painfully awkward silences.

16. CAROLINA (6-6, previous rank: 12) – Panthers haven’t scored more than 26 points in a game this season. 

17. ATLANTA (6-6,  previous rank: 20) – Falcons average 5.7 yards a rush, 5.1 yards per pass.

18. PITTSBURGH (5-7, previous rank: 23) – Nine of Roethlisberger’s league-high 20 INTs have come in the fourth quarter (also a league high).

19. BUFFALO (5-7, previous rank: 16) – J.P. Losman has a league-best passer rating of 117.7 inside the red zone. 

20. TENNESSEE (5-7, previous rank: 25) – Safety Chris Hope is the only non-linebacker among the top 25 NFL tacklers (97 total).

21. MIAMI (5-7, previous rank: 17) – Harrington’s passer rating (71.4) is worse than Culpepper (77.0), but he’s fourth-best in the NFL at avoiding sacks (sacked on 3.6 percent of attempts, as opposed to 15.6 percent for Culpepper).

22. ST. LOUIS (5-7, previous rank: 19) – Rams averaged 32.9 PPG from 1999-2001 and topped 30 points in 34 of 48 games. Since then, they’ve averaged 22.2 PPG and topped the 30-point mark in 16 of 76 games.

23. CLEVELAND (4-8, previous rank: 27) – Browns haven’t won consecutive games since October 2003.

24. MINNESOTA (5-7, previous rank: 22) – Four of Minnesota’s five top tacklers are defensive backs.

25. SAN FRANCISCO (5-7, previous rank: 21) – Niners have been outscored 116-20 on the road against quality opponents (Kansas City, Chicago, New Orleans).

26. WASHINGTON (4-8, previous rank: same) – Opponents are 26 for 29 on field goals this year, including 9 of 11 from 40-plus.

27. HOUSTON (4-8, previous rank: 28) – LB DeMeco Ryans, a second-round pick, should win Defensive Rookie of the Year: He leads the NFL with 96 solo tackles, and his 113 total tackles are second only to the 116 recorded by Miami’s Zach Thomas.

28. GREEN BAY (4-8, previous rank: 24) – Rookie LB A.J. Hawk isn’t far behind Ryans: 70 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks.

29. ARIZONA (3-9, previous rank: 31) – K Neil Rackers is just 6 of 13 from 40-plus this year. He was 19 of 21 in 2005.

30. TAMPA BAY (3-9, previous rank: 29) – Rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski hasn’t topped 200 yards passing since his first start (eight straight under 200).

31. OAKLAND (2-10, previous rank: 30) – New slogan for 2006 season: Just End, Baby!

32. DETROIT (2-10, previous rank: same) – Backup QB Josh McCown became the 18th different Lions player to catch a pass this year; they lead the league in that category – and in losses.