NFL MVP Race: Russell Wilson Emerges as Biggest Threat to Tom Brady

The Seattle Seahawks’ upset victory over the Philadelphia Eagles capped off Sunday’s Week 13 NFL action. Behind Russell Wilson, Seattle (8-4) ended Philly’s league-best nine-game winning streak and kept the Seahawks within a game of first place in the NFC West behind the Los Angeles Rams (9-3), who took care of business against the woeful Arizona Cardinals. Wilson threw for 227 yards and three scores and added 31 rushing yards (118.6 passer rating) as he strengthened his case for Most Valuable Player in the victory, outplaying his counterpart and MVP candidate Carson Wentz. With Wilson’s performance on Sunday night in consideration, here is a look at the updated race for the league's MVP award.

5. Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers

Bell and the Steelers travel to Cincinnati for ‘Monday Night Football’ to conclude Week 13. Even without playing his Week 13 contest, Bell currently leads the NFL with 981 rushing yards. His heavy workload, a league-high 252 rushing attempts, illustrates the Steelers’ reliance on the 25-year-old running back. The sensational play of teammate Antonio Brown, the NFL’s most dominant wideout who leads the league in receiving yards and warrants MVP consideration, devalues Bell’s MVP chances.   

4. Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams

Gurley currently leads the NFL with 1,502 yards from scrimmage (Bell could take the lead if he posts 125 yards from scrimmage on Monday night) and is the only halfback in the league with over 900 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards. Gurley has 11 touchdowns (eight rushing, three receiving), tied for most in the NFL with New Orleans Saints electrifying rookie running back Alvin Kamara.

Todd Gurley rushed for 74 yards and caught six passes for 84 yards in the Los Angeles Rams' road victory over the Arizona Cardinals. (Christian Peterson/Getty Images)

3. Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles

Despite the defeat on Sunday night, the 10-2 Eagles are tied for the No. 1 seed in the NFC with the red-hot Minnesota Vikings, behind the quarterback play of Wentz, who is on pace to shatter Eagles franchise records. Wentz has thrown for the most touchdown passes (29) in the NFL. The Eagles are tied with the Rams for the league-lead in points per game (30.1).

2. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

Right in the thick of the ultra-competitive NFC, Wilson has done it all on offense for the Seahawks. Despite a spotty offensive line and the lack of effective complimentary running backs, Wilson has thrown for 3,029 yards and 23 touchdowns with just eight interceptions this season. He also has rushed for a team-best 401 yards and three scores.

Russell Wilson scrambles past Eagles defensive end Chris Long. (Josh Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports)

1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

40 years young, Brady is playing the best football of his legendary career. Brady improved his record to 27-3 against the division-rival Bills with New England's win over Buffalo on Sunday. He leads the NFL in passing yards, completions, and passer rating. He ranks second in completion percentage (Drew Brees) and TD passes (Wentz). The 10-2 Patriots look like the best team in the NFL and Brady is the biggest reason why.

LeGarrette Blount Suspended for Week 1 of 2015 NFL Season

New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount has been suspended without pay for the 2015 regular-season opener for violating the substance abuse policy, the NFL confirmed Tuesday. Blount will not be in uniform when the defending-champion Patriots receive their Super Bowl rings in the 2015 home opener.

Blount will miss the first game of the 2015 season. (Greg M. Cooper/USA Today Sports)

Blount was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers when he and fellow running back Le'Veon Bell were arrested on Aug. 20 after police found three-fourths of an ounce of marijuana in Bell's car during a traffic stop.

After serving 50 hours of community service, prosecutors agreed to drop the charge against Blount in January. Blount was cut by the Steelers in mid-November after the tailback left the field early in Pittsburgh's come-from-behind victory over the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football. He totaled just 266 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games with the Steelers after signing a two-year, $3.85 million contract with the team in the offseason.

Following his release from Pittsburgh, Blount latched onto the New England Patriots—where he played during the 2013 NFL season. Blount emerged as the lead running back in his return to New England, rushing for 281 yards on 60 carries with three touchdowns in the final five games of the regular season. Blount—who ran for three touchdowns in the AFC Championship game versus the Indianapolis Colts—helped the Patriots win their fourth title in franchise history with a thrilling victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.

As a result of the suspension, Blount will lose $48,685 in base salary, as well as a $6,250 per-game roster bonus. He remains eligible to participate in all offseason practices and preseason practices before the suspension starts.