So, Cam Newton has probably taken care of the MVP conversation.
But it’s at least reasonable to think Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer deserves to be second on the ballot.
Palmer led the Cards to a 40-17 win over the Eagles and moving them to 12-2, clinching the NFC West title and at least keeping them alive for the top spot in the NFC playoffs.
But even if they don’t catch the 14-0 Panthers and Newton takes the highest individual honors, Palmer is still on quite a roll, and if not single-handedly, has made the Cards one of the most dangerous teams in the league.
They’re 18-2 the last two seasons in games he started, and the fact they were so good last year before his injury seems to be forgotten.
While he may have more and more reliable passing targets than Newton, and doesn’t provide the same rushing threat, he’s orchestrating an offense at a high level in a different way. The downfield passing system of coach Bruce Arians seems to be custom-made for him, at an age when other quarterbacks are becoming check-down artists. The 8.8-yards per attempt average he came into Sunday’s game with is a career high, and you don’t expect that from someone who’s about to turn 36.
But he has 32 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and even after a painful finger injury, showed he has the right touch for this team.
Here are five more things we learned during Sunday Night Football:
1. Eagles de facto General Manager Chip Kelly might have erred signing DeMarco Murray, but it was on coach Chip Kelly for not using him.
Murray might be in the doghouse, but he’s got the best resume in short-yardage situations of any of the backs on their roster.
So going for a fourth-and-inches in the second quarter was defensible, but not if you’re parking Murray on the sidelines and running Ryan Mathews instead.
It’s unclear what the endgame is for their backs, and it’s perfectly acceptable if the Eagles think Mathews gives them a better chance on most downs now. But saying he’s a better option than Murray at the thing Murray is best at is hard to swallow.
2. There’s something admirable about the Cardinals continuing to throw to John “Smokey” Brown.
But if he continues to drop them, even the most ardent supporters might have to re-think giving him so many chances.
Brown dropped three passes in the first half, and would have had about 200 yards and thee touchdowns had he caught them. He did not.
They gave him more chances, and he responded with a touchdown in the third quarter.
Brown has the kind of deep ball potential and drop problems as Ted Ginn in Carolina (they were teammates last year), and maybe the secret is just dealing in bulk, and playing the averages.
But it also takes extreme confidence to continue throwing passes to guys who continue not catching them, and that confidence can have long-term benefits.
3. Eagles defensive coordinator Billy Davis has taken his share of criticism this year, some of it deserved.
But the fact his players seem to struggle tackling is an issue that should have been addressed long before they got to him.
The David Johnson touchdown in the first half was embarrassing, and nothing against Johnson, but he’s no Marshawn Lynch. The Eagles who appeared to be interested in making a play were out of position, and the ones near enough to Johnson weren’t able to bring him down.
It was one play, but it was a bad one, and it’s the kind that won’t soon be forgotten.
4. Speaking of Johnson, the fact he’s even running as much as he is right now speaks to the depth the Cardinals personnel staff has acquired.
The rookie from Northern Iowa would be a spot player if not for injuries to Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington. They liked his potential, and tried to spot him in a bit at a time to ease him into the NFL. Between that and his fumbling issues, there was reason to.
But he looked ready for his close-up Sunday, with 29 carries for 187 yards and three touchdowns, and added four catches for 42 yards.
5. There were plenty of mistakes, but the Eagles (6-8) still aren’t out of it.
They’re just a game behind Washington for the NFC East lead, and what do you know, they play Saturday night.
And nothing we’ve seen from anyone in that division to date leads us to believe it’s going to be anything other than settled in the late stages of Week 17.