Peter King Gets Paid For This: Vol. 8

Let's see what is on Pete's mind this week.

I am not blaming the travel and Thanksgiving night game for the Cardinals' pathetic performance at Philadelphia, but you're deluding yourself if you think the short week didn't play a part in it.

[I love deluding myself! I mean, I read ALL of your articles, Pete. Let's do this.]

I examined the short week of the Cardinals in advance of their game at Philadelphia and found three distinct disadvantages they faced:

[Enumerated list me!?!]

1. They were coming off a very physical game with the New York Giants, likely the best team in football.

[Playing the Giants sounds like a distinct disadvantage for the previous week... when they had to play the Giants...., right? Pretty sure they still weren't playing the Giants (who are awesome) when they played the Eagles (who aren't awesome).]

2. They were unfamiliar with the Eagles.

[Wow, I didn't know that none of the Eagles games were televised or video-taped by anyone. Great find, Pete.]

3. None of the other 2008 Thursday night visitors will have to travel nearly as far as Arizona's four-and-a-half-hour, 2,369-mile trip.

[This is a nit-picky point, but a point nonetheless. Arizona having to travel a great distance to play MIGHT actually be a plausible argument as to why they sucked on Thursday. Stating that none of the other teams that will play on a Thursday this season will have to travel that far is COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT. Other teams' travel plans have NOTHING to do with the AZ-Philly game.]

In similarly impressive and persuasive fashion, Pete makes some strong arguments for his MVP ballot (per usual).

1. Peyton Manning
Manning ascends to the top by default, despite engineering zero touchdown drives for only the fifth time in a 10-year NFL career.

[Your primary contention for your top choice is the "by default" argument? Followed immediately by a "despite" bomb? Really?]

2. Matt Ryan
Falcons were supposed to go 3-13. They are 8-4. They've won at San Diego and Green Bay.

[He should have just stopped after "They are 8-4," right? SD and GB are a combined 9-15. And SD has the 31st ranked pass defense in the league. Just saying....]

3. Drew Brees
In many ways, he's having the best year at the most important position in football, even with a bummer Sunday in Tampa.

[And by "many ways," Pete means "passing yards." As many TDs as Kurt Warner. Fourth best QB Rating. Sixth best completion percentage. Tied with Favre for the most INTs (which is an accomplishment).]

4. Kris Jenkins
Mulligan.

[QED!]

5. James Harrison
I might argue this spot belongs to Troy Polamalu or LaMarr Woodley.

[NO! You wrote "James Harrison." It's right there! I am looking right at it!! My head hurts.]