NFL MVP, ROY and awards rankings: Carson Wentz's injury opens up the MVP race

As Carson Wentz was walking back to the locker room with a season-ending injury, the entire NFL season was changing.

It will also cause a major shift for the MVP award.

Wentz was having the kind of game last Sunday that could have won him the award. In a huge, high-profile game against the Los Angeles Rams, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback had 291 yards and four touchdowns in three quarters. He made multiple plays that were simply astonishing, against a good Rams defense. If we assume a normal fourth quarter for him, a healthy Wentz is probably the MVP front-runner today.

Instead, he’s out for the season and while his 13 games were marvelous, he won’t win the award. There is a precedent. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana won MVP in 1989 after missing three games. That’s the most games an MVP has ever missed. I just don’t see that repeating.

But a weird Week 14 has turned the award into a free-for-all. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had his worst game of this season against the Miami Dolphins, and perhaps his worst game in years. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson did practically nothing through a half against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and even though he rallied in the second half, the Seahawks lost and Wilson threw three interceptions. Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown seems to be the one surging to the front of the line, but I look at the voting history and I’m still skeptical he can actually win. Maybe this year is the year, though as stated before, it would be a complete outlier. No receiver has ever won MVP. No receiver has gotten a single vote in 19 years.

Without Wentz and with a couple other favorites coming off down weeks, the MVP race got a lot tighter. It’s too bad, because Wentz seemed to be on his way to taking a healthy lead last week before his injury. We’ll reluctantly remove Wentz from the MVP ballot, because even though he would be on it if the season ended today, he’ll fall off of it by the time the actual votes come in.

Here is this week’s MVP ballot:

1. Brady — We shouldn’t overreact to one game, even though it was not good. Brady still leads the NFL in passing yards and passer rating. He’s second in touchdown-to-interception ratio behind Wentz. He’s second behind Drew Brees in completion percentage. One bad night in Miami doesn’t change all that. But it at least opens the door for others. If Brady struggles on Sunday in a huge game at Pittsburgh (and a certain Steelers receiver dominates), then things could really start to change.

2. Wilson — Like Brady, Wilson’s performance on Sunday will be huge for any MVP hopes he has. The Seahawks play the Rams, and there’s a good chance the winner will take the NFC West title too. What Wilson did in the second half last week was remarkable. He had 36 passing yards with no completion longer than 7 yards in the first half against the league’s best defense. Then he had 235 yards and three touchdowns after halftime and almost dragged Seattle to a win. But you have to count the first half too, and the three picks he threw. Also, Wilson has to make the playoffs to be considered. The last MVP from a team that didn’t make the playoffs was O.J. Simpson in 1973. I think it’s ridiculous to ignore a player’s MVP case because he doesn’t have a good enough team around him, but making the playoffs has become a prerequisite.

3. Brown — How about a 213-yard game in a comeback win on “Sunday Night Football” to help an MVP candidacy? Brown has been amazing lately, and after his huge game against the Baltimore Ravens he has a shot at Calvin Johnson’s single-season yardage record (Brown needs 455 yards to tie). A record like that for a player on a good team might sway voters, and it should. Given that the Patriots-Steelers game Sunday is the biggest regular-season game in the NFL this season by far, a huge performance by either Brown or Brady in a win might change who wins MVP.

4. Los Angeles Chargers QB Philip Rivers — Over the Chargers’ last eight games, Rivers has 2,246 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions with a 105.4 rating. He only had one truly awful game as the Chargers started 0-4, which came against the Kansas City Chiefs. He can make up for that Saturday at Kansas City and help give the Chargers the upper hand in the AFC West race with a win. Rivers has been on fire, the Chargers are authoring quite a story as they try to go from 0-4 to AFC West champs, and a big game in a win Saturday night will get Rivers some MVP buzz.

5. Los Angeles Rams QB Jared Goff — I hear the calls for Todd Gurley’s MVP argument and I think they’re justified, but good luck finding votes for a running back that isn’t even leading the NFL in rushing yards. Since 1993, the only running backs to win the award rushed for 2,000 yards or set a single-season touchdown record. I don’t enjoy the quarterback-only mindset for MVP, but if we’re being realistic Goff has a better shot than Gurley because of the position he plays.

Defensive Player of the Year: Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey grabbed an interception and was a big part of a huge win against the Seahawks. Cornerbacks are always up against it when it comes to defensive player of the year awards, but hopefully Ramsey wins. He has had an amazing year on a great defense and he deserves it.

The ballot:

1. Ramsey
2. Los Angeles Rams DT Aaron Donald
3. Arizona Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson

Coach of the Year: Here’s another award that could change based on Carson Wentz’s injury. Imagine if the Eagles go 3-0 with Nick Foles and get the No. 1 seed (and don’t forget they closed out a huge win at the Rams without Wentz in the fourth quarter). At that point, shouldn’t Eagles coach Doug Pederson win? I know Sean McVay of the Rams is going to win because that hype train has been rolling for months, but I think there are good arguments to be made for others, including some not even making this week’s top three like Mike Zimmer, Anthony Lynn and Sean Payton. Mike Tomlin of the Steelers is moving up because of how adeptly he managed the drama with that team early this season.

The ballot:

1. New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick
2. McVay
3. Tomlin

Offensive Rookie of the Year: New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is still the favorite here, though his concussion could change that. If Kamara misses more time, that would allow others to catch up. But he’s still safely ahead for now.

The ballot:

1. Kamara
2. Jacksonville Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette
3. Kansas City Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt

Defensive Rookie of the Year: I really like what Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt has done all season, but New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore has to be a stone-cold lock. His interception last week, covering Julio Jones, was a thing of beauty.

The ballot:

1. Lattimore
2. Watt
3. Buffalo Bills CB Tre’Davious White

– – – – – – –

Frank Schwab is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
Follow @YahooSchwab

More from Yahoo Sports:
• American who played in Lithuania: Balls picked ‘worst possible place’
• Angels’ prized new Japanese star has elbow damage
• Kaepernick visits prison inmates, angers union official
• Saints sued for ‘disrespecting’ flag, anthem and USA