No Super Bowl and no season MVP

Two players returned from what could have been career-ending injuries this season to play some of the best football of their lives. Two players were absolute staples on their teams' rosters, and helped moved them to playoff berths. Two players saw their Super Bowl runs end in their first playoff game this year. Two players can both have phenomenal seasons, but only one can be voted NFL's Most Valuable Player (MVP).

When all is said and done with this NFL season, many things will be brought up, analyzed and never forgotten. Two of those stories will be Adrian Peterson returning early from ACL surgery and having an absolute career season, as well as Payton Manning’s first season back after four neck surgeries, leading a brand new team to a first-round bye in the playoffs. With both vying for MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, Adrian Peterson’s nearly record-breaking rushing season gave him the upper hand to be announced winner of both awards. Peterson’s 2,097 rushing yards was only nine yards short of the overall record set by Eric Dickerson.

The consolation for Manning is that he did win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Though this award, Offensive Player of the Year, and the MVP was a tight race between him and Peterson, one award did fall in Manning’s favor.

The last winner of both MVP and Offensive Player of the Year was Tom Brady in 2010. Peterson was the first running back to win the award since LeDanian Tomlinson in 2006. J.J. Watts of the Houston Texans was an almost unanimous winner of the Defensive Player of the Year Award, with one vote going to Von Miller of the Denver Broncos.  Robert Griffen III of the Washington Redskins was named Offensive Rookie of the Year, with Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers getting the Defensive ROY nod. Bruce Arians was named Coach of the Year, and is also the only interim coach to ever receive the award.

Photo courtesy of Twin Cities