There will be no more too-early MVP talk without including Peyton Manning

Frank Schwab
·NFL writer
There will be no more too-early MVP talk without including Peyton Manning

Through the month of September, San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers became one of the NFL’s hot way-too-early MVP candidates.

The Chargers were playing well. Rivers was on fire. All of the way-too-early MVP buzz was justified. But no matter how good Rivers is, he's not even the best MVP candidate in his own division.

Peyton Manning, who was surprisingly absent from the MVP talk in its very early stages, and the Denver Broncos dismantled the Chargers 35-21, leaving no question they are the favorite in the AFC West. The Broncos are 6-1, a game-and-a-half ahead of the second-place Chargers (5-3).

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This was Manning's second straight dominant performance on prime time. Manning was 25-of-35 for 286 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in Thursday's win. Last week, Manning was 22-of-28 for 318 yards and four touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers.

Remember in the 1990s when NBA voters got bored giving Michael Jordan the MVP award every year, so guys like Charles Barkley and Karl Malone were given one even though Jordan was clearly the best player in the league? That might be other NFL MVP candidates’ hope this year: Manning fatigue by voters. Manning has five MVPs already and it's obvious he'll be one of the top candidates again this season.

That will be sorted out a long time from now, but what was reinforced on Thursday night is that the Broncos are the best team in football. The offense might even be more dangerous this year with additions like receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who scored three touchdown Thursday. The defense is clearly better, with a healthy Von Miller and other newcomers like end DeMarcus Ware, cornerback Aqib Talib and safety T.J. Ward.

The Broncos were ahead 28-7 early in the third quarter, and although the Chargers got the ball back late in the fourth quarter down just 14 points, the game never seemed in doubt. The Broncos, who lost to these Chargers at home on a Thursday night last year, are just the better team.

In fairness to the Chargers, the Broncos are better than any other team right now. And Manning has a very good case as the league’s best player. Again.

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!