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The 2016 National Football League MVP is…

Aaron Rodgers. With an asterisk.

To recap: I had Derek Carr ahead in the best-player-in-football award race. MVP quarterbacks find a way to beat their rivals no matter what, though. Carr dropped his second contest to the now-AFC West-leading Chiefs.

You’ll hear big names bandied about to replace Carr as MVP favorite. David Johnson is a monster who still has a chance join the 1,000-yard rushing and receiving club this season. Tom Brady is Tom Brady. Ezekiel Elliott has the added benefit of playing with a star on his helmet. But I’ll take Rodgers.

Now about that asterisk; Green Bay’s transcendent quarterback needs to make the playoffs to get the trophy. Sunday’s home win over the scary Seahawks was a good start. Should No. 12 drag his team all the way back from the brink of destruction, I say the hardware is his to lose.

Note: I’ve excluded New England and Baltimore from these power rankings for now. Check back Tuesday to see where they fit in.