Undeniable arguments for Mathew Stafford's MVP campaign springing up everywhere

It seems surreal that the same Matthew Stafford who struggled with a back injury in training camp is suddenly the hottest name in the NFL for the prestigious MVP award, but that is the way the NFL storyline is playing out this season. After all, it was merely months ago that NFL analysts swore Stafford's retirement after this season was inevitable. Sorry, Dan Graziano, but it's not happening.

Perhaps it was that confrontation of life after football that bestowed the gift of enjoying the journey to the 37-year-old quarterback. Like an NFL version of It's a Wonderful Life, the girl-dad quarterback has a newfound appreciation of playing football once more.

The former Georgia Bulldog had spent weeks of training camp on the sidelines, discovering the thrill afforded by competing. He is taking nothing for granted now. And suddenly, the MVP award is a plot twist that nobody saw coming.

But NFL experts, analysts, and former players see it as plain as day now. Former teammate Andrew Whitworth, a straight talker who is as objective as they come, makes a compelling argument for his former quarterback to land the award this season.

Even ESPN's Stephen Smith is onboard the Stafford for MVP train

How likely is Matthew Stafford to win the prestigious NFL Most Valuable Player award? Well, when ESPN's Stephen Smith is talking about it, you know that the volume among NFL analysts and experts is deafening. It's also a clear sign that this is not just a flavor-of-the-week topic, but that the veteran quarterback to earn his first MVP award is gaining momentum.

And why shouldn't he be the MVP? He has always been a risk-taker, the type of quarterback who you want in the pocket with two minutes on the clock and the game on the line. Since arriving with the Los Angeles Rams, he has engineered eight fourth-quarter comebacks and 12 game-winning drives.

He has only been the driving force for one fourth-quarter comeback and one game-winning drive this season because the team has been ahead of other teams in every quarter since the second half of Week 6.

Stafford is having an incredible season, throwing for 2,830 yards, 30 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. Over 17 games, that projects out to 4,400 passing yards, 46 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. The most touchdowns he has ever thrown in a season is 41 touchdowns. The fewest interceptions he had thrown in one season is five, and that was a year he played just eight games.

MVP? You bet he is. Try to imagine this team without him under center. He has been the guy who makes the offense run. And yes, this offense is purring like a high-performance engine right now.

Los Angeles is 9-2, and arguably one of the best teams in the NFL. This team is 7-2 against NFL postseason contenders, a phenomenal track record. So it's not just a cakewalk schedule that has brought the team to the height of NFL success. The success factor has been Matthew Stafford. And it's that fact that makes him the best choice for NFL MVP this season.

As always, thanks for reading.