NFL MVP battle could come down to Peyton Manning, Adrian Peterson Week 17 performances

The NFL concludes the regular season on Sunday, with not only playoff spots on the line but league MVP honors up for grabs as well. According to a recent poll by the Denver Post, the battle for MVP is truly a two-horse race between Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson:

The Denver Post contacted 18 of the 50 voters for the MVP award and received only three answers as to who will win:
1. Manning, the Broncos' quarterback, nine votes.

2. Adrian "All Day" Peterson, the Minnesota Vikings' running back, three votes.

3. Wait to see how Peterson and Vikings do in their game Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, six votes.

Manning and the Broncos take the field on Sunday against the Chiefs aiming for an 11th straight win, and a first-round bye in the AFC Playoffs with a victory. Coming off neck surgery, Manning's 2012 season has been superb, as the veteran QB has completed 68 percent of his passes for 4,355 yards and 34 touchdowns entering Week 17. The Manning-led Broncos offense ranks second in the league, scoring 29.5 points per game.

For as superb as Manning has been through the air, Minnesota's Peterson has been just as spectacular on the ground. Entering Sunday's regular season finale, Peterson needs 208 yards to break Eric Dickerson's NFL single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984. With 102 yards, Peterson will crack the elusive 2,000-yard barrier. Coming off injuries of his own this year, he has carried the ball 314 times for 1,898 yards and 11 touchdowns entering Week 17.