A quarterback's ability to perform at an elite level despite a lack of help from a running game is one way to measure the value of quarterbacks in the NFL. When defenses know they can only be hurt through the air, and they still end up getting hurt, that's a sign of a valuable quarterback.

It's not the only marker, but if it were, Chargers QB Philip Rivers would be at the top of the MVP Meter. People think Peyton Manning has it bad with the 29th-ranked running game. Only one signalcaller on the Meter has it worse than him. San Diego ranks dead last in rushing yards per game with a paltry 69.6, which is nearly 16 yards fewer than the Colts produce. The Chargers gain a league-low 3.1 yards per carry and have run for just 32 first downs, which is the fewest in the league.

The Chargers' running game is awful, yet Rivers led the offense, as he has all season, with precision in a road win against the Giants on Sunday. He's the main reason why San Diego has won three games in a row. What looked like a cakewalk to the division title for the Broncos a little more than three weeks ago is suddenly a tight race as the Chargers are just one game out.

Rivers doesn't lead in any of the major statistical categories and he actually ranks a rather ordinary 18th in completion percentage (60.6), but there's no denying that without Rivers, the Chargers would not be rallying as they are now. With a full second half to play, Rivers is a legitimate contender for the MVP award.

1. Colts QB Peyton Manning — Only two quarterbacks have more pass attempts than him, but Manning is still tied for the league lead in completion percentage with a sterling 70.6 mark. He has thrown for more than 300 yards in seven of his eight games and Indy has yet to lose. The Texans gave Manning a nice warm-up for New England.

2. Saints QB Drew Brees — Brees has been uncharacteristically sloppy over the past three games, throwing five picks and losing three fumbles, but he shook off a shaky start in the first quarter vs. the Panthers on Sunday and took over in the second half, completing 9-of-12 passes for 190 yards and a TD as the Saints came back from a 17-3 second-quarter deficit to improve to 8-0. He's tied for the league lead in TD passes (17).

3. Vikings RB Adrian Peterson — The Vikings took a breather during their bye week, but will get back to work vs. the Lions, who have a knack for prying the ball loose from Peterson. In his last three games vs. Detroit, Peterson has fumbled five times and lost three of them.

4. Vikings QB Brett Favre — Minnesota better hope that groin situation doesn't escalate into another second-half spiral of doom for Favre. A torn bicep bothered Favre late last season and he compiled a 4-10 TD-interception ratio in the final six games of ’08.

5. Chargers QB Philip Rivers — Trailing by six with 2:05 to play, the Chargers started at their own 20 in the Meadowlands before Rivers led them down the field to a game-winning TD. He completed 6-of-8 passes for 75 yards, including an 18-yard TD toss to WR Vincent Jackson, helping San Diego to a 21-20 win.

6. Patriots QB Tom Brady — Brady picked on a young duo of cornerbacks against the Dolphins on Sunday and New England won its third consecutive game. He has a 10-3 TD-interception ratio during the winning streak, which isn't surprising considering it has come against the either beat up or struggling secondaries of Tennessee, Tampa Bay and Miami. Brady will get another chance to shred a defensive backfield that's operating at less than full strength in Indianapolis.

7. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger — Roethlisberger has completed 71 percent or more of his passes in five of his eight games this season. No other quarterback can boast that kind of consistent accuracy. His pick in the red zone in Pittsburgh's Monday-night win was a significant blemish, though, and uncharacteristic of him. Roethlisberger hadn't thrown a pick in the red zone in more than two years.

8. Bengals RB Cedric Benson — The Bengals continue to lean on Benson and he keeps on delivering. After toting the rock 37 times in his previous outing, Benson had 34 carries vs. the Ravens on Sunday, gained 117 yards and scored a TD for the fourth consecutive game. In his fifth season, Benson has become the workhorse he wasn't ready to be during his days with the Bears.

9. Cowboys QB Tony Romo — Another strong outing from Romo helped pull the Cowboys into first place in the NFC East. The seventh-year veteran has a 9-1 TD-interception ratio in his last four outings.

10. (Tie) Broncos OLB Elvis Dumervil/Vikings DE Jared Allen — Dumervil was credited with half a sack on Monday night, but he has failed to make the big plays that defined his furious start to the season in the past two weeks. He still is tied for the league lead in sacks (10½) with Vikings DE Jared Allen, who was on bye in Week Nine.

Honorable mention: Bengals QB Carson Palmer, Saints FS Darren Sharper, Texans QB Matt Schaub, Steelers OLB James Harrison, Colts WR Reggie Wayne, Jets CB Darrelle Revis, Broncos QB Kyle Orton, Colts DE Dwight Freeney, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, Titans RB Chris Johnson.