The Tebow playoff comparison is so dumb. That defense played out of its mind last year and was almost always in need of an opposing defense or player fucking up to sneak in. Peyton changed that team completely and will probably send Thomas to the pro bowl a few times before he hangs it up. Denver also got in last year because every team in the West was terrible (as they are again this year), but they may be the 2 seed this year and their only losses are to the #1 and #2 teams in the AFC and the #1 team in the NFC.
I understand the AP love, I like him a lot too, but his injury shouldn't have anything to do with who is the most valuable. What's valuable about going 8-8 anyway? I understand they're probably a 4 win team without him, but Peyton turned the Broncos into a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Chris Johnson ran for 2000 yards just a few years ago on a mediocre team.