We did one earlier this week Way too early look at the MVP candidates. Now we need to add a name to the discussion.

Kirk Cousins.

And not just because he rushed for a career-high and franchise-record 509 yards in an overtime win over the Buccaneers on Thursday night. With two NFC South wins just four days apart, the Falcons have taken the lead in the division. And if the Falcons win enough games to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC, Cousins ​​will be one of the two de facto Finalists for the award.

It's a quarterback thing unless a running back or receiver does something historic. (No receiver has ever done anything historic to win regular-season MVP.) And unless there is a quarterback from a team other than a top seed who does something historic, the MVP will be the quarterback of one of the two No. 1 seed.

Can the Falcons be the No. 1 seed in the NFC? Absolutely. In four weeks (and one game), there is no juggernaut in the conference. Not a team of destiny. Not a city through which the route to the Super Bowl should lead.

Sure, the Vikings are 4-0. They need to win more before they remind anyone of 2009 (when they were No. 2) or 1998 (when they were the top seed). The NFC East is a chaotic mess, with Cousins' other former team being the best of the bunch so far.

The 49ers are the only team that can step on the gas and secure the top spot in the conference. And if the 49ers reach their full potential, it won't be easy for the Falcons and Cousins ​​(a favorite of Kyle Shanahan) to get there and win.

That was the problem with previous Cousins ​​teams in the playoffs. You are good enough to get there. They are not good enough to beat this season's juggernaut.

This year they may become a juggernaut.