NFL MVP Watch: Week 18
The NFL MVP is the most prestigious award in all of football and can truly cement the accolades of a player’s career. Nowadays, it is more of just a “best quarterback” award considering there has not been a non-quarterback winner since 2012 which was Adrian Peterson. There have only been four MVPs that have not played quarterback since 2000, which are Marshall Faulk (2000), Shaun Alexander (2005), LaDanian Tomlinson (2006) and Adrian Peterson (2012). This year is expected to be nothing different with mainly quarterbacks headlining the odds.
Patrick Mahomes
Many consider Mahomes the most talented quarterback of this generation if not all time, and he has only helped that argument after the season he had in 2022.
After losing Tyreek Hill to a trade with the Dolphins, many expected a decline from Mahomes, but this season was anything but a decline. Mahomes put up a career high 5,250 yards through the air and 41 touchdowns which is the second-highest mark of his career. Both of those stats would also lead all quarterbacks in the league.
The Chiefs posted a 14-3 record this season which would be good enough to not only top the AFC West, but the entire AFC giving them a first round bye in the playoffs.
Joe Burrow
Thanks to the help from arguably the best wide receiver corps in all of football, Burrow was able to insert his name into the MVP conversation and made a surge up boards in the recent weeks.
The leader of the Cincinnati Bengals led the defending AFC Champs to a 12-4 record after losing in the Super Bowl a year prior. Burrow did not disappoint this season with 4,475 yards through the air which ranks fifth among quarterbacks and 35 touchdowns which ranks third.
The Bengals face the Baltimore Ravens on Wild Card Weekend in Cincinnati as Burrow looks to lead them back to the Super Bowl and push himself closer to his first MVP trophy.
Jalen Hurts
It was really hard not to put one of the NFL’s breakout stars on this list and Hurts really did it all for the Eagles to help put them in the situation they are currently in.
The reason Hurts has recently slid out of the top spot(s) for MVP is mostly due to his recent injury that forced him to miss two games, but his record and stats do not lie. He led the Eagles to a 14-1 record which was good enough to win the NFC East and the whole NFC, giving them a first round bye in the playoffs.
Hurts tallied 3,701 yards passing and 22 touchdowns through the air along with only six interceptions. The factor that really gives him a boost though is what he was able to do with his legs this season in which he ran for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns. With one of the best rosters in football tied for the best record, Hurts’ MVP stock will be increased due to the immense success of the team.
Honorable Mention: Josh Allen
The NFL’s best quarterback, aka the MVP will most likely come down to these four quarterbacks with Mahomes most likely taking home the trophy for the second time in his career.
All of those players have been put into contention not just because of their individual stats, but their ability to lead a team to success is what puts them head and shoulders above the rest.
Joey David is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email jtd5508@psu.edu.
