As the regular NFL season heads towards its end there are still many questions to be answered.
Naturally, the biggest one of all is which two teams will be going head to head in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9 2025. Will the Kansas City Chiefs make it a historic three wins in a row? Or will it be someone else’s chance to pick up the Vince Lombard trophy?
But closely following this is speculation about who will be this season’s MVP. Last year it was Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and, according to the NFL MVP odds, he may well pull it off again. So let’s take a look at his chances, along with six other top contenders for the most valuable personal award in the sport.
Josh Allen
The Buffalo Bills’ QB is currently leading the running for the title. After all, both he and his team are having a fantastic season. By early December the Bills had a 10-3 record and look to be a shoo-in for the playoffs.
He seems to have overcome his unfortunate ability to make mistakes at crucial moments in the game. Instead he has featured in many more successful ones including a win-clinching touchdown run against the mighty Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11. So he really is the one to beat.
Saquon Barkley
While it’s traditionally a QB’s award there is a chance that this could be the year of the running back. Barkley has helped to put the Philadelphia Eagles firmly at the top of the NFC East way ahead of nearest rivals, the Commanders. He consistently has produced 100 yard efforts and the pinnacle for the season came in the Week 12 meeting with the Rams when he generated 302 yards including 255 rushing and made two touchdowns.
It may also be no coincidence that the team’s success really took off when coach nick Sirianni started running his offense through Barklay.
Jared Goff
The Detroit Lions QB leads the way in arguably the league’s best team at the moment and this is more than borne out by his stats. Over six games he completed nearly 83% of his passes leading to no less than 13 touchdowns. He also created a new NFL record in one of those games, the comprehensive 42-29 win over Seattle, by completing all 18 of his passes.
He’s backed up by the offense that every team envies, but that might end up taking the focus away from his skills.
Lamar Jackson
He’s been there twice before, but could he possibly do it again? There are plenty who believe that he can. He’s well on his way to making this is greatest season ever, already with over 4,000 passing yards to his name. Last year he won with far fewer and by going even further he surely has to be in with a good chance.
That said, Derrick Henry is inevitably going to be given some of the credit for the Ravens’ success and that could take some of the shine off Jackson’s title bid.
Patrick Mahomes
Another two-time winner of MVP, the Chiefs’ superstar QB is always going to be in the running. However this season’s team is a very different animal with issues in several areas including pass protection, rush and coverage. So, however great he might be, it might be beyond even his powers to rise about this.
On the other hand, if the Chiefs do muster a strong end to the season you can never say never with a player quite this good.
Sam Darnold
This season the Vikings’ QB Darnold appeared to rise up from nowhere. This was thanks to the knee injury to J.J. McCarthy which provided the unexpected opening and he soon capitalized on the opportunity. The first five games of the season all saw wins with 11 touchdown passes. He was also instrumental in the one point win over Arizona on Week 14 when he helped to overcome a 13 point deficit.
An undoubted outsider for the title, but he has everything to play for in the rest of the season.
Jayden Daniels
It’s only ever happened once before when a rookie has been named MVP. That was way back in 1957 when the legendary running back for the Cleveland Browns, the appropriately named Jim Brown, clinched the title. But there are murmurs that the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels could be in with a chance. His rookie season had a spectacular start with his team notching up a 7-2 record. And even if he doesn’t quite clinch it this year he is definitely a front runner for Offensive Rookie Of The Year.
So there you have them. Seven different players all with a legitimate claim to the title. Which one will actually be MVP will soon be revealed.
