Tag: NFL MVP

Bills QB Josh Allen solidified his MVP case with 6 TD performance in 44-42 loss to Rams

Bills QB Josh Allen solidified his MVP case with 6 TD performance in 44-42 loss to Rams

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has won two MVP awards, and at one point this season, he appeared destined to win two straight, but Josh Allen has made his case this vote may end up being a runaway.

Playing in front of a national television audience, Allen accounted for 424 total yards and six touchdowns as Buffalo fell to the Los Angeles Rams, 44-42, at SoFi Stadium.

In the thrilling loss, Allen became the first player in NFL history with three pass touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns in a single game.

Allen was 22 of 37 passing, for 342 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and no interceptions. Allen had 82 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on the ground, finishing with a 117.2 passer rating.

Jackson will be there in the end, as he’s on pace for career highs in passing yards (4,302) and passing touchdowns (38), and he’s only thrown three interceptions through 13 games played. Jackson also has rushed for 678 yards and, at one point, was on pace for 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards.

Bills QB Josh Allen solidified his MVP case with 6 TD performance in 44-42 loss to Rams

Bills QB Josh Allen solidified his MVP case with 6 TD performance in 44-42 loss to Rams

Saquon Barkley has made a great argument, but the Eagles running back will probably need to rush for over 2,200+ yards and break Eric Dickerson’s NFL rushing record to have any shot at winning MVP after Josh Allen’s performance on Sunday in Los Angeles.

Playing in front of a national television audience, Allen accounted for 424 total yards and six touchdowns as Buffalo fell to the Los Angeles Rams, 44-42, at SoFi Stadium.

In the thrilling loss, Allen became the first player in NFL history with three pass touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns in a single game.

Allen was 22 of 37 passing, for 342 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and no interceptions. Allen had 82 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on the ground while finishing with a 117.2 passer rating.

Former NFL MVP: The Commanders are not on the ‘Kliff Cliff’

Some terrific analysis from a former NFL MVP on Kingsbury, Daniels and the Commanders.

Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has been scrutinized in recent weeks. With Washington’s offense struggling over the past couple of weeks, the “Kliff Cliff” talk made its way back into the news.

What is the “Kliff Cliff?” It’s an unofficial term used to describe how Kingsbury’s offenses struggle in the second half of seasons, from his days as head coach at Texas Tech and during his four seasons as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

While the stats show some decline, it’s far from an accurate comparison and lacks context. It doesn’t consider college scheduling, which is notoriously weak early in the season, bad defenses, and injuries.

It’s essentially a talking point for many who seem to have an axe to grind with Kingsbury. Those who discuss the “Kliff Cliff” refuse to acknowledge that context exists.

One former NFL quarterback doesn’t believe in the “Kliff Cliff” or that the Commanders are on that proverbial decline.

“I’ve been hearing this narrative all week about the Kliff Kingsbury Cliff,” CBS Sports analyst and former NFL MVP Matt Ryan said on Sunday.

“This narrative of Jayden Daniels hitting the rookie wall. I do not see it. When I watch, I think Kliff Kingsbury is doing an excellent job with Jayden Daniels. One of the things I want to see with a young quarterback is use tempo. Forty-five of their 67 snaps last week were no-huddle. The other thing I like, get him involved in the run game early. Two designed quarterback runs in the first seven plays. Then, take a little bit of pressure off of him. Use some gadgets, on the ninth play of the game, they go with a reverse and it’s a gain of 20-plus yards. I think Kliff Kingsbury has done an excellent job.”

Then, Ryan accurately describes the situation better than anyone.

“The No. 1 factor here, though, is that they’ve exceeded expectations,” Ryan said. “They came into the season; I think nobody thought they’d be in the position. But he has helped put them there. I look at the six first-round picks that the Commanders had prior to Jayden Daniels; not one of them is on their roster. The issue with this team is a lack of depth, and it’s a lack of depth because of the people that were in that building before the guys that are there now. I think they are a year or two away, but I think this guy right here, Jayden Daniels, and this coaching staff has gotten it right.”

This is an excellent analysis from someone who has been in Daniels’ shoes and played for Dan Quinn. Ryan was one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks in the 2010s, and his analysis is much more accurate than someone who has a spreadsheet, an X account, and throws darts at Kingsbury’s picture.

Josh Allen, Saquon Barkley are the primary obstacle to Lamar Jackson winning NFL MVP

Jackson earned his second NFL MVP award last season, and Bills fans believe Allen deserved the nod instead.

X, formerly Twitter, is where many people go to wage verbal warfare on social media. For some time, there has been an ongoing war between the #BillsMafia and the #RavensFlock, despite the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens being in different divisions and not having met in the postseason in recent years.

(The Ravens knocked the Bills out of the 2020 postseason in the divisional round in the only playoff meeting between these two teams).

The beef between bases centers around the National Football League Most Valuable Player award. Jackson earned his second NFL MVP award last season, and Bills fans believe that Allen deserved the nod instead.

Jackson had been running away from the rest of the pack this season, emerging as the clear midseason favorite. But now Allen, fresh off an actual MVP moment (helping to hand the reigning Super Bowl champs their first loss of the season), is running neck and neck with him.

Some oddsmakers now even have Allen as the favorite. So who is going to win? It all depends on how the voters define the term most valuable player.

If you regularly watch Ravens games (given that you clicked over to this site, we’re pretty confident that you do), you’ll notice that Jackson consistently makes something out of nothing.

Multiple times a game, every game, he takes a play that could be disastrous and turns it into something positive.

Steve Walsh, who played quarterback in the NFL for a decade and even led the Chicago Bears to a playoff win (not many people have been able to say that post-Walter Payton era), summarized it perfectly.

“Lamar Jackson, who I got to see up close and personal as a coach when he was in high school down in Florida, has developed his passing game over the years,” Walsh said in an exclusive with RG.

“But he still has unbelievable escapability ingrained deep in his talent pool to be able to escape and pick up three to five first downs with his legs on simple dropbacks.”

Walsh is right—Jackson has established himself as a phenomenal pure passer. He can consistently convert third downs and keep the chains moving in situations where it looks like nothing positive is happening, which makes him truly special.

Jackson wins MVP awards because he’s consistently saving the Ravens from bad situations.

However, you can also define MVP as a player who leads his team to higher ground despite having less to work with. According to The Sporting News, this concept works in favor of Allen and his supporters. They base their argument around the statistic of wide receiver separation.

As the chart below shows, WR separation metrics work strongly in favor of Josh Allen and severely against Lamar Jackson.

And having a chart makes this argument seem all the more scientific.

The numbers show that Jackson is the more efficient and prolific passer and the superior rusher.

However, Allen has led his team to a better record.

Allen

Through the air:  217 of 339 passing (64%), 2,543 yards, 18 TDs, 5 INTs

On the ground: 67 carries, 316 yards, 5 TDs

Record as a starter: 9-2

Jackson

Through the air: 215 of 321 passing (67%), 2,876 yards, 25 TDs, 3 INTs

On the ground: 95 carries, 584 yards, 2 TDs

Record as a starter: 7-4

Given that this argument will certainly not be settled tonight, we’ll just leave it there for now.

Saquon Barkley’s NFL MVP odds jump following Eagles 37-20 win over Rams in Week 12

Saquon Barkley now has the third best odds to win the AP NFL MVP Award following Eagles 37-20 win over Rams in Week 12

The Eagles fans took over SoFi Stadium, and Saquon Barkley ran into the thick of the NFL MVP race with an electric 255-yard rushing performance in Philadelphia’s 37-20 win over the Rams on Sunday night.

Barkley’s explosion included touchdown runs of 70 and 72 yards, and his 255 yards are the ninth-most in an NFL game in league history. Barkley shattered LeSean McCoy’s record of 217 yards in a game (2013 Snow Bowl vs. Lions) with his 72-yard run that acted as a knockout punch.

“He’s the best in the league. He’s the best at what he does,” Quarterback Jalen Hurts said in his postgame interview with Barkley standing across from him. “He’s a bad man.”

In the latest BETMGM odds, Barkley has the third-best odds behind Josh Allen (+150) and Lamar Jackson (+220).

Barkley’s 1,392 yards now lead the NFL, with Derrick Henry still to play Monday night against the Chargers, sitting at 1,185. Barkley has five games with 140+ rush yards and 1+ rush touchdown in 2024, which is the most in the NFL.

Even more important, Barkley is on pace to shatter LeSean McCoy’s Eagles’ all-time single-season rushing record (1,607 in 2013).

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Jared Goff near-favorite in USA Today’s latest MVP rankings

Lions QB Jared Goff is a near-favorite in USA Today’s latest NFL MVP rankings

Lions quarterback Jared Goff has been a key factor in the team once again getting off to a 5-1 start. The offense has been on a tear of late, scoring at least 30 points in three straight games, twice reaching 40. Goff has over 1,600 passing yards, A 10-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio and is fourth in the league in EPA (expected points added) per dropback.

Goff’s play and the Lions’ start has the quarterback very much in the MVP conversation. In the latest rankings from USA Today, Goff sits at No. 2, only behind Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Goff soars up our MVP rankings up to the No. 2 spot after Detroit’s 31-29 win over Minnesota last week. The Lions have scored more touchdowns (18) than Goff has had incompletions (15) in the last four weeks. He’s also the only player since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger to complete at least 80% of his passes and have a passer rating over 140 in a four-game stretch. He was under pressure on a season-high 51.7% of his dropbacks against the Vikings, and shined with 10-of-11 passing for 164 yards and two touchdowns. The Lions are the best team in the NFC thanks to Goff’s brilliance.

Jackson is pretty clearly the favorite right now but more weeks like the last three and Goff will be breathing down his neck sooner rather than later.

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Jared Goff downplays the MVP hype he’s getting

Lions QB Jared Goff downplays the MVP hype he’s getting after leading Detroit to a 5-1 start

Jared Goff is putting up some incredible numbers in leading the Detroit Lions to a 5-1 start. His accuracy, performance under pressure and gaudy stats have made him one of the midseason favorites for the NFL Most Valuable Player honor.

It’s well-founded hype for Goff, who has joined elite rare company by posting a QB Rating over 140.0 in three straight games. Yet, as you might expect from the low-key quarterback, Goff isn’t getting caught up in the MVP buzz.

When asked about it during his weekly press conference ahead of Detroit’s Week 8 matchup with the Tennessee Titans, Goff downplayed his candidacy.

“Typically, the guys on the best teams in the league that happens to, and a whole lot of guys on this team that could be in the talk,” Goff said. “And we’re just going to try to keep winning games.”

Joe Burrow gets an MVP nod from NFL expert

Joe Burrow…the next NFL MVP?

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow missed half of the season last year due to a wrist injury after not even being at full strength for most of the time he actually was on the field, dealing with a calf strain that had been nagging since the preseason.

However, now he enters the 2024 season seemingly with no issues and should be back to his old self. Sports Illustrated NFL reporter Albert Breer recognizes that Burrow is back, and he has some high expectations for the signal-caller.

In a tweet that linked to an article he headlined, “Bengals QB Joe Burrow Is Back and Better Than Ever,” Breer predicted that Burrow would win the MVP award this season.

“Joe Burrow’s been through a lot the last year,” the tweet read. “But he never wasted a minute trying to get back to being himself. And now, he’s on the doorstep of it.”

In the article, Breer predicted that not only would Burrow win MVP, but he would also take Cincinnati back to the Super Bowl. He believes that Burrow was at his best after he had healed from his calf strain and before he injured his wrist, and due to his drive to improve, he will be even better when he gets back on the field for a full season.

While it will be a while before anyone can see whether Breer’s prediction comes true, the journey for Burrow to try to get there begins on Sunday against the New England Patriots, and he is ready to get back out on the field.

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Tua Tagovailoa named a ‘dark horse’ for 2024 NFL MVP

Could Tua win NFL MVP in 2024?

Former Alabama Crimson Tide football star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is currently negotiating with the Miami Dolphins. Both parties are looking to find the sweet spot for a massive multi-year deal with the southpaw from Hawaii before the start of the 2024 season.

Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards last season and has worked to reshape his body this offseason to improve his mobility. While maintaining the strength and physicality needed to withstand a long and grueling 17-game regular season.

Tagovailoa was recently named as a “dark horse” for the 2024 NFL MVP by Judy Battista, senior national correspondent for NFL.com.

Battista would speak to the necessary steps Tua would need to take to be in the MVP conversation at the end of the season.

 If Tagovailoa can manage the delicate balancing act between being mobile and being healthy while still delivering the ball to two of the best receivers in the game, the numbers should get him back in the mix for the highest playing honor. For him to stay in the conversation, though, the Dolphins will have to avoid the late-season scoring difficulties that ultimately doomed them in ’23.

Injuries plagued Tagovailoa early on in his NFL career but he has now proven that when healthy, he is one of the premier QBs in the league. As Battista pointed out, finding that physical balance so that he can put on display all of his abilities will be the key for the young star.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Tua and the other former Alabama football stars now in the NFL.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on X (Twitter) @Blackwood89.

Lamar Jackson hilariously thanked the Ravens for finally giving him a new deal in NFL MVP acceptance speech

Lamar Jackson’s second MVP honor came with a pretty funny joke in his acceptance speech.

As expected, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson won Most Valuable Player for the 2023-24 NFL season on Thursday night at this year’s NFL Honors.

The electric NFL superstar and now two-time MVP winner didn’t even have his major contract extension with the franchise until last April, and he joked about the Ravens finally paying him what he’s worth during his acceptance speech.

This was a very funny poke at Baltimore, who absolutely made the right decision by finally paying Jackson rather than dragging out his major contract any longer than the team already did.

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It all worked out for the two sides, and it got them to Thursday’s second MVP honor for Jackson.

It’s great that Jackson can now joke about the deal that eventually came than think about the deal that wouldn’t be, as the Ravens have to be happy having a two-time MVP winner leading their franchise.

We won’t be shocked if Jackson returns to this stage as a three-time MVP winner one day, and it’ll be this contract extension that likely made it with the Ravens.

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