Have Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson done enough to win NFL MVP? Or can Joe Burrow snag the award away in the final week of the regular season?
Allen and Burrow seek their first MVP. Jackson could win his second in a row, and third overall – one more than Patrick Mahomes. It’s a three-man race for the league’s highest individual honor, and so much more is at stake.
Allen doesn’t need to play much for the Buffalo Bills in Sunday’s finale against the New England Patriots, who need a loss to earn the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Allen will start the game to preserve his streak of 114 consecutive starts, Bills coach Sean McDermott said Monday. Buffalo has already secured the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoff picture. There’s no need to risk injury before the playoffs. The only risk might be his elusive first MVP.
Allen may not have the passing stats Jackson and Burrow boast, but he has wins over the best two teams in the league (the Chiefs and Lions) this season.
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Allen’s MVP dilemma? How much would his case be helped by destroying and gifting the No. 1 pick to his division rival?
“He will be out there for a very, very short-lived amount of time and then he’ll be off rather quickly,” McDermott said of Allen, who has started every game since his rookie season in 2018.
Jackson needs to play to help the Ravens clinch the AFC North against the Cleveland Browns. He leads the NFL in passer rating and QBR, while his 39 touchdown passes trail only Burrow (42).
Jackson’s MVP dilemma? How much will he be able to run up the score and his stats against the Browns, who could ensure a Top 3 pick with a loss.
Burrow has the quarterback stats, but seven one-score losses this season will leave their mark – even more if he fails to show out Saturday night.
Burrow’s MVP dilemma? He needs a standout performance to help the Bengals win on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Broncos (home vs. resting Chiefs) and Dolphins (at Jets) need to lose Sunday, too. If all that happens, Cincinnati would punch a ticket to the postseason.
At the very least, Allen gets to see what Jackson and Burrow do Saturday before taking the field Sunday.
Here are the USA TODAY Sports’ NFL MVP rankings after Week 17:
7. Eagles RB Saquon Barkley
Sunday, Barkley became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards. He leads all players with 2,283 scrimmage yards, while only four players have scored more than his 15 touchdowns this season. The Eagles own the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff picture.
6. Vikings QB Sam Darnold
Darnold is fourth in the NFL with 4,153 passing yards and fifth with 35 touchdown passes. The Vikings are 14-2 after their 27-25 win over the Packers last week, and still in contention for the NFC North title and No. 1 seed.
5. Lions QB Jared Goff
Goff is second in the NFL with 4,398 passing yards and fourth with 36 touchdown passes for the Lions, who maintained the top seed in the NFC after a 40-34 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.
4. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes has 26 touchdown passes — far from his 50 touchdowns when he won MVP in 2018, and 41 when he won his second in 2022. But the Chiefs are 15-1, clinched the No. 1 seed and primed to three-peat as Super Bowl champions behind their star quarterback.
3. Bengals QB Joe Burrow
Burrow’s numbers are keeping him in the conversation: He leads the NFL with 4,641 passing yards and 42 touchdowns, despite the Bengals’ 8-8 record. But seven of their losses have come by eight points or less.
2. Bills QB Josh Allen
Allen accounted for three touchdowns in a 40-14 win over the lowly Jets. He has 26 passing touchdowns, 12 rushing touchdowns, and the second-best QBR behind Jackson. He became the first player in NFL history to throw three touchdowns and score three rushing touchdowns in a game. And wins over the Chiefs and Lions boost his MVP case.
1. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson
Jackson also accounted for three touchdowns, but did so against a playoff team during Baltimore’s 31-2 win over the Houston Texans last week. He should eclipse the 4,000-yard mark next week. His 39 touchdowns rank second behind Burrow. He leads the NFL in passer rating and QBR. He’s got wins over Burrow and Allen this season. But five losses have slightly hindered his case.