Thursday is MVP! The clash of the two favorites in the MVP race has finally given its verdict. And it’s Josh Allen who comes out stronger than ever. However, Patrick Mahomes showed that he did not have much to envy his competitor. Jalen Hurts, still undefeated, wins a place this week in favor of a Lamar Jackson who alternates the good and the less good at the moment. Once is not custom, a non-quarterback is embedded in the top 5 and it is deserved, as Saquon Barkley shines this season.
1- Josh Allen (-) Quarterback – Buffalo Bills (5-1)
6 games – 1,980 yards at 66.9% – 17 touchdowns, 4 interceptions – 257 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns – 109.1 rating
This week’s duel at the top has therefore chosen its winner. And for the second time this month, Josh Allen completed a last-minute drive for the win. Before that, no quarterback had beaten Patrick Mahomes twice on his land, it is now done. Now the leader in terms of passing yards, Allen even became the first quarterback in Bills history to accumulate more than 700 yards in two consecutive games. Already favorite in the race for the MVP even before starting the season, Josh Allen therefore confirms more and more his position as the man to beat.
2- Patrick Mahomes (-) Quarterback – Kansas City Chiefs (4-2)
6 games – 1736 yards at 65.9% – 17 touchdowns, 4 interceptions – 113 yards rushing – 106.1 rating
Since the departure of Tyreek Hill, Patrick Mahomes has been able to evolve his game to become a more patient and even more effective passer. His 17 touchdowns in 6 games speak for him. If he has nothing to be ashamed of for his performance in his team’s loss to the Bills, Mahomes still showed some worrying signs of weakness when he was under high pressure this year. Proof is, while Josh Allen offered his team a lead at the very end of the game, the Chiefs quarterback ended the game with an interception. Since last season’s Conference Finals, this is the third time Patrick Mahomes has interception on a drive for the win. A negative spiral triggered by one of its main qualities, solidity at the end of the match…
3- Jalen Hurts (+1) Quarterback – Philadelphia Eagles (6-0)
6 games – 1,514 yards at 66.8% – 6 touchdowns, 2 interceptions – 293 yards, 6 rushing touchdowns – 98.4 rating
For the first time since 2004, the Eagles have won their first six games of the season. And Jalen Hurts is one of the main architects. Cataloged in the category of overrevving starts since the start of the season, this argument tends to fade as we slowly approach mid-season. If we take into account the end of the 2021 season, the 24-year-old quarterback is even on a series of nine straight wins, a record for an Eagles quarterback for 22 years. He also became this week the fifth player in history to accumulate 1,500 passing yards and 250 rushing yards in the first six games of the season.
4- Lamar Jackson (-1) Quarterback – Baltimore Ravens (3-3)
6 games – 1,277 yards at 61.9% – 13 touchdowns, 6 interceptions – 451 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns – 93.2 rating
Lamar Jackson is the man of departures with a bang. Indeed, 12 of his 13 touchdowns have come in the first three quarters and his evaluation in this period of the game is higher than all his competitors in the MVP race. Unfortunately for him and for his ambitions, the house of cards tended to crumble in the fourth quarter. His evaluation in the last period of the match is lower than that of Justin Fields for example and 4 of his 6 interceptions occurred during this same fourth quarter. So you don’t have to look far for improvement.
5- Saquon Barkley (+1) Running Back – New York Giants (5-1)
6 games – 119 carries, 616 yards at 5.2 yards/rush, 4 touchdowns – 21 receptions, 155 yards at 7.4 yards per reception, 2 touchdowns
Constituting the biggest surprise of the season in the NFC, the Giants did win five of their first six games. And that owes in large part to the identity they built with the return to grace of Saquon Barkley. Currently the best running back in the league, he leads the NFL with 771 yards from the line of scrimmage and his four touchdowns this year are already more than the two he had in his previous 15 games played. before this season. If there is still a long way to go to become MVP, no one should be able to contradict him with the Comeback Player of the Year trophy.
Special Mentions
Geno Smith (QB, Seahawks) – 1,502 yards at 73.4% completion, 9 touchdowns, 2 interceptions – 108.1 rating
Justin Herbert (QB, Chargers) – 1,716 yards on 66.2% completion, 10 touchdowns, 3 interceptions – 93.1 rating
Stefon Diggs (WR, Bills) – 656 yards on 13.4 yards/reception, 6 touchdowns
Justin Jefferson (WR, Vikings) – 654 yards on 14.2 yards/reception, 2 touchdowns
Cooper Kupp (WR, Rams) – 607 yards on 10.3 yards/reception, 4 touchdowns
Nick Chubb (RB, Browns) – 649 yards at 5.9 yards/rush, 7 touchdowns
Micah Parsons (LB, Cowboys) – 24 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 passes defended
James Bradberry (CB, Eagles) – 15 tackles, 9 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown
