Thursday is MVP! Can Joe Burrow ultimately prevent Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen from winning the MVP title? The answer deserves to be asked in any case as the Bengals quarterback is carrying his team in a crazy comeback.
That said, the trophy should not escape one of these three men since Saquon Barkley, although excellent this week, will be left to rest during the final week. Still as effective, Jared Goff seems definitely out of the race.
Star of the week: Joe Burrow (QB), Bengals
Joe Burrow has continued to get closer to the MVP title at the end of the season, and as the weeks go by, his name is becoming more and more in the discussion. If Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are widely favorites, the Bengals quarterback would also deserve to be part of it given his impressive statistics.
The numbers speak for themselves: 8 consecutive games with more than 250 yards and 3 touchdowns, an unprecedented feat in NFL history. Added to this are 40 touchdowns thrown and 4,641 yards scored, almost 243 yards more than his closest pursuer, Jared Goff. Burrow not only shined, he crushed records and joined legends like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. It's no longer a question of potential, it's a fact: he is one of the best.
If the Bengals manage to qualify for the playoffs, the Bengals quarterback will further strengthen his candidacy, because the award of the MVP often depends on collective results. In any case, with such a brilliant season, Joe Burrow should be one of the names on the lips of the jurors.
The revelation of the week: Baker Mayfield (QB), Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield was imperial this week, giving the Buccaneers a decisive 48-14 victory over the Panthers and with it, an MVP performance. With five touchdowns and only five incomplete passes, he truly responded in a decisive match. The former Browns, Panthers and Rams quarterback proved that he was more than ever the soul of the Tampa Bay offense.
But what stood out was his management of the Panthers' blitz. His five touchdowns were scored against constant pressure. By completing 12 of 12 passes for 90 yards in this specific situation, Mayfield signed one of the greatest feats of his season. He joined a select circle of quarterbacks, including Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, to have had such a complete game, with more than 350 yards, five touchdowns and a rating above 150.
This exceptional performance is not an epiphenomenon. In 2024, Mayfield shattered his own personal bests, with 4,279 yards, a 71.7% completion rate and a 107.6 passer rating. He scored 39 touchdowns, ranking among the league leaders and cementing his reputation as an elite quarterback. On top of that, it allowed the Buccaneers to regain the lead in the NFC South one week before the end of the season. Mayfield has definitely established himself as one of the very good quarterbacks in the league this season. He is no longer a simple passing quarterback, but a true leader ready to do anything to lead the Buccaneers to the top.
Disappointment of the week: Kyler Murray (QB), Cardinals
Kyler Murray is experiencing a season where expectations are further and further from reality. Despite a solid defensive game, where the Cardinals limited the Rams to a single touchdown, the offense, and especially the quarterback, were once again the main culprits for the 13-9 defeat. Murray's inability to seize opportunities once again weighed down the team.
With 321 yards and a completion rate of 69.6%, Murray appears, on paper, to have done his job. But the reality is much more complex. The Cardinals struggled to stay on the field, going 6 of 13 on third down, and it was Murray again who faltered in crucial moments. Two interceptions in the fourth quarter ruined any attempt at a comeback and illustrate the quarterback's recurring difficulties. Since the bye week, he has been far from being the expected leader: 8 interceptions against 5 touchdowns, a stark contrast to his 12-3 ratio at the start of the season.
This is not the first time that Murray has found himself at a crossroads, and each new disappointment increases the pressure around him. This performance echoes a season marked by irregularities, hazardous passing choices and an inability to finish in decisive moments. It's no longer a simple question of stats, it's a question of leadership. His errors, particularly at the end of the match, reveal a lack of maturity and consistency which heavily penalizes the Cardinals. If players like Trey McBride or Marvin Harrison Jr. have shown that there is hope on the offensive side, Kyler Murray will be able to get his game back in order before it is too late for him and his career with the Cardinals.
The ranking: Joe Burrow forces entry
1- Josh Allen (-) Quarterback – Buffalo Bills (13-3)
16 games – 3731 yards at 63.6% completions – 28 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 101.4 rating
2- Lamar Jackson (-) Quarterback – Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
16 games – 3955 yards at 67.9% completions – 39 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 121.6 rating
3- Saquon Barkley (+1) Running Back – Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
16 games – 2005 yards at 5.8 yards per carry, 13 touchdowns – 278 yards at 8.4 yards per reception, 2 touchdowns
4- Jared Goff (-1) Quarterback – Detroit Lions (14-2)
16 games – 4,398 yards at 71.7% completions – 36 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 113.6 rating
5- Joe Burrow (+1) Quarterback – Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
16 games – 4,641 yards at 69.8% completions – 42 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 109.8 rating
