And Dak Prescott stumbled…
Announced as the number 1 favorite by many bookmakers, the Cowboys quarterback lost to the Bills this week. It was enough for Brock Purdy to escape alone in the lead, he who, in full control, mastered the Cardinals defense this week. But the danger for him now comes from his own teammate, Christian McCaffrey, also at the top of his game against the Cardinals, against whom he scored seven touchdowns in two games this year. Without making any noise, Lamar Jackson continues his journey making the Ravens the best team in the AFC, no small feat. Finally, Tyreek Hill closes our ranking, left on the sidelines this week following an injury.
1- Brock Purdy (-) Quarterback – San Francisco 49ers (11-3)
14 games – 3795 yards at 69.8% – 29 touchdowns, 7 interceptions – 119 rating
Brock Purdy has quickly established himself as a serious candidate for the NFL MVP title. With impressive statistics, including 3,553 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and his position leading the league in evaluation, number of touchdowns thrown, touchdown/interception ratio or percentage of completed passes, Brock Purdy has demonstrated a remarkable efficiency. His meteoric rise is all the more notable as it comes less than a year after a serious injury to his right elbow. Purdy leads a 49ers offense that has become one of the most productive in the league, thanks in part to his surprising ability to throw deep passes even though he was not known for it and his ability to run the team with confidence.
However, Brock Purdy's candidacy for MVP is not without dispute. Some point out that his success is partly due to the excellent group of offensive players and the system of play put in place by coach Kyle Shanahan. Additionally, the presence of Christian McCaffrey, another MVP candidate on the team, could split the votes. The MVP debate for Purdy often focuses on his role on a talented team and whether he benefits from his environment more than transcends it. Despite this, his statistical performances and his impact on the field are undeniable.
The Christmas game against the Baltimore Ravens will be crucial for Brock Purdy. If he passes Lamar Jackson as easily as he passed Dak Prescott, Trevor Lawrence or Jalen Hurts, the MVP title should not escape him.
2- Christian McCaffrey (+2) Running Back – San Francisco 49ers (11-3)
14 games – 1,292 yards at 5.3 yards/carry, 13 touchdowns – 509 yards at 8.9 yards/reception, 7 touchdowns
After recent fluctuations in expert predictions, Christian McCaffrey appears to be the last bulwark separating Brock Purdy from the MVP title. While Dak Prescott was considered the favorite, the Cowboys' loss to the Bills redirected attention to the 49ers running back, who fully deserves the recognition.
In the 49ers' dominating victory over the Cardinals, McCaffrey was the driving force behind the offense, even surpassing his quarterback's impressive performance. With 115 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 attempts, as well as 72 yards and two touchdowns on five receptions, McCaffrey continued to demonstrate his versatility and impact on the game. This season, McCaffrey accumulated 1,292 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, in addition to 57 receptions for 509 yards and seven touchdowns, totaling 1,801 yards and 20 touchdowns on 281 touches of the ball. His ability to surpass 100 total yards in 11 of 14 games is remarkable, and he currently leads the NFL in rushing yards, trailing Raheem Mostert by over 200 yards.
The 49ers, currently first in the NFC and NFC West champions, rely heavily on McCaffrey. His value exceeds that of an ordinary running back, fully justifying his large contract. In a league dominated by quarterbacks, McCaffrey stands out as the best player on the NFL's top-ranked team. McCaffrey's exceptional performance and crucial importance to the 49ers make him a more credible candidate than any quarterback, with one exception, his own.
3- Dak Prescott (-1) Quarterback – Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
14 games – 3639 yards at 68.8% – 28 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 104 rating
After the Dallas Cowboys' crushing victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14, Dak Prescott was considered a strong candidate for the NFL MVP award. His two-touchdown performance tilted the odds in his favor. However, week 15 saw a turnaround. The Cowboys suffered a humiliating loss to the Buffalo Bills, and Prescott did not display the level of play of a potential MVP seen against the Eagles. With only 21 of 34 completions for 134 yards, no touchdowns and one interception, his performance was disappointing.
This loss isn't entirely Prescott's fault, but in crucial moments like this, MVPs are supposed to shine, and he didn't. As a result, his chances of winning the MVP have diminished. Prescott now needs to have stellar performances in the Cowboys' final three games to compete with Purdy. The Cowboys will face two top teams, the Miami Dolphins and the Detroit Lions, giving Prescott the opportunity to prove he can lead his team to victory against formidable opponents.
If Prescott can impress in these games and dominate in the final game of the regular season against the Washington Commanders, his chances for the MVP could increase. However, he will also have to hope that the Ravens, Commanders and Rams make things difficult for Purdy and the 49ers. The question remains open: Will Prescott be able to surpass himself and prove that he deserves the MVP title?
4- Lamar Jackson (+1) Quarterback – Baltimore Ravens (11-3)
14 games – 3105 yards at 66.3% – 17 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 96.5 rating
Jackson's recent performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars solidified his position as one of the leading MVP candidates for the 2023 season. He finished the game with 171 passing yards, one touchdown and 97 rushing yards, a performance worthy of an MVP.
The Christmas game between the Ravens and 49ers could be decisive for the MVP award, depending on the outcome. Jackson and Purdy will compete not only to keep their teams at the top of the NFL standings, but also to score on the jury a few weeks before the vote that will elect the MVP of this 2023 season. A potentially favorable factor for Jackson is that the 49ers have two players in the race, which could split the votes between Purdy and McCaffrey. Under the MVP voting system, which awards points based on candidate rankings, this vote split could ultimately benefit Jackson.
For Jackson, winning the Christmas game and playing the role of the Grinch could be the key to capturing his second MVP award.
5- Tyreek Hill (-2) Receiver – Miami Dolphins (10-4)
13 games – 1542 yards at 15.9 yards/reception, 12 touchdowns
Tyreek Hill was finally inactive this week.
Special mentions
Josh Allen (QB, Bills) – 3,541 yards at 66.3% completions, 26 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, 93.2 rating
Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Dolphins) – 3921 yards at 71% completions, 25 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 106 rating
Patrick Mahomes (QB, Chiefs) – 3703 yards at 67.4 completions, 25 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 93.2 rating
Jalen Hurts (QB, Eagles) – 3,335 yards at 65.7% completions, 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 89.9 rating
AJ Brown (WR, Eagles) – 1314 yards at 13.8 yards/reception, 7 touchdowns
Deebo Samuel (WR, 49ers) – 787 yards at 16.1 yards/reception, 6 touchdowns – 172 yards at 5.5 yards/carry, 5 touchdowns
CeeDee Lamb (WR, Cowboys) – 1306 yards at 12.7 yards/reception, 8 touchdowns
Myles Garrett (DE, Browns) – 36 tackles, 13 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 3 passes defended
TJ Watt (LB, Steelers) – 55 tackles, 16 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 recovered fumbles, 1 interception, 7 passes defended
