It is fitting that in a year in which the playoff fates of several NFL teams are decided in the last game of the season, the MVP race culminates in a thrilling end-of-year heroic fashion that could ultimately define who leaves. with the prestigious award.
And entering week 17, there is a new favorite to win the MVP. Our nine-analyst panel voted the top 10 players in the MVP race so far, and then we used those nine sets of rankings to determine the top five candidates overall, using the Heisman Trophy-esque scaling for each ranking. Based on voting in this final round, we agree with the general consensus in the league that it is a throw between Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. But six of our nine panics put Packers quarterback in first place.
The 2020 MVP will likely be decided between two of the league’s best defenders, but there are a handful of others who have supported a compelling case. Here’s a look at the final rankings of MVP watches.
Note: Our panel includes Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Courtney Cronin, Jeremy Fowler, Dan Graziano, Mina Kimes, Jason Reid, Kevin Seifert and Field Yates. Odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill.
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Top five | Just missed
2020 statistics: 4,059 yards, 44 TDs, 5 interceptions (plus 145 yards and 3 rushing TDs) in 15 games
Votes in the first place: 6 of 9 | Odds to earn MVP: -260
Rodgers went from being announced after the Packers drafted Jordan Love in April to being the MVP leader eight months later. The Green Bay defender has been in tears since week 12, throwing at least three touchdowns in four of the Packers’ last five wins. Rodgers is now on his way to winning his third MVP award after a dominant performance against Tennessee on Sunday, where he earned his defining victory of the season (four touchdowns). It was also the 13th game of the season, with a rating of over 100 players, which is equal to most games in a single season of the Super Bowl era, an achievement that made it the first time he was named the most valuable player in the league in 2011.
Rodgers managed to happen more with fewer weapons around him, all while leading the league in touchdown passes (44) and passing rating (119.4), finishing second in the finish percentage (70.3 %) and ranking fifth in the passing yards. With another win against Chicago in Week 17, the Packers will block the NFC top spot and a first-round goodbye. If Rodgers hasn’t already established himself as an MVP, helping the Packers achieve that will be what he does.
While Mahomes may be the most valuable player in the league overall and face the NFL, Rodgers is the most critical part of his team’s success. That’s why he’s finishing this season as the likely MVP.
2020 statistics: 4,740 yards, 38 TDs, 6 interceptions (plus 308 yards and 2 rush TDs) in 15 games
Votes in the first place: 3 of 9 | Odds to earn MVP: 210
While Mahomes was great in the Chiefs quarterback with a 14-1 record, there aren’t too many categories in which Rodgers can beat the Super Bowl champion. The Packers simply overtook Muhammad on the stretch and a week down for the Chiefs’ QB against the Falcons, along with the fact that Rodgers exploded on Sunday night. Football could be the nail in the coffin. Muhammad’s three interceptions against Miami in week 14 don’t help either. Not even 5.4 meters in each career in front of his career does not face the Saints.
The Kansas City QB should dominate at the end of the Chiefs’ regular season against the Chargers to win back first place, but it looks like coach Andy Reid is leaning toward resting his starters before watching a title replay. next month. Of course, none of this means that the 25-year-old is not extraordinary, wonderful, or any other adjective he could use to describe his game in 2020. Muhammad leads the NFL in passing yards and came out on top. usually wild, head-scratches, wonder games that leave the rest of the league in fear of his talents. Rodgers has just been a little better this season.
2020 statistics: 4,320 yards, 34 TDs, 9 interceptions (plus 418 yards and 8 rush TDs) in 15 games
Top five votes: 9 of 9 | Odds to earn MVP: 1200
According to ESPN Stats & Information, no quarterback has seen a higher increase in total QBR from 2019 (49.4) to 2020 (81.6) than Allen. He helped Bills establish supremacy in AFC East, with their first division title in 1995 and the Patriots’ first season in 20 years.
Allen is probably too far behind Rodgers and Muhammad to win the MVP, but he deserves no less to join the conversation after his remarkable change, completing 68% of his passes for more than 4,000 yards and helping Buffalo to wins the most victories in the season. since 1993. Allen put an exclamation point on his terrible 2020 by throwing for 320 yards and four touchdowns in a prime-time victory over the Patriots, bringing him his eighth 300-yard passing game of the season . His 34 touchdowns also set a new franchise record in a single season.
2020 statistics: 1,777 gardens, 15 TDs (plus 114 welcoming gardens) in 15 games
Top five votes: 5 of 9 | Odds to earn MVP: 5000
Henry is approaching his second consecutive title and is 223 meters away from becoming the eighth player to join the prestigious 2,000-yard rush club. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry in December, the highest in NFL history among players with at least 300 heavy attempts. And what is probably most impressive is that, despite his workload, Henry has groped only once this season.
The Titans have a 10-5 chance to block AFC South and a playoff bid due to the order Henry took in almost every game he played in 2020. He has at least 75 yards in 12 of the 15 games in the game. his, and he hurried only once for less than 60 years.
2020 statistics: 4,031 yards, 38 TDs, 13 interceptions (plus 484 yards and 2 rushing TDs) in 15 games
Top five votes: 5 of 9 | Odds to earn MVP: 10 000
Wilson didn’t return exactly to his MVP form at the start of the season to defeat the Rams and capture NFC West, but he didn’t let Aaron Donald destroy the Seahawks’ game plan and played well enough to stay in the conversation. . Seattle’s defense has put Wilson in some difficult situations, in which he has had to resolve his late victories, and this should be taken into account when assessing the task he was asked to carry out in 2020. What hurts the most much of his candidacy, however, is his 13 interceptions, tied for the third highest in the NFL.
Just missed
Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams: Donald did his best to keep Wilson uncomfortable in Week 16, creating eight pressures and a sack. His 13.5 sacks take second place after TJ Watt (15), the only player who could stand in the way of the third prize of Donald Trump’s 2017 defensive player of the year. Donald is one of the best defenders in the league and the anchor of a Rams. defense that ranks first in terms of efficiency.
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints: Henry gets all the love, but don’t forget the season Kamara set up, with 1,688 meters of scrimmage (third) and 21 TDs in total (six more than the Titans’ MVP candidate). Without three of the first four recipients, the Saints led everything through Kamara in a Christmas Day victory and, boy, delivered. Kamara rushed for six TDs against Minnesota, tying the NFL record to a single game. And in the process, he set the New Orleans franchise record for touchdowns in a season.
Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: With 150-1 odds to win the MVP, Brady has already met one of the highest expectations set before him when he signed with Tampa Bay in March. For the first time since 2007, the Bucs are forced to the playoffs after Brady threw four touchdowns and set 348 yards in the first half of his career on a Lions route. After hitting a wall in November and questions about the viability of Bucs’ offense in the postseason, Brady straightened the ship and will have his team play in January.
Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs: Helping Kansas City block the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs in Week 16, Kelce caught seven passes for 98 yards. He is the first tight final that has two seasons of 100 catches and set the one-season yard record for a tight finish with 1,467 to 15 games.
Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals are in an offensive fall with their season on the line and could miss the playoffs if Murray (foot injury) is unable to walk in Week 17. He will likely become the first player to throw for 4,000 yards. and rushes for 1,000, but his impact on Arizona’s success – especially with his feet – has been felt throughout 2020. The Cardinals are 0-5 when Murray rushes seven or fewer times in a game and 8-2 when running eight or more times.
Also receiving votes
These players received at least one top 10 vote from our nine experts. Keep in mind that in most cases, these votes were out of the top five.
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Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Ryan Tannehill, QB, Tennessee Titans
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TJ Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
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In front of Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers
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Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings
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Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills
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DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals
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Deshaun Watson, QB, Houston Texans
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Jalen Ramsey, CB, Los Angeles Rams
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Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
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Xavien Howard, CB, Miami Dolphins