Everyone loves predictions. Sure, we could just wait for the final six weeks of the season to play out, but where's the fun in that? We need to know who the NFL's Most Valuable Player is right now, with the answer seemingly changing after every week (remember in September when Josh Allen was the Twitter favorite?)
All of the bye weeks are done, and with six weeks to go the field to realistically win the award is pretty much set. Of course, the award is going to go to a quarterback - apologies to Alvin Kamara and Derrick Henry, who in a past era would garner more serious consideration than they will in 2020 - but the question remains: which one? Here are the five likeliest candidates:
5) Ben Roethlisberger: The future Hall of Famer has a long list of NFL accolades, but he's never received a vote for MVP. That might not change this year, but at age 38 and coming off major elbow surgery, Big Ben has the Steelers off to the best start in franchise history. His stats aren't blowing anyone away, sitting 15th in yards (2,534), 17th in completion percentage (67 percent) and 26th in yards per attempt (6.7). But he's fourth in touchdown passes (24), has just five interceptions - two of which came on end-of-half heaves to the end zone - and, most importantly, Pittsburgh is 10-0.
4) Kyler Murray: After a promising rookie year, Murray has managed to exceed high expectations in his sophomore season. His completion percentage is up to 68 percent, he's nearly matched his 20 passing touchdowns from a year ago (he has 19) and he's unstoppable with his legs. His 619 rushing yards are most among quarterbacks, and 11th in the NFL, period. He actually has more combined yards and touchdowns at this point than Lamar Jackson did through 11 weeks in his MVP 2019 season. The biggest differences for him are that 1) the overwhelming favorite didn't get injured 2) we might not realize how ridiculous Murray is, because Lamar did it last year and 3) Baltimore went 14-2, while Arizona is 6-4.
3) Russell Wilson: He might have been the odds-on favorite a few weeks ago, but single handedly carrying a team with a terrible defense and a litany of injuries to the run game is starting to take its toll. Letting Russ cook has worked wonders for Seattle this year, as he leads the NFL in passing touchdowns (30) and is second in yards (2,986). However in his last three games he's thrown four interceptions and has fumbled five times, losing three. That's off the heels of a three-INT game in October against Arizona. Don't be mistaken, he's still brilliant, it just looks like he's trying to do too much.
2) Aaron Rodgers: Because this is largely a results-based award, Rodgers will unfairly get dinged for Green Bay's overtime loss to Indianapolis. Even though it's not his fault Marquez Valdes-Scandling fumbled the ball in overtime, that's how it goes. The two-time MVP is having a resurgent year at age 36 (he turns 37 on December 2), with 29 touchdowns to four interceptions and four performances this year with four TDs to no turnovers.
Many questioned the Packers selecting Jordan Love in the first round. Who knew it would just make Rodgers take out his anger on the rest of the NFL?
1) Patrick Mahomes: This isn't nearly as close as the pundits will make it seem. He's the best player in the world, there's no lead or game situation in which he makes a defense feel comfortable, and as long as he stays healthy he's winning his second MVP award. Just look at Sunday night's game against the Raiders, where he had 1:43 to get into field goal range. Instead he went 75 yards in the blink of an eye and threw the game-winning touchdown.
His stats line up (league-high 3,035 yards with 27 touchdowns to two interceptions!), he makes plays no one else does, and consider this: his worst statistical game this year came against either Denver or Las Vegas. Against the Broncos he threw for 200 yards and a score in a 43-16 laugher. And in the loss to the Raiders he threw for 340 yards with three total touchdowns and a pick.
