NFL MVP Update: Two Terrific Games Take Jackson to Cusp of Two-Time MVP Status
Written by: Eddie Griffin
Last Update: Tue Jan 02, 2024, 12:02 am ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Throughout the 2023 season, the NFL MVP race has seen quite a few twists and turns, with numerous players assuming the mantle as the favorite.
Patrick Mahomes, Tua Tagovailoa, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, and Brock Purdy have all sat atop the odds at some point this season.
However, unless something very, very unlikely occurs at this point, none of those very talented and very successful signal callers will be handed the hardware at next month's NFL Honors ceremony in Las Vegas.
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Since the inception of the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award in 1957, ten players have been named MVP at least twice.
Players to Be Named AP NFL MVP Multiple Times
- Five times – Peyton Manning
- Four times – Aaron Rodgers
- Three times – Tom Brady, Jim Brown, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas
- Two times – Patrick Mahomes, Joe Montana, Kurt Warner, Steve Young
If things play out as the latest NFL MVP odds indicate, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who previously claimed the award in 2019, will become the 11th member of that club.
In Week 16, Jackson took over as the favorite after leading the Ravens to a huge road win over the San Francisco 49ers. On New Year's Eve, Jackson all but wrapped up the award with a masterful performance in Baltimore's 56-19 demolition of the Miami Dolphins.
In the win, Jackson racked up 356 total yards (321 passing, 35 rushing) and tossing five touchdown passes for the first time since his previous MVP season.
As a result of two outstanding performances against two of the top teams in the NFL and helping the Ravens lock up the #1 seed in the AFC, Jackson is now a long distance out in front of Prescott, Purdy, and Allen,
2023 NFL MVP Odds
- Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens -10000
- Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys +1600
- Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers +2500
- Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills +2800
2023 NFL MVP Favorites
Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens (NFL MVP Odds: -10000 at BetOnline)
2023 NFL Season Stats for Lamar Jackson
- Passing: 307 of 457 (67.2%), 3,678 yards, 24 TD, 7 INT
- Rushing: 148 carries, 821 yards (5.5 yards per attempt), 5 TD
Jackson has been somewhere in the race throughout the season, but by stepping up to deliver two big wins for the Ravens in two high-stakes games, he has earned his place as the man to beat.
Of course, he will be hoping for a better ending to this season than his previous MVP season. When he won the 2019 award, the Ravens finished with 14 wins and the best record in the NFL, only to be upset by the Tennessee Titans at home in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys (+1600)
2023 NFL Season Stats for Dak Prescott
- Passing: 379 of 554 (68.4%), 4,237 yards, 32 TD, 8 INT
- Rushing: 55 carries, 242 yards (4.4 yards per attempt), 2 TD
After back-to-back road losses to the Bills and Dolphins damaged the Cowboys' NFC East title hopes and all but ended Prescott's MVP hopes, he and Dallas got it done against the Lions in thrilling fashion on Saturday night.
Dak did his part in the 20-19 win over Detroit, going 26 of 38 for 345 yards and two touchdowns (with one interception). His performance included a 92-yard hookup with CeeDee Lamb that produced Dallas's first points of the game.
Even with a monster performance at Washington next Sunday, Dak likely won't add any intrigue to the NFL MVP race. But if he leads the Cowboys to a win over the rival Commanders, it will secure a division title and the #2 seed in the NFC, which would give Dallas the opportunity to have two home playoff games.
Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers (+2500)
2023 NFL Season Stats for Brock Purdy
- Passing: 308 of 444 (69.4%), 4,280 yards, 31 TD, 11 INT
- Rushing: 39 carries, 144 yards (3.7 yards per attempt), 2 TD
After throwing four interceptions in the Week 16 loss to the Ravens, Purdy rebounded with a solid showing on Sunday at Washington, going 22 of 28 for 230 yards and two touchdowns as the 49ers clinched the top seed in the NFC with a 27-10 win over the Commanders.
Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills (+2800)
2023 NFL Season Stats for Josh Allen
- Passing: 355 of 541 (65.6%), 3,947 yards, 27 TD, 16 INT
- Rushing: 96 carries, 457 yards (4.8 yards per attempt), 15 TD
Allen's passing numbers over his past four games are rather pedestrian (55.6% completion percentage, 733 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT), but the Bills have recorded four straight wins to remain alive in the AFC East race heading into Sunday night's winner-take-all season finale at Miami.
It is worth noting that while he hasn't been putting up big numbers statistically through the air or on the ground (34 carries, 115 yards in his past four games), he does have six rushing touchdowns in this stretch and has now accounted for 40+ touchdowns for the fourth straight season.
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Many of the top online sportsbooks offer a wide variety of NFL odds throughout the season.
In addition to being able to bet on Super Bowl spread and over/under betting odds when the big game arrives, you can make weekly NFL picks on games all season long.
Also, you can bet on NFL MVP odds, Offensive Player of the Year odds, and NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds, and odds on the other major NFL awards at most reputable sports betting sites.
There are plenty of sports betting sites you can choose from that are good for NFL betting, but here are several books that we have reviewed and highly recommend:
If you don't have an account at a book on this list, check out our reviews to help you determine if it is worth your interest and your betting funds.
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