Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs isn’t in the MVP conversation right now, but with everything he’s done this season, I wouldn’t put it past him to work his way up. He’s certainly in the running for Comeback Player of the Year after guiding the Vikings to a 27–19 win over the Saints.
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The 49ers beat the Jaguars 34–3 in Jacksonville, a loss so bad that some might be wondering whether Trevor Lawrence & Co. are pretenders in the AFC. Lawrence, surprisingly, hasn’t played like an MVP candidate this season.
The Texans’ C.J. Stroud, on the other hand, is the obvious front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and it’s time to seriously consider him for MVP after the upset win against the Bengals on Sunday.
The rookie picked apart Cincinnati’s stout defense and outplayed Joe Burrow. The Ohio State product also delivered another game-winning drive to keep the Texans (5–4) in the playoff race.
Let’s assess Dobbs, Stroud and a few other narratives that developed during Week 10 of the NFL season. Here are five items for this week’s edition of “Fact or Fiction.”
Josh Dobbs needs Comeback Player of the Year consideration
Manzano’s view: Fact
Dobbs’s magical 2023 season needs to be turned into a movie—or at the very least earn him some type of award. The quarterback topped his Vikings debut with a stellar performance in Sunday’s 27–19 win against the Saints. There’s no Most Improved Player of the Year award in the NFL, so the next best thing for Dobbs might be Comeback Player of the Year. Leading up to the season, Bills safety Damar Hamlin might have been a lock for the award, but Dobbs could be a part of the conversation now given the challenges he’s overcome through his seven-year NFL career. As of now, Hamlin is a -105 betting favorite for the award, but Dobbs isn’t far behind at +400, according to SI Sportsbook. If Dobbs can’t beat out Hamlin for the award, how about the Pro Bowl? Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott might be the only locks for Pro Bowl quarterbacks in the NFC.
Texans QB C.J. Stroud is a top candidate for MVP
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Manzano’s view: Fact
What Stroud did last week against the Buccaneers made him go from a very good rookie quarterback to a special one. But he somehow topped that performance this week, defeating a Super Bowl contender on the road to become a legit candidate for MVP. Stroud completed 23-of-39 passes for 356 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Most importantly, the QB produced another game-winning drive to set Matt Ammendola up with a 38-yard, game-winning field goal as time expired. There hasn’t been a rookie MVP in the NFL since Jim Brown in 1957, but Stroud may have positioned himself to be the second, especially with veteran quarterbacks struggling to find consistency this season.
Jaguars are pretenders after loss to 49ers
Manzano’s view: Fiction
The Jaguars were embarrassed by the 49ers in Week 10. But let’s not forget about the five-game winning streak they had entering Sunday’s showdown; they beat the Falcons, Bills, Colts, Saints and Steelers in October. The Jaguars will be in the mix with the Chiefs, Bengals and Ravens when the playoffs arrive in the AFC. But I do have concerns about Jacksonville’s offense. Lawrence deserves criticism for holding the ball too long and forcing throws that led to turnovers, and his offensive line was exposed by Nick Bosa and Chase Young. It was one ugly game, but expect coach Doug Pederson to make the necessary adjustments—such as getting wide receiver Calvin Ridley more involved—to quickly bounce-back next week against the Titans.
Patriots should bench Mac Jones for remainder of season
Manzano’s view: Fact
Jones has gotten one too many opportunities to prove himself during this miserable season in New England. The quarterback’s time with the Patriots (2–8) might be over after he threw a backbreaking interception that got him benched during Sunday’s 10–6 loss against the Colts in Germany. The 2021 first-round pick also got an earful from offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien on the sideline after the red zone turnover in the fourth quarter. There’s been an obvious disconnect between Jones and the coaching staff the past two seasons. It’s not all Jones’s fault, but he has made too many mistakes in his third NFL season. The Patriots likely took a chance on the QB because he developed a reputation for being a smart game manager during his time at Alabama. But that hasn't been the case in New England, especially not this season. Jones has thrown for 2,031 yards, 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Bailey Zappe, a 2022 fourth-round pick, probably isn’t an option to be a long-term quarterback in New England, but he might give the Patriots the best chance to win for the rest of the season.
Bryce Young is to blame for Panthers’ rough season
Panthers coach Frank Reich taking the ball away from Young and opting for a 59-yard field-goal attempt in Thursday’s 16–13 loss against the Bears best summarizes why this season has gone poorly for the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft. Reich, along with GM Scott Fitterer, deserves the bulk of the blame for why Young has struggled in his rookie season, and why the Panthers are staring at a 1–8 record. The Panthers were aggressive in acquiring the No. 1 pick from Chicago for the right to select Young, but they have been far from aggressive on the field this season. Carolina averaged 3.7 yards per gain, and Young averaged 4.9 yards per attempt against the Bears. All could have been forgotten had Young delivered a game-winning drive on the team’s final possession—yet the rookie never got the chance, as Reich passed on a fourth-and-10 from Chicago’s 41-yard line, leading to Eddy Pineiro’s missed field-goal attempt that sealed the win for the Bears.
