After three months in which nobody emerged as the front-runner in the NFL MVP race, two men have now seemingly taken control.
On one side: Dak Prescott. On the other: Brock Purdy.
Purdy ranks third in passing yardage, while Prescott is fourth. Purdy is first in yards per attempt, while Prescott is fourth. Prescott is first in touchdown passes, while Purdy is tied for second. And in QBR, Purdy is first, while Prescott is second, sitting one-tenth off the pace.
From a team perspective, the Cowboys and 49ers are tied for the league’s best record at 10–3 (along with the Ravens and Eagles). In their head-to-head matchup, Purdy and San Francisco smashed Dallas back in Week 5 by a 42–10 count. Yet Prescott can argue he has lesser weapons and is asked to do more within the offense, and he’s thriving.
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So who is the MVP? Luckily, we have four more weeks to decide.
Rising
Brock Purdy, QB, 49ersLast Week: Rising
Purdy continues to play at an elite level. The Niners took down the Seahawks on Sunday, 28–16, with Purdy throwing for 368 yards and two touchdowns on a comical 13.6 yards per attempt.
While the Niners certainly have given Purdy an all-star cast to work with, he’s making the most of his situation. All told, he’s on pace to throw for 4,646 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Not bad for a guy in his first full season as a starter after being a seventh-round pick.
Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
Last Week: Rising
Nobody is hotter than Prescott at the moment. The Cowboys have won five straight after thumping the Eagles, 33–13, and Prescott is at the epicenter of their run to the top of the NFC East.
Against Philadelphia, Prescott threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns, posting a 67.6 QBR. It was one of his more ho-hum efforts of the past two months, and yet it was more than enough to trounce a division rival.
Since the aforementioned blowout loss in San Francisco, Prescott has thrown 23 touchdowns against two interceptions. Lights out.
Holding steady
Lamar Jackson, QB, RavensLast week: Holding steady
Jackson’s passing stats are nowhere near the top of the league, but his dual-threat ability has helped put the Ravens atop the AFC race.
On Sunday, Baltimore won a wild 37–31 overtime affair over the Rams, with Jackson throwing for 316 yards and three touchdowns, albeit with an interception and on a 55.8% completion rate. On the season, Jackson has also added 644 rushing yards and five scores on the ground.
Having only 16 touchdown passes, Jackson’s best road to the MVP award is playing his best in prime time the next two weeks against the Jaguars and 49ers while helping the Ravens secure the conference’s best record.
Falling
Patrick Mahomes, QB, ChiefsLast week: Falling
Mahomes is falling because Kansas City’s receivers coated their hands in butter, and Kadarius Toney couldn’t line up correctly.
While Mahomes did have a poor interception in the first quarter of the Chiefs’ 20–17 loss to the Bills, he played very well afterward. Despite numerous drops, the reigning MVP threw for 271 yards and a touchdown.
Still, with Kansas City sitting at 8–5 and third in the AFC playoff picture, it seems a third MVP award is unlikely in 2023.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins
Last week: Rising
Unfortunately for Hill, the injury bug found him this week, as he hurt his ankle on a tackle in the first quarter of a brutal 28–27 loss to the Titans.
While Hill returned in the second half, he was limited both in snaps and effectiveness, as Tennessee doubled him continuously. While Hill still posted four catches and 61 yards, the road to 2,000 yards just got tougher.
Hill needs 458 yards over the final four games. That won’t be easy, but is doable if he’s healthy.
Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles
Last week: Falling
Hurts was the favorite to win MVP only a few weeks ago, but his stock has plummeted with the Eagles’ losses to the Niners and Cowboys by a combined score of 75–32.
Furthermore, the Eagles failed to score an offensive touchdown against Dallas, being limited to just two field goals on prime-time television. Not surprisingly, Hurts didn’t make much noise with just 197 passing yards and a lost fumble.
If Hurts goes berserk over the next four weeks against the Seahawks, Giants, Cardinals and Giants again, maybe he’ll get back into the picture.
