An Upset Is Brewing in NFL MVP Race

There is one week remaining in the 2024 NFL regular season. There is a runaway favorite in the league’s MVP race, but Week 18 could change that. Could we see a contender – or two – overtake the leader and pull off one of the more dramatic NFL MVP upsets in league history? That all depends upon some very important decisions to be made prior to this weekend’s games.

As it stands, Buffalo QB is the odds-on favorite to win the NFL MVP at -300, according to BetUS.com. Allen has had a phenomenal season with 3,731 passing yards and 28 touchdowns and another 531 yards and 12 scores on the ground. The Bills clinched the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs and Allen most likely will not play in the Bills season finale against New England.

Will Allen sitting out pave the way for a contender to come along and steal away the NFL’s most coveted individual honor? It’s possible.

To Play or Not to Play

The Philadelphia Eagles will be resting Saquon Barkley this last week of the season. The Eagles have the No. 2 seed in the NFC locked up. They have a meaningless game against the 3-13 New York Giants on Sunday. 

Barkley is the NFL’s leading rusher with 2,005 yards. He is exactly 100 yards behind the NFL record-holder and Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson. With 101 yards on Sunday, Barkley would break a record that has stood since 1984. But it is not to be. 

You can get the Eagles star at +1600 to win the MVP at Everygame.eu. Barkley has rushed for 100 yards or more in 11 of 16 games this season. He also has 278 receiving yards and two more touchdowns. Barkley could lead the Eagles all the way to Super Bowl. If he does, he could pull off the MVP upset.

Action or No Action Jackson

Last year’s NFL MVP, Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson, is currently No. 2 on the board behind Allen at +250 odds at Sportsbetting.ag. Like Barkley, Jackson and the Ravens have a decision to make. Baltimore plays AFC North Division rival Cleveland on Saturday. The Ravens are already 17.5-point favorites. 

The issue for Baltimore is this. The Pittsburgh Steelers play Cincinnati on Saturday night. If the Ravens somehow lose to Cleveland and the Steelers win, Pittsburgh will win the division and take the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs. Playing Jackson, at least for a half, could ensure a victory and would also give the two-time MVP a chance to pad his regular season stats. 

Jackson has 3,955 passing yards and a ridiculous 39 touchdowns. He is also Baltimore’s second-leading rusher with 852 yards and Jackson has scored four times on the ground. Another Baltimore trip to the Super Bowl could give Jackson a very good shot at a second consecutive and third overall MVP.

The Longshot

Joe Burrow has had an unbelievable season. If the Bengals defense could have figured it out at some point this season, Cincy would have had a shot at the postseason. They are actually not mathematically eliminated as of yet, but their chances are slim.

Burrow has 4,641 passing yards and 42 touchdowns. He leads the NFL in both categories. His December was absolutely amazing. He threw for 1,613 yards and tossed three touchdowns in all five games he played. He has thrown at least three scores in 10 games this season, including the last eight in a row. Burrow is given +2000 odds to win the MVP at BetUS and it’s a shame he won’t win it.