Admin December 17, 2024
Eagles look like team to beat in NFC, Bills beat Lions in potential SB preview
Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the top storylines from Week 15 in the NFL.
Sports Seriously
You’d think NFL MVP candidates Lamar Jackson and Jared Goff would be the talk of the league after each throwing five touchdown passes last Sunday.
But the NFL has its eyes set on someone else who should be MVP this season after Week 15.
It’s a shame for Jackson, who is still in the mix for his second consecutive MVP and what would be his third overall this season for the Ravens. The same can be said for Goff, who is having the best season of his career for the NFC-leading Detroit Lions.
Meanwhile, another star has emerged with two of the biggest wins in the NFL this season.
These are the USA TODAY Sports’ NFL MVP rankings after Week 15:
5. Eagles RB Saquon Barkley, stock even
Let’s just reserve this place for a Philadelphia Eagle.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts made a statement, after barely throwing for 100 yards in his previous two games, tossing two touchdowns and rushing for another in Philadelphia’s 27-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. But the Eagles’ real MVP candidate continues to be Saquon Barkley, despite the running back gaining just 74 total yards in the win.
Barkley continues to lead the NFL by a wide margin with 1,964 yards – nearly 400 yards more than the next player, Derrick Henry (1,599). Six players have more than Barkley’s 13 touchdowns this year, including Hurts who has tush pushed his way to 14 touchdowns with Barkley’s help, adding to the standout tailback’s MVP case.
4. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, stock even
Mahomes accounted for three touchdowns (two passing and a handoff) during the Chiefs’ 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns last week.
Kansas City may have the NFL’s best record at 13-1, but the win was just its fourth this season by more than one score. The nine other one-score wins have carried the light conversation for his MVP case this season.
Mahomes’ stats aren’t gaudy: He’s in the Top 10 with 22 touchdown passes (ninth) and 3,348 passing yards (10th), but his 64.6 QBR dropped a spot to 11th this week.
But the Chiefs have bigger concerns after the Browns game: Mahomes must navigate a high ankle sprain through the final three weeks of the regular season.
3. Lions QB Jared Goff, stock down
Goff also threw five touchdown passes last week, trying to get the Lions back into the mix against the Bills, but Detroit suffered its second loss of the season.
Goff drops back into the No. 3 slot after the loss, a week after he rose up to No. 2 with three touchdown passes to help Detroit hold off the Green Bay Packers.
Goff has the second-best passer rating (110.4) and completion percentage (71.4) in the NFL, while his 30 touchdown passes rank fourth among quarterbacks.
The Lions still own the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff race, but their slew of injuries — including the loss of running back David Montgomery (MCL) — will force Goff to elevate his game and potential MVP case down the stretch.
2. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, stock up
Jackson retakes the No. 2 spot after his five touchdowns against the Giants.
Jackson and the Ravens dismantled our No. 1 for MVP earlier this season, but Baltimore’s losses to the Chiefs, Raiders, Browns, Steelers and Eagles have hurt his MVP case.
Jackson leads the NFL with a 120.7 passer rating, is second behind Joe Burrow (36) with 34 touchdown passes, and second with a 76.0 QBR behind the No. 1 player on our list.
Baltimore is 9-5, and Jackson has a chance to help his team reclaim the AFC North this week in a big-time matchup against the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers.
1. Bills QB Josh Allen, stock even
Allen had two rushing touchdowns, then two passing touchdowns in Buffalo’s 48-42 clash with the Lions last week.
The Bills have scored 90 points in the last two weeks with Allen accounting for 10 total touchdowns in the stretch. He became the first player in league history to score three rushing touchdown and three passing touchdowns in a game last week.
Allen has the best QBR in the league at 79.3, is sixth with 25 touchdown passes, along with 12 rushing touchdowns. He has three more games, including two against the Patriots, to solidify his MVP case further.
The Bills have taken down the Lions, the NFC’s best team all season, and the Chiefs, who hold the best record in the league — aiding Allen’s case for his first NFL MVP award.