The field is tightening for the 2022 NFL MVP award as we push past Week 13 of the regular season. Here’s what you need to know with the latest odds from BetMGM in the race for the league’s top individual honor:
Top players to watch
QB Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
This just goes to show you how close this race actually is given Mahomes left Week 12 at -140 and Jalen Hurts trailed at +325. Mahomes didn’t play poorly in a Week 13 MVP race matchup against the Bengals’ Joe Burrow. But adding a third loss to the resume will clearly bring the contenders closer. Mahomes went 16-of-27 passing for 223 yards with one touchdown resulting in a 98.2 passer rating in the team’s Week 13 loss. He still leads the NFL with 30 passing TDs and 3,808 passing yards. Plus he’s taken the lead in Expected Points Added per dropback, via TruMedia. With two more team losses than Hurts, though, how far will Mahomes’ name and individual stats take him?
The Chiefs will travel to Denver to face the Broncos in Week 14.
QB Jalen Hurts, Eagles
Hurts has really become the complete package. In Week 12, he rushed for 157 yards and added two passing TDs to push the Eagles past the Packers. In Week 13, Hurts threw for 380 yards and three TDs along with one rushing TD leading to Philadelphia’s throttling of the Titans. He’s thrown only one interception from Week 5 until now compared to 16 TD passes. Hurts also ranks third in passer rating (108.3), fifth in completion percentage (68.1 percent) and tied for fifth in rushing TDs (nine). And oh by the way, the Eagles have the best record in the NFL by one game at 11-1. Sounds like the percent recipe for the MVP award.
The Eagles will face the Giants on the road in Week 14.
QB Joe Burrow, Bengals
The Bengals were 4-4 four weeks ago. Fresh off a win over the Chiefs in Week 13, the Bengals are squarely in the hunt in the AFC at 8-4. So it should be no surprise to watch Burrow drift up the MVP charts. Burrow completed 80.7 percent of his passes for 286 yards with two TDs and no interceptions (a 126.6 passer rating) along with a rushing TD against Kansas City. The Cincinnati passer has jumped to fourth in EPA per dropback and fifth in passer rating (103.7) this season. And with Ja’Marr Chase back in the lineup, Burrow’s overall success might increase even further given how well the quarterback played in Chase’s absence.
The Bengals will host the Browns in Week 14.
QB Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
Tagovailoa produced mixed results against the 49ers, which shouldn’t be a stunner given San Francisco’s stout defense. The Miami quarterback threw his first interception since Week 4 with two picks and only a 54.5 percent completion percentage in the loss to the Niners. He added two TDs on 295 passing yards, but it all resulted in his second-lowest 2022 passer rating at 79.7. Still, Tagovailoa is among the best passers this season. He leads the NFL in overall passer rating (112.0) and ranks second in EPA per dropback.
The Dolphins will face the Chargers in Los Angeles in Week 14.
QB Josh Allen, Bills
The Bills have moved to the top spot in the AFC with losses by the Chiefs and Dolphins. And yet Allen’s MVP odds have fallen to a season worst after Week 13. There’s no question he’s been erratic since Week 8 with eight passing TDs compared to seven interceptions. But there’s no denying that the Bills needed every bit of Allen’s quarterback play to drive their latest three-game winning streak. He tossed two TD passes and tallied a 106.0 passer rating in Buffalo’s Week 13 win over the Patriots. Allen also ranks third in EPA per dropback.
The Bills will host the Jets in Week 14.
(Photo: Bill Streicher / USA Today)
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