Welcome in to the 2019 NFL MVP Watch, where I will be taking a look around the landscape of the MVP race in the NFL this season. This is pretty much the same thing as my Heisman Watch, sooooo…like, do I want to spend a lot of time on an intro?
Shit, I guess I will for the uninitiated – each week, I will count down the five most MVP-worthy performances of the week and offer up my reasoning for each ranking. You finish first, you get five points. Second is four, so on and so forth. I will keep the season point totals going at the bottom of the article and at the end of the season, whoever has the most points gets the 2019 SoBros Network NFL MVP “honors.”
2019 NFL MVP WATCH: WEEK 14
5. Lamar Jackson, Ravens QB – The Ravens defense really stepped up in the win over the Buffalo Bills, and while it wasn’t Jackson’s best statistical performance of the season, it was still a solid game. Jackson was 16/25 for 145 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. More importantly, his 40 rushing yards put him over the 1,000-yard mark over the course of the season. He’s just the second quarterback in NFL history to do that – he’s still leading the race for this year’s MVP honors.
4. Drew Lock, Broncos QB – Has John Elway finally hit on a quarterback prospect?!?! How about the young man stepping up and completely igniting that Broncos offense?!?! Lock was 22/27 for 309 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. If he keeps that up, he’s going to become one of the most impressive young gun slingers in the game.
3. Drew Brees, Saints QB – I rarely put people who lost in the MVP Watch, but hot damn – how can we ignore the game that Brees had on Sunday against a vaunted 49ers defense? 29/40 for 349 yards, FIVE touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown – SIX total touchdowns.
2. Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers QB – Props to Handsome Jimmy G for stepping up and having one of his best games of the season when it mattered most. That 49ers-Saints game was an all-time classic, and the 49ers rode Jimmy G to a victorious performance. Garoppolo was 26/35 for 349 yards, four touchdowns, and a pick. If he continues to play at a high level, this team will be even harder to beat.
1. Ryan Tannehill, Titans QB – Is…..is Ryan Tannehill actually in the MVP conversation? I mean, the Titans make the switch at quarterback and suddenly, they’re one of the hottest teams in the entire NFL. The Titans are 6-1 with Tannehill at the helm, he’s one of the highest rated passers in the NFL, and the offense is lighting teams up, averaging 37.5 points per game on this four game winning streak and 31.4 points per game since Tannehill took over the starting job.
Against the Raiders on Sunday, Tannehill was spectacular again, going 21/27 for 391 yards, three touchdowns, a pick, and a 140.4 passer rating. That passer rating was 2nd in the NFL this week (behind only Philip Rivers (among quarterbacks)). The season has been saved for the Titans, and maybe if Tannehill plays the full season, this team isn’t scratching and clawing to get a playoff spot. Maybe they’re in firm control of one. I see he’s starting to get some legit buzz for ‘Comeback Player of the Year,’ but maybe it’s time we start talking about him in the MVP conversation, too.
UPDATED NFL MVP WATCH POINTS STANDINGS
31. Nick Chubb, Chase Edmonds, Jared Goff, Joe Schobert, Sammy Watkins – 1
25. Sam Darnold, Ezekiel Elliott, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Leonard Fournette, Chris Godwin, Drew Lock – 2
20. Shaq Barrett, Mike Evans, Julio Jones, Marlon Mack, Michael Thomas – 3
14. J.C. Jackson, Josh Jacobs, Aaron Jones, Daniel Jones, Kyler Murray, Matthew Stafford – 4
13. Drew Brees – 5
11. Dalvin Cook, Jimmy Garoppolo – 6
10. Kirk Cousins – 7
8. Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill – 9
6. Dak Prescott, Deshaun Watson – 10
4. Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers – 12
3. Christian McCaffrey – 16
2. Russell Wilson – 20
1. Lamar Jackson – 32
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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