KC Chiefs: Top five MVP candidates heading into week 11
By Gage Stagner
MVP CANDIDATE
Number 3 – Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Your favorite player’s favorite player.
The second-year quarterback has been nothing short of a revelation. He is a highlight waiting to happen and he’s one of the only guys that won’t let you nap on Sundays. His unbelievable vision combined with his amazing improvement in the passing game has vaulted him into the discussion for MVP.
Jackson is the narrative guy this year, considering everyone loves him. Once considered an injury waiting to happen, Jackson has shifted and juked his way to one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. He can’t get injured if no defense can touch him.
The Case For:
Jackson has led the Baltimore Ravens to a 7-2 record this year and he shows no signs of slowing down. He’s the only one to beat the Patriots this year and they did so handily. He’s a sit-up-in-your-chair type of guy. He is 11th in the league in total rushing yards and still throws for over 225 per game.
Those stats don’t actually do him justice though, because he’s already had a couple blowout wins. If he goes for 3,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing this season, he’d accomplish something Michael Vick never did.
The Case Against:
He hasn’t led his team to a game-winning victory this year, which is almost a prerequisite for winning the MVP. Granted, that’s because some games have been blowouts because of his playmaking, but there is still a little to be desired from the passing game.
The Ravens have also lost a weird game to the Browns and almost lost to a Steelers team with their third-string quarterback in the game. It may be nit-picking, but when it comes to the MVP, these type of things are what separates the winners from the contenders.