Let's chat about the National Football League. This week's schedule (all times Eastern):
Thu 2024-12-12 8:15PM Los Angeles Rams @ San Francisco 49ers
Sun 2024-12-15 1:00PM Cincinnati Bengals @ Tennessee Titans
Sun 2024-12-15 1:00PM Dallas Cowboys @ Carolina Panthers
Sun 2024-12-15 1:00PM Kansas City Chiefs @ Cleveland Browns
Sun 2024-12-15 1:00PM Miami Dolphins @ Houston Texans
Sun 2024-12-15 1:00PM New York Jets @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Sun 2024-12-15 1:00PM Baltimore Ravens @ New York Giants
Sun 2024-12-15 1:00PM Washington Commanders @ New Orleans Saints
Sun 2024-12-15 4:25PM Buffalo Bills @ Detroit Lions
Sun 2024-12-15 4:25PM Indianapolis Colts @ Denver Broncos
Sun 2024-12-15 4:25PM New England Patriots @ Arizona Cardinals
Sun 2024-12-15 4:25PM Pittsburgh Steelers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Sun 2024-12-15 4:25PM Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Los Angeles Chargers
Sun 2024-12-15 8:20PM Green Bay Packers @ Seattle Seahawks
Mon 2024-12-16 8:00PM Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings
Mon 2024-12-16 8:30PM Atlanta Falcons @ Las Vegas Raiders
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Notes -
After looking like the worst team in the league the first half of the season, the Panthers have been sneakily competent so far in the back half. Their last three games have been against division leaders, and they lost all three by one score (including one in overtime). They may be a trap game but have been playing their best ball of the season lately. Bryce Young looks like a different player after his benching, and Canales deserves a lot of credit not only for that, but also for getting a full buy-in from the team. The Panthers are playing hard, and while they've come up short in these last few games and moral victories aren't "real" ones, it is absolutely encouraging for Panthers fans that they've been really striving for these games. It can be easy for a team like this to give up on the season - just look at the Giants.
As for MVP, even with the loss it feels to me like it's Allen's to lose at this point. Lamar will struggle to win the division at this point, which would make his candidacy non-viable. Saquon has been absolutely incredible, but I don't think the narrative for him has been that he is the only guy carrying the Eagles, the way Adrian Peterson was the entire offense for the Vikings back when he won. I think the Eagle's embarrassment of riches across the offense will hurt his candidacy. Meanwhile, Allen's supporting skill position cast on the Bills has been below-average, with one of the worst WR rooms in the league prior to the addition of Amari Cooper at the deadline (who has not done much as a Bill, either) - their most-played WR is former Eagles castoff Mack Hollins. James Cook has been good, but not to the point of overcoming their receiving shortcomings. And everyone watched Allen attempt to drag that team kicking and screaming to a victory Sunday night all by his lonesome, which will play well in the minds of the voters even though he couldn't quite manage it in the end.
That's exactly what makes them a trap game.
Allen absolutely should win, but if he doesn't I'll be pissed if it doesn't go to Saquon.
In my mind, a player should not win multiple MVPs unless he is the best beyond a reasonable doubt. Not just a tie breaker, a higher standard for previous winners. So applying a higher standard, Lamar and Mahomes are out. That leaves Goff, Hurts, Darnold, Love in the running. Hurts and Love don't have the stats. Goff and Darnold have had great years by the stats, but lack the je ne sais quoi to carry an MVP. I do think Watt on the Steelers should be getting more MVP love, he's the heart of that team.
Allen is the clear favorite, and he deserves it. By any standard, he deserves it more than Saquon. But Saquon is the clear second place and I don't think it's particularly close.
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