Josh Allen, the reigning NFL MVP, can get his team to 4-0 on the young season if he and the Bills can take care of business against the lowly Saints. Some of the other preseason favorites for the MVP award, however … well, they have fallen on harder times. Joe Burrow is probably out until December with a painful turf-toe injury. Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes square off this week in a battle of former MVPs whose teams are trying to avoid falling to 1-3. In the meantime, other stars have emerged. Here’s a look at Allen’s case and the other emerging favorites:
Josh Allen
Bills | QB
Game after game, year after year, Allen has worn the Superman cape. This year, he has rarely done so, save for that wild fourth quarter against the Ravens in Week 1. Allen has attempted just nine passes that have traveled 20-plus yards – and even though the Bills are undefeated, and even though they have scored 30 or more points in all three weeks, Allen has all but taken a back seat as James Cook and others take turns in starring roles. Allen has completed 69.7% of his throws for 755 yards, five TDs and most importantly, no interceptions. That last part has been the No. 1 key to success for a Bills team that’s 3-0 but hasn’t played a complete game yet. If they are not capable of playing a complete game because they are not a complete team, that’s a problem. If, however, Allen and the Bills start to hit their stride, watch out.
Odds: +220 (Bet365), +225 (BetMGM), +170 (FanDuel).
This week: vs. Saints, 1 p.m. Sunday.
Lamar Jackson
Ravens | QB
Jackson, of course, is a two-time MVP who finished second to Allen in a super-tight race last season. He and Allen were neck-and-neck in Las Vegas, getting nearly identical MVP odds until the Ravens suffered their second defeat Monday night, losing 38-30 at home to the Lions. Jackson threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns, and truth be told, he’s doing his part. He has completed 72% of his throws this season for 722 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions – and Bills fans saw firsthand in Week 1 what a headache Jackson can be. He’s as good as ever, but his defense is letting him down. Still, the the Ravens only trail the Steelers (2-1) and Bengals by one game and have a softer schedule ahead, even if they lose to the Chiefs. They play the Texans, Rams (2-1), Bears (1-2) and Dolphins (0-3) in their next four games.
Odds: +300 (Bet365), +300 (BetMGM), +320 (FanDuel).
This week: at Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. Sunday.
Justin Herbert
Chargers | QB
Led by Herbert, the Chargers made a gutsy fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Denver Broncos 23-20 on Sunday for a third consecutive win over an AFC West opponent. What’s more, the Chargers are coming up on a soft stretch in their schedule that includes games against the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans, who are a combined 0-9. That could not only turn Herbert into the biggest threat to overtake Allen as an MVP favorite; it could make the Chargers a prime contender in the AFC playoff race. They will probably need more from Herbert as they go down the road because injuries are starting to pile up. The Chargers are thin at the backup tackle spot, and running back Najee Harris might be out for the year. Herbert was sacked five times and hit 14 times by the Broncos but engineered his 13th career fourth-quarter comeback.
Odds: +500 (Bet365), +500 (BetMGM), +500 (FanDuel).
This week: at Giants, 1 p.m. Sunday.
Jordan Love
Packers | QB
It was all going so well for Love and the Packers, until it wasn’t. They were making noise as perhaps the team to beat the NFC until their stunning 13-10 loss at Cleveland on Sunday. Love has completed 67.9% of his throws for 663 yards and five touchdowns and one interception, but the Browns’ pass rush exposed a potential lack of depth on Green Bay’s offensive line. The trip to Cleveland started a five-game stretch in which the Packers play at home just once. While the Packers looked as good as any team in the NFL through the first two weeks of the season, the loss to the Browns raised some concerns. The Packers will likely play at Dallas without tackles Anthony Belton and Zach Tom at Dallas, but the Cowboys defense is hardly as strong as the one Love faced in Cleveland. Dallas ranks 31st in the NFL in yards allowed per play at 6.5.
Odds: +1500 (Bet365), +1500 (BetMGM), +1500 (FanDuel).