Tag: MVP

Dec 25, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) passes the football against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

Lamar Jackson new MVP favorite as Brock Purdy plummets

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The NFL’s Most Valuable Player race took the primetime stage on Christmas night, and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson put together a performance that vaulted the 2019 award winner into the driver’s seat.

Jackson passed for 252 yards with a pair of touchdowns and also led the Ravens with 45 rushing yards in leading Baltimore to a 33-19 victory at San Francisco. Meanwhile, previous MVP favorite Brock Purdy suffered the worst outing of his young career, throwing four interceptions.

When the dust settled, Jackson moved to the odds-on MVP favorite at most sportsbooks. That includes being the -160 favorite at BetMGM and DraftKings. Meanwhile, Purdy dropped to fourth at +1200 at both books, and may have seen an end to his MVP aspirations for this season.

Purdy had stumped for teammate Christian McCaffrey for MVP honors last week, and the running back is now Jackson’s closest pursuer after rushing for 103 yards and adding another 28 as a receiver, accounting for 131 total yards.

McCaffrey vaulted from +1600 at BetMGM last week to +400 on Tuesday, while seeing his odds shorten from +1000 to +400 at DraftKings. Also moving ahead of Purdy was Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who is now being offered at +900 and +1000, respectively.

McCaffrey is seeking to become the first non-quarterback to win the award since running back Adrian Peterson accomplished the feat with the Minnesota Vikings in 2012.

If he does, it would be a painful result for sportsbooks. McCaffrey is the biggest MVP liability at BetMGM, where he has been backed by 8.3 percent of all money wagered since opening as a +10000 longshot.

McCaffrey has two more games to add to his 1,932 total yards and 21 touchdowns, with the 49ers closing the regular season at Washington and then at home against the Los Angeles Rams. Meanwhile, Jackson will go toe-to-toe in another high profile battle against Tagovailoa at home on Sunday before facing bitter rival Pittsburgh in Week 18.

Jackson has thrown for only 19 touchdowns through 15 games. The fewest ever for an MVP-winning quarterback was 24 by Tennessee’s Steve McNair, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

However, Jackson has also rushed for 786 yards and five touchdowns. And his all-around importance to the Ravens’ offense was in full display as he continued to confound San Francisco’s stout defense on Monday night.

“I thought Lamar had an MVP performance,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “It takes a team to create a performance like that, but it takes a player to play at that level — to play at an MVP level — it takes a player to play that way. And Lamar was all over the field doing everything.”

Jackson’s touchdown total would be a bigger hindrance in most years, but this season has seen numerous players elevate to favorite status only to fall back.

Reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes opened the season as the favorite to repeat, but he has plummeted to +5000 at BetMGM and +3500 at DraftKings. He was passed early in the season by Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, but then the Eagles went on a three-game losing skid and he currently sits at +3000 and +2500, respectively.

As painful as a McCaffrey MVP win would be for books, Hurts’ fall from the top perch helps ease the potential pain. He still leads all players with 10.6 percent of the total MVP bets at BetMGM. However, Jackson leads by a wide margin with 18.3 percent of the total money wagered since opening at +1600.

Jackson already has one MVP award on his resume, and distinctly remembers that was followed by a quick exit in the postseason.

“We know it was in 2019 when we were playing against (teams) like this (and) winning regular season games (and) when the time came, we didn’t finish the season,” Jackson said after Monday night’s game. “We’re just going to keep taking it a day at a time, a practice at a time and a game at a time. That’s all I’m focused on right now.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 17, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) celebrates following the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

49ers’ Brock Purdy now odds-on MVP favorite

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Brock Purdy can stump for teammate Christian McCaffrey all he likes, but the reality is that oddsmakers view the San Francisco 49ers’ second-year quarterback as the odds-on favorite to win Most Valuable Player honors this season.

Purdy is coming off a four-touchdown game in the 49ers’ Week 15 rout of Arizona. Meanwhile, two of his closest pursuers in the MVP race, Dallas’ Dak Prescott and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, suffered defeats that were surprising for separate reasons.

Purdy, who was the final pick of the NFL draft less than two years ago, now has a league-leading 29 touchdown passes against only seven interceptions while passing for 3,795 yards this season. He is now the -200 MVP favorite at DraftKings and has even shorter odds at -225 at BetMGM, where he leads all players with 11.7 percent of the money wagered backing Purdy to win MVP.

Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson remains firmly in the picture at +450 and +500, respectively, followed by Prescott, who is being offered at +700 by both books. Jackson does have a prime-time opportunity to go head-to-head against Purdy, with San Francisco set to play host to Baltimore on Monday Night Football on Christmas Day.

Purdy said after Sunday game that he believes the versatile McCaffrey should be leading the MVP race, and the running back is fourth at DraftKings (+1000) and fifth at BetMGM (+1,600). McCaffrey leads the league in carries (244) and rushing yards (1,292) and has amassed 20 total touchdowns through the 49ers’ first 14 games.

“I think Christian should be MVP,” Purdy told reporters. “I really do believe that. He does everything for us. Runs the ball well, catches the ball, he does everything. In my eyes, that’s the MVP.”

McCaffrey does remain BetMGM’s biggest liability in the MVP market, having drawn 7.9 percent of the money wagered since opening at +10000. He is also the odds-on favorite to win Offensive Player of the Year honors. McCaffrey is being offered at -150 by DraftKings and at -155 by BetMGM, where he leads with 13.1 percent of the total bets placed.

Hurts, who led the MVP race much of the season and still has been backed by the most total bets at BetMGM at 11.1 percent, has almost fallen out of the picture at +2000 and +1800 by BetMGM. The Eagles have loss three consecutive games, the most recent coming in a Monday night upset at Seattle against a Seahawks team that had dropped four consecutive games and started a backup quarterback.

Prescott remains in the picture, but his odds also took a significant hit after Sunday’s 31-10 blowout loss at Buffalo. In additional to failing to throw a touchdown for the first time since Week 1, Prescott threw his first interception in five games.

–Field Level Media

Dec 3, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) walks off the field after win against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Hardly Irrelevant: Brock Purdy new MVP favorite

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Could Brock Purdy go from Mr. Irrelevant to NFL Most Valuable Player in less than two years?

San Francisco’s quarterback is the +300 MVP favorite at DraftKings after leading the 49ers to a 42-19 victory at Philadelphia on Sunday. Not only did it serve notice that San Francisco might be the NFC’s most dominant team, but Purdy outplayed previous MVP favorite Jalen Hurts in his own building.

Hurts, who was the +250 favorite at the book just two weeks ago, dropped to +350. That’s equal to Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott, who is on his own rapid rise after opening the Week 13 slate with his sixth consecutive multiple-touchdown game in a comeback win over Seattle on Thursday night.

The trio are the +350 co-favorites at BetMGM. There is then a significant gap to two previous MVPs — Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson at +600 and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes at +750, followed by Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa at +800.

Jackson and Mahomes are being offered at +900 at DraftKings after being +350 and +400, respectively, just two weeks ago. Tagovailoa has shorter odds than both at the book, where he is +700.

Jackson’s Ravens are coming off their bye week and are tied with Tagovailoa’s Dolphins atop the AFC at 9-3. He will have plenty of opportunity to state his case down the stretch with a Week 15 game at Jacksonville followed by a cross-country trip to battle Purdy in San Francisco ahead of a Week 17 home game against Tagovailoa and Miami that could decide home-field advantage in the AFC.

Mahomes and the Chiefs have fallen a game off the pace following their loss at Green Bay on Sunday night — Kansas City’s third loss in its past five games. Mahomes, the reigning MVP, does not have any remaining games against other MVP candidates, although the Chiefs also play only one more team that currently has a winning record.

Meanwhile, Purdy has plenty of opportunity to continue to shine on the national stage.

San Francisco plays host to Seattle on Sunday, followed by a game at Arizona before the Week 16 tilt against Baltimore on “Monday Night Football.” The 49ers close out the regular season with a trip to reeling Washington and a home game against the Los Angeles Rams.

After a slow first quarter, Purdy led San Francisco to touchdown drives on six consecutive possessions at Philadelphia. He finished the game with 314 passing yards and four touchdowns. Critics will point out that his receivers racked up 212 yards after the catch and that 48.5 percent of Purdy’s passing yards this season have been the result of YAC.

However, Purdy has already outplayed Hurst and Prescott in head-to-head blowouts by San Francisco, and he’ll have an opportunity for a third signature win against Jackson and the Ravens.

Purdy leads the NFL in completion percentage and quarterback rating.

The 49ers (9-3) are now second in the NFC behind the Eagles (10-2), whose next two games are at the Cowboys (9-3) and Seahawks (6-6). How the NFC playoff picture looks after the next several weeks could have a major factor in how the MVP race shakes out.

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) in action against the Buffalo Bills at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts charging toward first MVP award

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Jalen Hurts’ latest dramatic comeback victory has helped the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback put more distance between himself and his closest pursuers for the Most Valuable Player award.

Hurts threw for three touchdowns and ran for the game-winning score in overtime in Philadelphia’s 37-34 win over Buffalo on Sunday. With 3,107 total yards and 29 combined touchdowns in the Eagles’ 10-1 start, Hurts is the +130 MVP favorite at DraftKings and is +140 at BetMGM.

With 11 rushing touchdowns through 11 games, Hurts is on pace for 17 this season. That would smash the NFL record for a quarterback held by Cam Newton with 14 for the Carolina Panthers in 2011. Hurts already holds the second-highest mark with 13 last year.

Hurts was the +250 MVP favorite at DraftKings entering last week, but saw those odds shorten following the game-winning drive to beat the Bills a week after leading a come-from-behind win at Kansas City. He has drawn the most MVP bets and total money at the book. Hurts is also the biggest liability at BetMGM, where he has been backed by 12.3 percent of the total bets.

His closest pursuer continues to be reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes, who is being offered at +350 by both books. Third is Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is +400 at DraftKings and +500 at BetMGM.

The top non-quarterback candidate is San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. Offered at +1600 by DraftKings, McCaffrey has longer +2500 odds at BetMGM, where he is the biggest liability for Offensive Player of the Year honors while being backed by 21.0 percent of the money wagered thus far.

AWARDS ODDS (BetMGM)
NFL MVP
–Highest Ticket%: Jalen Hurts 12.3%
–Highest Handle%: Patrick Mahomes 12.2%
–Biggest Liability: Jalen Hurts
–Odds Leader: Jalen Hurts +140

Offensive Player of the Year
–Highest Ticket%: Christian McCaffrey 12.0%
–Highest Handle%: Christian McCaffrey 21.0%
–Biggest Liability: Christian McCaffrey
–Odds Leader: Tyreek Hill -105

Defensive Player of the Year
–Highest Ticket%: Aidan Hutchinson 15.8%
–Highest Handle%: Micah Parsons 22.8%
–Biggest Liability: Aidan Hutchinson
–Odds Leader: Myles Garrett +150

Comeback Player of the Year
–Highest Ticket%: Russell Wilson 12.7%
–Highest Handle%: Damar Hamlin 47.2%
–Biggest Liability: Russell Wilson
–Odds Leader: Damar Hamlin -150

Coach of the Year
–Highest Ticket%: Dan Campbell 37.5%
–Highest Handle%: Dan Campbell 41.3%
–Biggest Liability: Dan Campbell
–Odds Leader: Dan Campbell +160

Offensive Rookie of the Year – off the board
–Highest Ticket%: Jahmyr Gibbs 19.9%
–Highest Handle%: Bijan Robinson 22.4%
–Biggest Liability: Jahmyr Gibbs
–Odds Leader: Off the board

Defensive Rookie of the Year
–Highest Ticket%: Jalen Carter 20.7%
–Highest Handle%: Jalen Carter 33.6%
–Biggest Liability: Jalen Carter
–Odds Leader: Jalen Carter -250

–Field Level Media

Nov 20, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) throws a pass during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles new SB favorites as Jalen Hurts’ MVP odds shorten

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The Philadelphia Eagles left Kansas City with a statement victory on Monday night that impacted both the Super Bowl and Most Valuable Player odds.

The most highly anticipated regular-season game on the 2023 schedule lived up to the hype, with the Eagles overcoming a 10-point halftime deficit to stun the Chiefs, 21-17.

Philadelphia improved to 9-1 and enters Week 12 with a one-game cushion over the Detroit Lions in the race for home-field advantage in the NFC.

That contributed to the Eagles’ Super Bowl odds shortening from +550 to +450 at DraftKings, where they are now the title favorites ahead of the Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers at +475. Meanwhile, the same three teams are co-favorites at +450 at BetMGM, where Philadelphia also shifted from +550.

Kansas City (7-3) is now second in the AFC standings, a half-game behind the Baltimore Ravens (8-3) and equal with Jacksonville, Miami and Cleveland. The Ravens saw their Super Bowl odds trimmed from +950 to +850 at DraftKings, while the Browns’ victory over Pittsburgh led to their title odds shortening from +5000 to +3500.

Monday night’s game also had an impact on the MVP odds.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts managed only 150 passing yards and threw an interception, but he did rush for a pair of touchdowns on 12 carries. He remained the MVP favorite at DraftKings, with his odds shortening from +280 to +250.

The Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson were both +300 last week, but Jackson’s shifted to +350 while Mahomes moved to +400 following the loss.

Mahomes threw a pair of interceptions against Philadelphia and was plagued by numerous drops by his receivers, including three on the final drive that ended with Justin Watson unable to haul in a fourth-and-25 pass.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has the fourth-shortest odds at +500, followed by the 49ers’ Brock Purdy and the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott at +1500. Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud moved from +2500 to +1800.

Hurts also leads the way at BetMGM, where he is +250, followed by Jackson (+400), Mahomes (+450) and Tagovailoa (+500). No other player has shorter than Purdy’s at +1600.

The book reported that Hurts is its biggest MVP liability as he has been backed by the most total bets at 12.3 percent. Mahomes has drawn the most money at 12.9 percent.

NFL AWARDS ODDS (BetMGM)
NFL MVP
–Highest Ticket %: Jalen Hurts 12.3%
–Highest Handle %: Patrick Mahomes 12.9%
–Biggest Liability: Jalen Hurts
–Odds Leader: Jalen Hurts +250

Offensive Player of the Year
–Highest Ticket %: Christian McCaffrey 11.8%
–Highest Handle %: Christian McCaffrey 21.0%
–Biggest Liability: Christian McCaffrey
–Odds Leader: Tyreek Hill +110

Defensive Player of the Year
–Highest Ticket %: Aidan Hutchinson 16.1%
–Highest Handle %: Micah Parsons 23.6%
–Biggest Liability: Aidan Hutchinson
–Odds Leader: Myles Garrett +100

Comeback Player of the Year
–Highest Ticket %: Russell Wilson 13.0%
–Highest Handle %: Damar Hamlin 46.1%
–Biggest Liability: Russell Wilson
–Odds Leader: Damar Hamlin -150

Coach of the Year
–Highest Ticket %: Dan Campbell 37.8%
–Highest Handle %: Dan Campbell 42.0%
–Biggest Liability: Dan Campbell
–Odds Leader: Dan Campbell +125

Offensive Rookie of the Year
–Highest Ticket %: Jahmyr Gibbs 26.3%
–Highest Handle %: Bijan Robinson 22.4%
–Biggest Liability: Jahmyr Gibbs
–Odds Leader: CJ Stroud -3000

Defensive Rookie of the Year
–Highest Ticket %: Jalen Carter 20.9%
–Highest Handle %: Jalen Carter 34.1%
–Biggest Liability: Jalen Carter
–Odds Leader: Jalen Carter -175

–Field Level Media

Sep 24, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) drops back to pass against the Denver Broncos in the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Sportsbooks place Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa back atop MVP race

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tua Tagovailoa ended Week 3 of the 2023 season with precisely the same standing he had the season before: red-hot and running ahead of the competition in NFL MVP futures odds.

Tagovailoa is +325 to win MVP this season at BetMGM and +350 at FanDuel after his Miami Dolphins put up 70 points in a 50-point win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. The effort pushed Tagovailoa ahead of reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes (+440 at FanDuel, +550 at BetMGM) and Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

Allen (+750 at FanDuel, +800 at BetMGM) and Tagovailoa face off Sunday in Buffalo for the first of two scheduled meetings this season.

Thanks to six TD passes in Week 2 at Baltimore and a win over the Bills the following week, Tagovailoa jumped to the top of the MVP futures market entering Week 4 last season as well.

His numbers one year ago are identical to his start this season: 3-0 record, eight TD passes, completion percentage of 71.

The course of the season and Tagovailoa’s health took a turn for the worse in Week 4 last season. The Dolphins lost at Cincinnati, 27-15, and Tagovailoa left the game with a head injury. He missed the next two games and by the time he returned to form with three consecutive three-TD games from Oct. 30-Nov. 13, Mahomes’ MVP candidacy was nearing victory lap stages.

Tagovailoa has been sacked only once this season and he’s averaging a league-leading 10.14 yards per attempt.

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) passes the ball during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

NFL MVP Odds: Tua Tagovailoa rising while Joe Burrow plummets

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The first two weeks of the NFL season has shuffled the deck of Most Valuable Player contenders, with oddsmakers divided about who the current favorite is.

Tua Tagovailoa, who has steered the Miami Dolphins to one of only two 2-0 starts in the AFC, has seen the biggest jump at many sportsbooks. In fact, he now has the shortest odds at BetMGM (+500) and DraftKings (+600) ahead of two-time and reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes at +650 and +700, respectively.

Tagovailoa continues to blossom in his fourth season, throwing for 715 yards with four touchdowns against a pair of interceptions. However, he has yet to play more than 13 games in a season and must show he can avoid significant injuries to remain in the hunt.

While his MVP odds have shortened from +2000 to +900 at Circa Sports, Tagovailoa still shares just the fourth-shortest odds at the book. Mahomes, who led Kansas City to a win over Jacksonville after an opening loss to Detroit, remains the favorite at Circa at +500.

They are followed by Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts (+800) and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson (+950).

Meanwhile, the biggest faller has been Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, who has moved from being the second favorite at +575 entering the season to +1300. The Bengals are 0-2 and Burrow is dealing with a calf injury he first suffered in training camp and aggravated in Sunday’s loss to Baltimore.

Through two games, he’s 28th in the NFL in passing yards (310) and has one completion longer than 20 yards, a 32-yarder to running back Joe Mixon. Burrow is averaging 4.22 yards per pass attempt, down from 7.38 last season and 8.87 in 2021.

NFL MVP ODDS (Circa Sports)
–Patrick Mahomes (+500)
–Jalen Hurts (+800)
–Lamar Jackson (+850)
–Josh Allen (+900)
–Tua Tagovailoa (+900)
–Justin Herbert (+1200)
–Joe Burrow (+1300)
–Trevor Lawrence (+1300)
–Dak Prescott (+2000)

–Field Level Media

Aug 26, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) reacts prior the first half against the Cleveland Browns at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs SB LVIII favorites; Patrick Mahomes for MVP

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Kansas City Chiefs begin the defense of their second Super Bowl title in four years on Thursday night, and they do so as the favorites to claim the Lombardi Trophy again come February.

The Chiefs are consensus +600 Super Bowl favorites to open the 2023 season, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes the favorite to claim his third NFL Most Valuable Player award.

Kansas City defeated Philadelphia in a dramatic 38-35 win in Super Bowl LVII seven months ago, and it’s the Eagles who begin this season as the Chiefs’ closest rivals at sportsbooks. That includes Philadelphia being offered at +650 to win the Super Bowl by DraftKings, +750 by BetRivers and +800 by BetMGM.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills are being offered at +900 by all three sportsbooks. The San Francisco 49ers are also +900 at BetRivers, while they are at +1000 at the other two.

BetRivers reported the Chiefs have been backed by the most money to win Super Bowl LVIII at 12.7 percent, while the Eagles lead the way with 15.2 percent of the total bets backing Philadelphia.

The Eagles opened at +900 at BetMGM but have seen their odds shorten to +800 with the public backing them with 9.1 percent of the total Super Bowl winner bets and 9.2 percent of the money — both among the top three at the book. However, that does not put Philadelphia among the book’s three biggest Super Bowl liabilities.

Those honors belong to Pittsburgh, Dallas and Detroit. The Steelers have drawn 4.3 percent of the money and are current +6600 longshots at BetMGM. The Cowboys have much shorter odds at +1500 and have been backed by 8.8 percent of the money. The Lions, who play at the Chiefs on Thursday night, have seen their odds shift since opening at +2500 and are being supported by 6.3 percent of the money.

Cincinnati, which opens at +1100, leads all teams with 9.4 percent of the total bets. The Bengals have also been popular at BetRivers, where they have drawn 10.2 percent of the Super Bowl bets and 8.8 percent of the money.

PATTY THRICE?
Mahomes, who will turn 28 on Sept. 17, won the MVP award in 2018 in addition to last year.

He is the +600 favorite by DraftKings to claim No. 3 this season, followed by the Bengals’ Joe Burrow (+750), the Bills’ Josh Allen (+850) and the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts (+1100) in a market dominated by quarterbacks. The shortest odds at the book for a non-QB belong to 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and Vikings wide receiver Jordan Jefferson at +8000.

Mahomes is also +600 at BetMGM, followed by Allen and Burrow at +800 and Hurts at +1100. However, it’s Hurts who leads the way with 16.4 percent of the total MVP bets made, while Burrow is tops with 14.5 percent of the money backing him. That’s compared to Mahomes at 10.9 and 13.5 percent, respectively.

Hurts is also the biggest liability at BetMGM, where he leads with 16.5 percent of the total bets at +1100 — up a tick since opening at +1000.

NO WINS IN THE CARDS?
On the opposite end of the spectrum sit the Arizona Cardinals, who have the longest Super Bowl odds at all three books — +25000 at BetRivers and +40000 at BetMGM and DraftKings.

Arizona winning fewer than five games has been one of the most popular future props at BetRivers, drawing 4.1 percent of the money wagered on the Team Win Totals market. It’s the only “under” among the top five.

Circa Sports took the Cardinals’ plight entering the 2023 season a step further.

The book is offering odds on whether the Cardinals will go winless across their 17-game schedule. “Yes” is being offered at +2200, while Arizona winning at least one game this season carries -3800 odds.

Circa is also offering a prop on which division the Super Bowl LVIII champion will come from.

–NFC East +390
–AFC North +425
–AFC West +450
–AFC East +450
–NFC West +510
–NFC North +790
–NFC South +1675
–AFC South +2100

–Field Level Media

Feb 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, US; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes: ‘It took everybody to win’

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It was hardly Patrick Mahomes’ most sparkling night statistically.

In fact, the opposing team’s quarterback set a Super Bowl record and tied another.

Yet faced with a 10-point halftime deficit, with a right ankle injury still lingering, Mahomes guided the Chiefs on a comeback to win Super Bowl LVII 38-35 over the Philadelphia Eagles and stamped his name into NFL lore as one of the all-time greats.

In just his fifth season as a starter, Mahomes became the 13th starting quarterback to win multiple Super Bowls, and the 27-year-old megastar added his second Super Bowl MVP for his efforts.

Mahomes became the first player to win an NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same season since Kurt Warner in 1999.

He finished the game 21-of-27 passing for 182 yards and three touchdowns. It marked the fewest passing yards for a quarterback who received Super Bowl MVP honors since Tom Brady threw just 145 in his Super Bowl debut in the 2001 season.

But in that second-half rally — shortly after he came up limping on the Chiefs’ final offensive play of the first half — Mahomes was surgical, completing 13 of 14 passes, the lone incompletion being a throw-away.

Mahomes added six carries for 44 yards, including the 26-yard scramble up the middle with less than three minutes remaining that got the Chiefs to the Philadelphia 17 and helped set up Harrison Butker’s game-winning field goal.

Mahomes sustained a high ankle sprain against the Jacksonville Jaguars in their Jan. 21 AFC divisional round game and seemed to reinjure the ankle when tackled while scrambling with 1:33 remaining in the first half. He was seen limping when jogging off the field at halftime.

The limp was gone during the second half, the injury barely a memory.

“I told y’all this week, there was nothing that was gonna keep me off that football field,” Mahomes said upon accepting the award.

“I just want to shout out my teammates, man. We challenged each other. It took everybody to win this football game.”

Teammates like Nick Bolton, the middle linebacker who led Kansas City with nine tackles and scored on a 36-yard fumble return in the second quarter. Or Kadarius Toney, who not only caught a wide-open touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Chiefs their first lead, but then returned a punt a Super Bowl-record 65 yards to give Mahomes the shortest of short fields to work with on the next possession, just five yards.

Had the game swung the Eagles’ way, Jalen Hurts would have been the obvious pick for MVP. The do-everything quarterback ran in three TDs, tying Denver Broncos legend Terrell Davis for the Super Bowl record, and set a Super Bowl record for most rushing yards by a quarterback with 70. He went 27-for-38 passing for 304 yards and a 45-yard touchdown bomb to A.J. Brown that multiple Chiefs defensive backs couldn’t defend.

Mahomes had high praise for his counterpart after the game.

“If there was any doubters left, there shouldn’t be now,” Mahomes said of Hurts. “I mean, the way he stepped up on this stage and ran, threw the ball, whatever it took for his team to win. That was a special performance that I don’t want it to get lost in the loss that they had.

“It was a special performance by him, man. You make sure you appreciate that when you look back on this game.”

In just five seasons as a starter, Mahomes improved his career playoff record to 11-3, and he finished the 2022 postseason a neat 72-for-100 for 703 yards, seven touchdowns and zero interceptions.

He also won the MVP award of Super Bowl LIV, when his Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers as he went for 286 passing yards, two touchdowns and a rushing score.

It’s still the early stages of what’s turning out to be a special career.

“He strives to be the greatest,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “Without saying anything, that’s the way he works. He wants to be the greatest player ever. That’s what he wants to do and that’s the way he goes about his business. And he does it humbly, there’s no bragging.

“The great quarterbacks make everybody around him better, including the head coach. So he’s done a heck of a job.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 15, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) dives for the end zone as New York Giants cornerback Adoree' Jackson (22) defends during the first quarter of a wild card game at U.S. Bank Stadium. The call on the field was a touchdown but was changed after review. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Honors: Patrick Mahomes wins MVP for second time

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes claimed his second NFL MVP Award on Thursday while the Chiefs focus on their bid for the league’s most coveted prize in Super Bowl LVII.

Mahomes was recognized in the primetime NFL awards show at Symphony Hall in Phoenix, where football dignitaries gathered to hand out awards for the best of the 2022 season and witness the coronation of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Justin Jefferson, an All-Pro wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings in each of his first three NFL seasons, earned Offensive Player of the Year. Another unanimous All-Pro pick, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, picked up Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Mahomes led the NFL with 41 touchdown passes and has the Chiefs (16-3) back in the Super Bowl for the third time in four seasons. Kansas City will oppose another MVP finalist, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, in its quest for another Lombardi Trophy on Sunday night.

The lopsided voting for MVP saw Mahomes receive 48 of the 50 first-place votes. Hurts and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen each received one first-place vote.

Mahomes was named MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 2018, then earned MVP of Super Bowl LIV following the 2019 season.

Jefferson, a unanimous All-Pro selection this season after posting league highs of 128 catches for 1,809 receiving yards, was honored ahead of quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes and wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

Jefferson thanked his brothers, saying, “I mean, y’all made me who I am. You were all so hard on me. All the times I cried at home. You’re the reason I’m tough. I appreciate ya.”

That toughness contributed to Jefferson having a league-leading 28 receptions of 20-plus yards in 2022 and accounting for 28.3 percent of the Vikings’ total yards from scrimmage. He also led the NFL with 27 first-down receptions on third or fourth down.

Bosa was honored for his stellar 2022 production in 16 regular-season games: an NFL-best 18.5 sacks and 48 quarterback hits.

“To the No. 1 defense in the league, shout out,” Bosa said. “All my guys, you make my job a lot easier. It’s a team sport, I just do my job.

“If I’ve learned one thing in life, whatever end goal you have in life, it’s not going to be a smooth path. There’s going to be times when you’re questioning yourself. If you stay the course and you believe in yourself, there is going to be a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Other finalists for the award were Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones and Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons.

Defensive Rookie of the Year recognition went to New York Jets cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner. The first rookie to earn first-team All-Pro since Ronnie Lott in 1981, Gardner led the league with 20 passes defensed. He allowed one touchdown — in Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns — in 17 games.

After thanking his family, Gardner added, “I gotta thank Detroit. The east side of Detroit, man, seven miles. It was hard growing up, man, it really was. The neighborhood I stayed in, there was a lot of violence going on. But that was just adversity. That’s what it took for me to get here.”

The other finalists were Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen.

The Jets also picked up the rookie award on the other side of the ball, when wide receiver Garrett Wilson was tabbed the Defensive Rookie of the year. Wilson amassed 1,103 yards and four touchdowns on 83 receptions.

Other finalists were 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III.

A longtime NFL backup, Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was voted Comeback Player of the Year. A starter for the first time since his second NFL season in 2014, Smith pushed Seattle into the playoffs.

He was named to his first Pro Bowl, led the NFL with a 69.8 completion percentage and posted career-highs with 4,282 yards passing and 30 touchdowns. Other finalists were Giants running back Saquon Barkley and a 49ers midseason acquisition, running back Christian McCaffrey.

First-year New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll, who was the NFL’s Assistant Coach of the Year in 2020 with the Bills, now has another trophy.

Daboll was voted NFL Coach of the Year for his turnaround of the Giants from 4-13 to a wild-card berth and playoff victory. The Giants went 9-7-1 in the regular season, their best mark since 2016 (11-5).

Other finalists were Sean McDermott of the Bills, Doug Pederson of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kyle Shanahan of the 49ers and Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Other awards, including the league MVP and the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, were to be announced later Thursday.

–Field Level Media