NFL MVP Race After Week 1

The usual suspects for NFL MVP were atop the odds leaderboard heading into the season. Josh Allen was once again the favorite, followed by Lamar Jackson, Drake Maye, Joe Burrow, and Patrick Mahomes, rounding out the top five. The award rarely has a wire-to-wire leader, as many things can happen throughout the season. Allen came close to running the table in 2024, but Jackson was able to overtake him as the favorite multiple times that season.

With that being said, it’s never too early to start discussing the award. Week 1 provided some stellar performances that may set the tone for the season. One game doesn’t define the award, but it is the first step towards the history books. Who should be in contention after the first week?

1. Josh Allen

Seemingly everybody’s favorite quarterback was the preseason favorite once again. Dan Orlovsky kickstarted the campaign to get Allen his second MVP, having him at the top of all his lists. Through one week, Orlovsky’s opinions have been substantiated. Allen was sensational as he overcame some of his demons against the Texans.

The Bills quarterback posted 334 yards on 29 attempts for two touchdowns and no interceptions, and a 130.5 rating, while also adding two rushing touchdowns in their 36-31 win. New head coach Joe Brady told Allen to go be Superman, and he was just that: dominant, spectacular, and efficient.

He did dodge a bullet at the end of the game, however, when Kamari Lassiter dropped the game-sealing interception. To Allen’s credit, he took advantage of the mistake and connected with Joshua Palmer for the win. The close call does raise the question of how sustainable that method will be. Allen has shown in the past that, for as many amazing plays he makes, he also commits boneheaded turnovers. It’s a situation to monitor, but for now he’s earned a place at the top.

2. Caleb Williams

There was a lot of self-started hype around the Bears offense. Head coach Ben Johnson talked about having the best offense of all-time, leaving the door open for massive amounts of criticism if things didn’t go right. 59 points later and there isn’t a single thing to say. Williams looked fantastic in this game. The biggest knock coming into the year was his completion percentage. He answered that quickly, completing 72% of his throws for 269 yards, two touchdowns, and a 124.1 rating.

Not only was Williams remarkable in the passing game, but he also rushed for 65 yards (second-most in his career) and two scores. An offensive explosion like that is a great way to kickstart an MVP run. With that defense, he may have to play that way all season to win games. The Bears quarterback made a statement that he’s putting it all together. His talent, coach, and situation make him a prime candidate to take home the award.

3. Trevor Lawrence