The NFL has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1920. This week’s matchups, including the Patriots’ matchup with the Texans and Browns vs Steelers, will help us get an idea of where we are headed as far as sports go moving forward.
The “Aaron Rodgers number” is a statistic that ranks quarterbacks in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers leads the pack, with Tom Brady following closely behind him. Read more in detail here: aaron rodgers number.
We’re nearing the end of the 2021 NFL season, so now is as good a time as any to take a look at the MVP race. Several players, including regular favorites Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, are in the running for the NFL’s highest individual award.
With numerous teams battling for playoff positions and the Super Bowl as the ultimate objective, the following five players’ performances will have an influence on the MVP race as well as the Lombardi Trophy race.
Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen
The 7-4 Buffalo Bills have had a roller coaster season, which has hampered Allen’s MVP ambitions.
Even yet, Allen has lit up the stat sheets in 2021 in terms of sheer statistics.
He’s thrown for 3,071 yards and 25 touchdowns on 66.8% of his throws, but he’s also thrown 10 interceptions. He’s also ran for 383 yards and three touchdowns on 69 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
Allen would be higher in these rankings if it weren’t for a pair of terrible defeats, including a two-interception, no touchdown showing against the Jaguars.
Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray
The Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray #1 and Colt McCoy #12 toss the ball during pregame warm-ups before to their game against the San Francisco 49ers | Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
This season, the Arizona Cardinals were anticipated to be excellent, but few expected them to be this good. They’re 9-2 and in first place in the NFC West, which is really competitive. Despite missing three games due to injury, Murray’s video game-like ability as quarterback is a big reason why.
Frankly, those three losses are the ones that hurt him the most in the MVP race. In his absence, the Cardinals have gone 2-1, led by Colt McCoy, who has only played in eight of the team’s 11 games.
His eight-game numbers keep him in the MVP race, as does the reality that if he returns sooner rather than later, he’ll likely continue to light up the league.
Murray has passed for 2,276 yards and 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions in eight games, but he does have the greatest completion rate in the league at 72.7 percent. He also has 147 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Indianapolis Colts’ Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor has been fantastic for the Indianapolis Colts this season. Of course, his five-touchdown effort against the Bills earned him MVP honors, but he’s been putting up massive numbers all season.
Taylor has run for 1,205 yards and 14 touchdowns on 209 carries. He is now the NFL’s best rusher, averaging 5.8 yards per run. Taylor has also been a frighteningly successful pass receiver, catching 36 catches for 336 yards and two scores. He has a career-high 9.3 yards per reception.
In terms of significance to his club, one might argue that the Colts just don’t win football games without a big dosage of Taylor on offense.
The Colts are 6-6 and yet in the postseason chase, and Taylor’s ability to take over a game will be a danger.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers
Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers #12 watches the game against the Los Angeles Rams during pregame warm-ups | Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
The Green Bay Packers’ 13-7 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs might be a factor in Aaron Rodgers earning his second consecutive MVP award and fourth overall. Rodgers was on the reserve/COVID-19 list for that game, and backup Jordan Love was only able to earn only seven points against a mediocre Kansas City defense.
The Packers scored 36 points against a difficult Los Angeles Rams defense last weekend, with Rodgers passing for 307 yards and two touchdowns while also running for one against standout cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Rodgers may not have the best throwing stats in the NFL, but he is once again playing like an MVP in terms of sheer efficiency and value to his team.
With just four interceptions, he’s passed for 2,878 yards and 23 touchdowns. For this stage in his career, he’s also shown sneaky running talent. So far this season, he’s ran for three touchdowns and has eight rushing touchdowns for the Packers.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Tom Brady #12 takes against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium | Andy Lyons/Getty Images
What Tom Brady is doing at the age of 44 is quite remarkable. With 30 touchdown passes, he leads the NFL in touchdowns thrown and is second in passing yards with 3,403. Only Derek Carr has passed for more yards than Brady, and only by a small margin. Brady is 12 yards away from tying for the league lead in both passing touchdowns and yards gained through the air.
Let’s not forget that he’s 44 years old.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 8-3 under Brady, and they’re right in the mix with a few other Super Bowl contenders this year.
Brady’s chances of winning another Super Bowl in his career aren’t out of the question. Winning two consecutive seasons in Tampa would just add to his reputation, but are you prepared to gamble against him at this point?
Brady is the clear favorite to earn his fourth MVP award if he keeps on his current pace.
ESPN and Pro Football Reference provided the statistics.
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