After Week 14 Win Over Bills, Lamar Jackson Now -1000 Favorite to Win NFL MVP
By Robert Duff in NFL Football
Updated: March 26, 2020 at 3:10 pm EDTPublished:
- Online sportsbooks have made Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson the -1000 favorite to win the 2019 NFL MVP Award
- Jackson was at odds of -275 a week ago
- Second-favorite Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks went from +250 to +600
It looks as though Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson has turned the chase for NFL MVP honors into a one-player race.
Sunday, the 11-2 Ravens won again, while the 10-3 Seattle Seahawks and QB Russell Wilson lost for the first time in six weeks. In the process, Jackson high-stepped away from Wilson in pursuit of MVP recognition.
Jackson remained odds-on favorite for the second week in succession.
2019 NFL MVP Odds
| Player (Team) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Lamar Jackson (Ravens) | -1000 |
| Russell Wilson (Seahawks) | +600 |
| Aaron Rodgers (Packers) | +3300 |
| Michael Thomas (Saints) | +6600 |
Odds taken on Dec. 9.
His line improved from from -275 to -1000 in the NFL MVP odds.
No Holes in Jackson’s Game
Is there anything that Jackson can’t do with the football in his hands?
Throw for a touchdown? Check.
Jackson leads the NFL with 28 TD passes.
M-V-P‼️ M-V-P‼️
QB @Lj_Era8 exits New Era Field to MVP chants and shows love to the #RavensFlock. pic.twitter.com/SuUvFox4oa
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 8, 2019
Run for a TD? Check.
Jackson has rambled for seven scores and 1,017 yards, becoming the second QB in NFL history go over the 1,000 barrier. He’s 23 yards away from shattering the NFL QB single-season rushing mark established by Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2006.
Jackson got to a grand in grand fashion, juking Buffalo Bills’ linebacker Matt Milano right out of his jockstrap for a seven-yard gain.
With this ankle-breaking run Lamar Jackson joins Michael Vick as the only QBs in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards.
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/5Hudeuo733
— ESPN (@espn) December 8, 2019
Jackson’s passer rating is 109.2, second in the NFL and ahead of Wilson for the first time this season.
He’s the first QB in NFL history with at least four touchdown passes and 50-plus rushing yards in consecutive games. Jackson is also the youngest QB to post multiple five-TD pass games in the same season.
Jackson Makes Opposition Vanish
After he engineered a road defeat of the previously-unbeaten San Francisco 49ers, it looked as though Wilson was on the verge of his first MVP win. Today, Jackson hasn’t just passed Wilson. He’s on the brink of lapping him in the MVP race.
Lamar Jackson I love watching you …Idk what else to say brotha….
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) December 8, 2019
Jackson doesn’t just make opponents miss. He causes them to disappear.
A week ago, sportsbooks listed six contenders in the NFL MVP future book. This week, two of them are gone.
Lamar Jackson is a savant of a decision-maker – faking, running, and especially finding the most open receiver. Nearly every throw is correct and catchable. Never seen anything like him.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) December 8, 2019
Both reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson evaporated from the odds board.
After Wilson, only two-time MVP Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers (+3300) and New Orleans Saints’ wide receiver Michael Thomas (+6600) are still given a chance. As you can see from those odds, it’s not much of a chance.
Lamar is the MVP
Jackson and the Ravens have beaten four of the five other current AFC playoff teams – the New England Patriots, Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers and Bills. Only the Chiefs beat Baltimore.
Lamar Jackson is now 17-3 as a starter, which is the MOST wins among NFL starting QBs since his 1st start last yr (No. 2 = Wilson, 16).
He’s also already led his team to its 2nd consecutive playoff berth.
He’s no fluke. He’s an organizational game-changer, a winner and the MVP.
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) December 9, 2019
He’s 2-0 against NFC playoff squads, bettering the Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. Jackson defeated both of last year’s Super Bowl teams, the Patriots and Los Angeles Rams.
Just give him the MVP already.
Pick: Lamar Jackson (-1000)
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
