 REPORT: Jackson concluded the regular season as the frontrunner for the MVP title, solidifying his claim after steering the…
Jackson concluded the regular season as the frontrunner for the MVP title, solidifying his claim after steering the Ravens to a decisive 33-19 victory against the 49ers on Christmas Day. This clash between the NFL’s top seeds showcased Jackson’s prowess, as he delivered an impressive performance, completing 23 of 35 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to 45 rushing yards.
Throughout the season, Jackson demonstrated consistent excellence, guiding Baltimore to a 13-3 record in his starts. The seasoned quarterback accounted for 29 touchdowns, with 24 rushing and five passing. He achieved a career-best 67.2 percent completion rate, accumulating 3,678 passing yards at an average of 8.0 yards per attempt. Jackson secured first-team All-Pro honors and rushed for an additional 821 yards, playing a pivotal role in the Ravens clinching the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
Prescott experienced the most remarkable regular season of his eight-year NFL career, leading the league with 36 touchdowns, 410 completions, and a 72.7 QBR. His career-high completion rate of 69.5 percent contributed to a total of 4,516 passing yards. The quarterback earned second-team All-Pro recognition and a Pro Bowl appearance, guiding the Cowboys to a 12-5 record, an NFC East victory, and the No. 2 seed in the conference with the league’s highest-scoring offense.
In Buffalo, Allen orchestrated a remarkable second-half comeback, propelling the Bills from a 5-5 record after 10 games to winning six of their last seven games. During this period, Allen contributed to 18 touchdowns, with 10 passing and eight rushing, accumulating 1,706 passing yards and 278 rushing yards. His impactful performances led the Bills to victory in the AFC East and secured the No. 2 seed in the conference. Allen concluded the season with a career-high 44 touchdowns, comprising 29 passing and 15 rushing.
Purdy overcame a complete tear of the UCL in his right elbow during the 2022 NFC Championship Game, returning healthy for the 2023 season. As the last pick in the 2022 NFL draft, he dispelled any doubts about his rookie year performance by throwing for 31 touchdowns, with 11 interceptions, and completing 69.4 percent of his passes for 4,280 yards at an impressive average of 9.6 YPA. Purdy led the NFL in touchdown percentage (7.0 percent), yards per attempt, quarterback rating (113.0), and QBR (72.7). His impactful contributions helped the 49ers finish the season with a 12-5 record, earning them the NFC’s top seed.
Purdy’s teammate and fellow MVP finalist, running back Christian McCaffrey, showcased his prowess in his first full year with the 49ers. McCaffrey led the NFL with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns, with 1,459 rushing yards topping the league. By the end of the season, McCaffrey solidified his position as the top offensive player (non-quarterback) in football, amassing 10,505 yards from scrimmage and scoring 81 touchdowns over his seven-year career. McCaffrey was honored with the AP’s Offensive Player of the Year award.
All five candidates presented MVP-worthy resumes, but ultimately, Jackson secured the league’s most prestigious honor for the second time, having previously won it in 2019.
