The Great Quarterback Debate of 2022
This is to take nothing away from Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady. All are former MVPs, or in the case of Herbert, a likely future MVP. Every team in the NFL would want them.
But we live in an age of quarterbacks who can beat you in multiple ways, and none are better to start this season than the trio of Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts.
But which of the three is better? Who is the current favorite to win the MVP award, and who has the staying power to carry their current great play through the next 15 weeks?
Josh Allen – Preseason MVP Favorite
There is a reason that Josh Allen was the betting favorite to win the MVP award to begin the season. It’s the way he ended last season. In Buffalo’s playoff games against the Patriots and Chiefs, Allen was spectacular. And this season he has been equally spectacular.
Allen is the only quarterback with over 1,000 passing yards, and he has 10 total touchdowns, including one rushing. He’s trying to run less, but as the Bills’ most effective rusher – he’s averaging 6.3 yards per carry – he can never stop, nor should he.
According to the statistical formula created by Cold, Hard Football Facts, Allen has Buffalo ranked sixth in Real Quarterback Rating, fourth in Offensive Passer Rating, and they are second in Total Team Yards.
Lamar Jackson – Only Unanimous MVP
When Lamar Jackson won the MVP award in 2019, becoming the first and only unanimous winner, he threw for 3,127 yards, ran for 1,206 yards, and had 43 total touchdowns.
In 2022 Lamar Jackson is on pace to have 4,244 passing yards, 1,377 yards rushing, and 68 total touchdowns. In other words, as great as he was when he was an untouchable MVP winner, he’s even better right now.
In Week 3 Jackson threw four touchdowns, ran for a fifth, and rushed for 100 yards, becoming just the second quarterback in NFL history to accomplish that feat. It was also his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game, making him the first quarterback to post back-to-back 100-yard rushing games since Billy Kilmer in 1961. But unlike Jackson, Kilmer didn’t break 43 yards passing in any of those games.
Jackson is one of one in the history of the NFL, and this special player is having another special season.
Jalen Hurts – The Unbeaten of the Bunch
He’s on pace for 5,190 yards passing, 946 yards rushing, and 39 total touchdowns. Jalen Hurts also has the advantage of playing for the new Super Bowl favorite in the NFC, and he has the easiest remaining strength of schedule of any of the three quarterbacks.
Thanks to Hurts, Cold, Hard Football Facts ranks the Eagles second in Real Quarterback Rating, fifth in Offensive Passer Rating, and first in Total Team Yards. Hurts is also a big part of the Eagles’ second overall ranking in Offensive Rusher Rating.
If the Eagles continue to win, and they should, Hurts will continue to rack up the numbers, and make it hard for voters to pick anyone else.
