Two of the finalists, Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, have already made their postseason exits, but Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts they will play this weekend with a chance to play. to earn his team a spot in Super Bowl LVII.
The AFC Championship Game will feature MVP candidates on both sides with Mahomes and Burrow facing off on Sunday evening.
Mahomes is in the running for his second career MVP award, having previously been selected for the honor in 2018. This year, Mahomes finished with 5,250 yards and 358 rushing yards, both career highs of his career, he led the league in passing yards and touchdowns (41) and was second in quarterback rating (105.2).
Burrow’s Bengals had a rough start to the season, but now enter the AFC Championship Game having not lost a game since Halloween and with their best regular season record with Burrow under center. Burrow finished the year in the top five in passing yards (4,475), touchdowns (35) and completion percentage (68.3), with the latter two ranking second in the NFL.
“He’s deserving of whatever he gets. He’s one of the biggest players in the league, and those are usually the types of guys that should be in that conversation,” said Cincinnati’s head coach, Zac Taylor on his QB who made the shortlist for the award. “I’ve said it a million times, we’re lucky to have him.”
On the NFC side of the playoff bracket, Hurts said Wednesday he was “at a loss for words” when he learned he had been named a finalist.
“It’s a fantastic honor,” he said.
Hurts went 14-1 as the Eagles’ starter this season, collecting a career-high 3,701 passing yards, 22 passing scores and 13 rushing scores, despite missing two games late in the season with a sprained the shoulder
“His body of work speaks for itself. He’s had a phenomenal year,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said Wednesday.
The first order of business for these three players will be Championship Sunday, with a chance to appear in the Super Bowl on the line. Only after that will come the NFL Honors ceremony on February 9, where one of the five finalists will take home one of the sport’s highest honors.
