MVP Race after Week 7: Jackson jumps Mahomes for odds on favorite

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs rattled off their sixth straight win in a Super Bowl rematch from San Francisco. He is the only remaining undefeated quarterback in the NFL, but that wasn’t enough for him to hold on to the top spot in the NFL MVP race. Lamar Jackson had another sensational game as the Baltimore Ravens continue to roll through the competition.

Here are the MVP odds after Week 7 according to our friends at MGM Grand.

Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens (+250)

Jackson and the Ravens closed out the Week with a Monday night matchup against a Tampa Bay team that was playing great football. The Bucs were no match for the Ravens, who were forced to punt on their opening drive, but then rattled off seven scoring drives in their next eight possessions. Derrick Henry barely only ran the ball 15 times, as it was Lamar’s turn to take control of the game. Jackson dissected the Bucs defense for 281 yards and five TDs on 17/22 passing. He went back to ole’ faithful, his tight end Mark Andrews, who is just about the only one who has been having on off year on the Ravens offense. Andrews caught two of those five TDs as the Ravens rolled to their fifth straight win.

Pass stats: 68.2% CMP, 1,810 YDS, 15 TD, 2 INT, 118.0 RTG

Run stats: 73 CAR, 455 YDS, 2 TD

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs (+400)

Heading into a Super Bowl rematch, coming off a BYE week you know the Chiefs were going to bring it in San Francisco. Already without Isaiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice, Mahomes saw Juju Smith-Schuster go down with an injury early in the first half, but that didn’t stop the Chiefs from rattling off their sixth straight win to start their three-peat campaign. Mahomes didn’t have a game to remember passing the ball. He was just 16/27 for just over 150 yards and threw 2 INTs, but he came up with one of the biggest plays of the game on a 33 yard when the Niners were on the verge of a potential come back late in the 3rd quarter. His numbers aren’t at the top of any statistical categories. He has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns, but he just keeps on winning. Getting DeAndre Hopkins in a trade with the Titans is only going to make this team better, and Mahomes’ chances of winning another MVP greater.

Pass stats: 67.9 CMP, 1,389 YDS, 6 TD, 8 INT, 82.5 RTG

Run stats: 28 CAR, 122 YDS, 1 TD

Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills (+550)

The Buffalo Bills have bounced back from their two game losing skid with back to back wins and guess who is responsible for their rapid response? Josh Allen, of course. Allen brushed off questions or concerns about the cast that surrounds him and whether or not they are good enough to keep the Bills in contention. Just for good measure, they brought in a five time Pro Bowl wide receiver in Amari Cooper last week, and he and Allen are already connecting for touchdowns. The Bills went three and out on their first three drives, and spotted the Titans 10 points early in the game, but that just invited Allen to ignite once the second half rolled around. They dropped 34 unanswered points on the Titans, as Allen went 21/33 with 323 yards and two TDs. He is the only starting quarterback in the league who is yet to throw an interception, and that is a big reason why the Bills are having so much success.

Pass yards: 63% CMP, 1,483 YDS, 12 TD, 0 INT, 108.4 RTG

Run yards: 38 CAR, 179 YDS, 3 TD

Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions (+700)

The only quarterback currently in the top five favorites for MVP to represent the NFC is Lions quarterback Jared Goff, and it’s about time starting getting the credit he deserves. In a massive divisional match up, on the road, Goff knew he was going to have to show up after the Lions defense took a huge hit when Aidan Hutchinson went down with a season ending injury. All Goff did was have a near perfect game (which would have been his second one of the season), going 22/25 for 280 yards and 2 TDs. He reignited the flame between him and Amon-Ra St. Brown, as Goff’s favorite target went for over 100 yards for just the second time this season. The Lions and Vikings went back and forth for all 60 minutes but Goff and the Lions got the ball down by a points with under 3:00 to go and their QB led them down field and set up a game winning field goal to drop the only undefeated team in the NFC, and take the division lead while doing so.

Pass stats: 73.6% CMP, 1,610 YDS, 10 TDS, 4 INT, 111.5 RTG

Run stats: 13 CAR, 17 YDS, 0 TD

C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans

Stroud and the Texans suffered their second defeat in a tough match up from Green Bay. Two of the top quarterbacks in the league squared off, but only one of them looked worthy of being on this list and it wasn’t Stroud. For the second time this season, Stroud struggled against an NFC North team. He had a rough day against the Vikings back in Week 3, and the Packers made him look average in Lambeau. They pressured him all day, sacking him four times, and rushing him out of the pocket on countless other plays. He never found a rhythm and completed less than half of his 21 passes and finished the game with a career low 86 yards passing.

Passing stats: 66.4% CMP, 1,663 YDS, 10 TD, 4 INT, 94.9 RTG

Rushing stats: 22 CAR, 94 YDS, 0 TD