Eric Williams
NFL Reporter
The addition of an elite cross rusher like Micah Parsons predictably raised expectations for the Inexperienced Bay Packers as a workforce to beat within the NFL and a favourite to win the Tremendous Bowl.
Nonetheless, it’s the explosive playmaking means and heady play from Jordan Love at quarterback — together with an improved group of playmakers round him — that has this workforce believing they will win all of it.
“We had a purpose coming into this season to start out the season off quick and construct on the issues that we’ve carried out final 12 months,” Love informed reporters. “Clearly, I feel we’ve obtained a very good offense. We’ve been speaking in regards to the sky’s the restrict and it simply comes all the way down to popping out within the sport and executing. … We’ve obtained so many playmakers. We’re actually deep on offense and I’ve simply obtained to exit and discover methods to execute.”
Love’s play has additionally vaulted him into early MVP talks. His odds improved from +1400 to +700 (per DraftKings Sportsbook) this previous week, placing him proper within the thick of MVP favorites.
Statistically, Love has made a powerful case for the award. He is third within the NFL in yards per passing try (9.1), fourth in passer ranking (120.0) and tied for sixth in passing touchdowns (4) by way of two video games. Extra importantly, Love hasn’t turned the ball over and has been sacked simply twice, because the Packers averaged 27 factors per sport towards groups anticipated to make the playoffs with wins over the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders.
Jordan Love enters Week 3 as statistically the most effective passers within the NFL. (Picture by Michael Reaves/Getty Photos)
Love had double-digit interceptions in his first two years as a starter, so the truth that he hasn’t turned the ball over is promising. However including much more strain for Love, Bart Starr, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers all received NFL titles on the age of 27 for the Packers. Love turns 27 in November.
Love has accomplished passes to 11 completely different receivers this season, main a large forged of younger playmakers. However he’ll be with out considered one of his high huge receivers for a bit, with Jayden Reed struggling a fractured collarbone of their Week 2 win that can sideline him indefinitely. Fortunately for Love, bodied receiver Christian Watson is reportedly nearing a return to the sector after struggling a season-ending ACL knee damage final 12 months.
Tucker Kraft has additionally emerged as a pressure at tight finish in his second season. He completed with 124 receiving yards and a landing in Inexperienced Bay’s win over Washington. And the Packers have the most effective runners within the league in Josh Jacobs, so Love nonetheless has some assistance on the offensive facet of the ball.
Whereas Love is climbing up the MVP odds board, he has the third-best odds to win the award. Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson (+320) moved right into a tie with Josh Allen (+320) atop the MVP odds, per DraftKings Sportsbook. Patrick Mahomes, who turned 30 on Wednesday, noticed his odds drop from +850 to +1800 amid the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ 0-2 begin.
One other early favourite has dropped. Joe Burrow was at +750 final week, however is now off the board after sustaining a toe damage that required surgical procedure.
Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at my high 5 for MVP Watch in Week 3.
Jackson engineered one other surgical efficiency in his workforce’s 41-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 2. Jackson accomplished 65.5% of his passes for 225 yards, with 4 landing passes and no interceptions for a 128.6 passer ranking.
Jackson now has 11 profession video games with no less than 4 landing passes and no interceptions, passing Rodgers (10) and Mahomes (10) for probably the most of these video games in his first 100 begins in league historical past.
Lamar Jackson surpassed Aaron Rodgers because the NFL’s all-time chief in passer ranking in Week 2.
Jackson leads the NFL with a passer ranking of 136.6 and is tied for the league lead in passing touchdowns (6). Because the Ravens chosen Jackson within the 2018 draft, Baltimore ranks second within the NFL in each factors per sport (27.2) and yards per sport (379.0).
Odds to win MVP: +320
Extra dangerous information for Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as he hits the highway to face Allen and the Payments on a brief week in a nationally televised Thursday night time sport. Allen is 7-0 as a starter in Thursday night time video games and might be part of Tom Brady (9), Russell Wilson (eight) and Peyton Manning (eight) as the one quarterbacks to win eight consecutive Thursday begins.
Odds to win MVP: +320
One of many causes for the success of Love by way of the primary two weeks is his means to execute towards the blitz. In line with Subsequent Gen Stats, Love is 15 of 25 for 297 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions when dealing with no less than 5 cross rushers. Love has been sacked twice in these conditions, posting a 141.2 passer ranking.
Whereas Love’s had some turnover points, he is tied for second amongst all quarterbacks in video games with no less than two landing passes and nil interceptions (9) since he grew to become the Packers’ beginning quarterback in 2023.
Odds to win MVP: +700
The Oregon product is taking part in at a excessive degree to start out the season, and together with the protection, is the explanation the Bolts are a authentic Tremendous Bowl contender in Jim Harbaugh’s second season with the workforce.
Herbert performed inside himself in L.A.’s decisive highway win over the Las Vegas Raiders, ending with 242 passing yards and two touchdowns. However Herbert’s willingness to take off and get yards together with his ft has been a separator.
Justin Herbert has led the Chargers to a 2-0 begin. (Picture by Brooke Sutton/Getty Photos)
Herbert has rushed 16 instances for 63 yards by way of two video games. His 16 carries are the fifth-most amongst quarterbacks.
Odds to win MVP: +800
How about this for an MVP endorsement from Falcons head coach Raheem Morris?
“He is undoubtedly the very best participant in soccer, certainly,” Morris informed reporters on Wednesday. “He is unbelievable. I really like the child. I really like every little thing about him. I really like watching him with the ball. I really like his confidence. I really like his demeanor. I really like his mindset. I really like the management. I really like every little thing about him.”
Robinson has definitely put up the stats to no less than put himself within the dialogue. Atlanta’s dynamic playmaker ranks second within the NFL with 292 scrimmage yards after totaling 168 scrimmage yards in a Week 2 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
And that development ought to proceed for Robinson with the Falcons dealing with the winless Carolina Panthers in Week 3. Robinson averaged 139 scrimmage yards and completed with 4 dashing touchdowns in two video games towards the Panthers final season.
Odds to win MVP: +20000
Honorable point out: Baker Mayfield, Dak Prescott, Puka Nacua, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, overlaying the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Comply with him on X at @eric_d_williams.
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