NFL MVP CHASE UPDATE 10/22/2024

 

The Ravens have five wins. Derrick Henry played a really good game in one of the wins and was spectacular in the other four.

I don't know how he did in the Ravens' losses. It doesn't matter. I don't even know for sure if he's leading the league in rushing. I haven't looked it up because the MVP Chase isn't about the cumulative stats that might get one into the Pro Bowl or All-Pro team.

The Most Valuable Player is, or should be, about making major contributions to victories. Because of the nature of the sport, the MVP award will tend to favor the quarterback. But we shouldn't assume that a quarterback ought to win it. In some years, there could be four, five, or more quarterbacks with great years and none clearly above the rest, while another player has a standout year.

Cooper Kupp's 2021 season is an example. Aaron Rodgers won his fourth MVP that year, but a few other quarterbacks also had a good case. Meanwhile, Cooper Kupp was very good and usually spectacular in every one of the 13 Rams wins that season. No quarterback was that consistently great in victories.

One of the disadvantages Kupp faced is that no wide receiver has won MVP. If Jerry Rice hadn't won't it, how dare Cooper Kupp get it? Fortunately for Henry, running backs have won the award, four times this century in fact.

Of course, it's too early to tell and impossible to say if Henry can continue doing what he's doing as the season drags on. That's probably why quarterbacks end up with the award - they're not quite as beaten up at the end of the year.

James Leroy Wilson writes The MVP Chase (subscribe). Thank you for your subscriptions and support! You may contact James for writing, editing, research, and other work: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.