The race to be the NFL MVP for the 2024 season has now begun in earnest. Josh Allen and Sam Darnold have been making a lot of the early running, but will they keep up their good form, or will they be overtaken by another player during the crucial part of the season?
How has Josh Allen’s season started?
Josh joined the Buffalo Bills in the 2018 draft, but it was the 2020 season when he had a breakout season that let us see exactly what he offers in the QB role. He has set several franchise records and has led the Bills to five postseason victories since becoming the starting quarterback.
Last season saw Josh in fine scoring form in the postseason stage, though his team eventually lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round. He has also started this season strongly, despite the Bills losing several of their most experienced players. This has led to their offense focusing on a range of players – mostly experienced wide receivers signed as free agents – rather than having a single star.
Josh led the Bills to a 3-0 start, but they then lost their next two games to the Ravens and the Texans. With some big challenges coming up, this is a vital part of the season, and the franchise needs Josh to be at his best. He took a big hit in the 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans, but he has not missed a game since his rookie season, so fans can expect to see him back in action for the next game.
How is Sam Darnold’s season going?
The Minnesota Vikings’ QB joined on a one-year deal earlier in 2024 and was unexpectedly handed the starting role when J. J. McCarthy suffered a bad injury in preseason that ruled him out for the season. He has grabbed the opportunity with both hands by producing a series of standout performances that have captured the imagination of fans.
His Minnesota debut saw Sam throw for 208 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-6 win against the Giants. He produced even better numbers in the following game against the San Francisco 49ers, and then threw for four touchdowns against the Texans. Follow the latest football news to see whether he can keep up this standard.
Sam has now led the Vikings to a 5-0 start for the first time in eight years. The fifth win came in a 23-17 win against the Jets in England. It has cemented the Vikings’ position as the in-form team in the NFL at the start of the season, but there’s still a long way to go before we see whether the Vikings and Sam Darnold can carry on winning all the way to the Super Bowl.
Who else can you bet on?
The odds for the MVP title this season have Patrick Mahomes as favorite. The Chiefs’ QB has been named NFL MVP on two occasions and is expected to lead the franchise to the postseason stage once again. Kansas have started with five straight victories as Patrick continues to set new records. Super Bowl LIX will be held in New Orleans on February 9, with many analysts already predicting that Patrick will be leading his team out on that occasion.
Houston Texans quarterback C. J. Stroud is among the other players listed among the favorites. Of the rookies, Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels has been posting impressive numbers in his team’s excellent start to the season. It looks like being one of the tightest MVP races in years, as any of these players and a few others are capable of putting together a run of form that puts them ahead of the rest.
If you’ve been following the start of the NFL season, then you might want to place a bet on who you think will go on to be the MVP. Alternative ways of gambling can be found using casino bonuses for existing players. These games are based on classics such as slot machines and roulette, often with a modern touch such as extra bonus features. Free spins are among the bonuses regularly offered, meaning that you can collect the offer and look for sports-themed slots or others that interest you.
The players we’ve looked at deserve to be talked about as the MVP favorites so far, but there’s still a long way to go and things can change dramatically before the season ends.