The NFL MVP race is supposedly a two-player battle but Troy Aikman had a message Monday night: Don’t count out Joe Burrow.
During Monday Night Football, ESPN ran a promo for next Saturday’s game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Aikman seized the moment to tout Burrow for MVP.
“Looking forward to that matchup,” Aikman said, “and I know there’s gonna be a lot of people out there making votes and who’s the MVP … I will just say that, no disrespect to anyone and the great years that they’ve had, if I had [an NFL MVP] vote, it would go to Joe Burrow. What he has done has been terrific. In that game the other night, he just refused to lose. This is going to be quite a game next week.”
“If I had [an NFL MVP] vote, it would go to Joe Burrow.” – Troy Aikman 🏈🎙️ pic.twitter.com/tho7cePpq2
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 31, 2024
In that Saturday game Aikman referenced where Burrow “refused to lose,” the Bengals star threw for 412 yards and three touchdowns, with a rushing TD, in an overtime win over the Denver Broncos.
In an ordinary year, Burrow might be the MVP favorite. He leads the NFL in passing yardage (4,641 yards) and touchdowns (42). More importantly, he’s helped carry a Bengals team with clear weaknesses to an 8-8 record, and they can clinch a playoff berth with a win on Saturday and losses by Miami and Denver.
This is not an ordinary year, however. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson are also having fantastic years. DraftKings lists Allen as the MVP favorite at -300, with Jackson at +225. Yet Burrow is lurking at +1,600.
Aikman isn’t the first high-profile NFL analyst to make the case for Burrow. On NFL GameDay Kickoff Saturday, Maurice Jones-Drew pitched Burrow’s case just as forcefully as Aikman.
“Joe Burrow right now, if they make the playoffs, he probably is going to be the MVP if that happens,” Drew said.
Maurice Jones-Drew also said that if the Bengals can sneak into the playoffs, Joe Burrow is the MVP. pic.twitter.com/CCqctqN3KH
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 28, 2024
The voters will decide but Burrow can certainly help himself if he leads the Bengals into the playoffs.
[ESPN]
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.