Josh Allen, Saquon Barkley, Joe Burrow, Jared Goff and Lamar Jackson have been named as the finalists for the 2024 NFL Most Valuable Player Award.
Allen threw for 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns to six interceptions alongside 531 rushing yards and 12 scores to guide the Bills to their fifth straight AFC East division title, while reigning MVP Jackson produced a career-high 4,172 passing yards for 41 touchdowns and just four interceptions as well as rushing for 915 yards and four touchdowns.
The Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks have long-been touted as the two frontrunners for the award, Jackson seeking to win MVP for the third time in his career.
Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards, eighth-best in NFL history, in his first season with the Philadelphia Eagles, leaving him just 101 shy of Eric Dickerson’s single-season record. Goff finished with 4,629 yards and 37 touchdowns to nine interceptions to help the Detroit Lions clinch the No 1 seed in the NFC, while Burrow led the NFL with 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns for the Cincinnati Bengals, who did not make the playoffs.
Jackson, Burrow and Barkley also feature among the finalists for Offensive Player of the Year alongside Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase – who led the NFL with 127 catches for 1,708 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns – and Ravens running back Derrick Henry after his 1,921 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.
Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is up for Defensive Player of the Year after topping the NFL with 17.5 sacks, rivalling reigning winner Myles Garrett, Denver Broncos corner Patrick Surtain II, Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt and standout Eagles linebacker Zack Baun.
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is in the running for Coach of the Year, while quarterback Jayden Daniels is favourite to clinch Offensive Rookie of the Year as both prepare to take on the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game this season.
Daniels has taken the league by storm since arriving as the No 2 overall pick at the Draft, leading Washington to their first 12-win season since 1991 while setting rookie records in completion percentage and quarterback rushing yards as he finished with 3,568 passing yards for 25 touchdowns and just nine picks.
The Los Angeles Rams are represented by both Jared Verse and Braden Fiske among the Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists having starred in the post-Aaron Donald era under Sean McVay, while Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold and Burrow feature as Comeback Player of the Year finalists.
Darnold became one of the stories of the season as he resurrected his career in Minnesota, leading the Vikings to the playoffs having been one win from snatching the No 1 seed from the Lions.
It’s the NFL Conference Championships on Sunday January 26 – live on Sky Sports NFL – with the Philadelphia Eagles first hosting the Washington Commanders in the NFC title game from 8pm, and then the Chiefs taking on the Bills from 11.30pm.
Super Bowl LIX takes place on Sunday, February 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, live on Sky Sports NFL.
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