Joe Burrow Ties Josh Allen as the NFL MVP Favorite

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Pushing The Odds with Matt Perrault

Joe Burrow Joins the MVP Favorites as the Bengals Enter the AFC Conversation

Joe Burrow completed 24 of 29 passes for 271 yards in Madrid, finishing with four total touchdowns as the Bengals defeated the Falcons 34-17. Burrow is now tied with Josh Allen as the MVP favorite at most books, followed by Brock Purdy, Jordan Love, and Trevor Lawrence.

I have a 22-to-1 ticket on Lawrence to win MVP, so I am biased when it comes to the Jaguars. Still, Burrow has become just the fifth player in league history to record at least four total touchdowns in four consecutive games, joining Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Dan Marino.

The Bengals deserve the attention they are receiving. With Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, and Burrow healthy, along with an offensive line giving Burrow time to find his receivers downfield, this is the version of Cincinnati everyone wants to see. If the Bengals are playing this way in January, they are absolutely part of the conversation about who comes out of the AFC.

Cincinnati remains in a difficult division. The Steelers’ defense looks legitimate, and Jalen Warren has shown that he is for real. The question is whether Aaron Rodgers can hold up, but Mike McCarthy’s return to the NFL in Pittsburgh is off to a very good start. The Ravens are done, while the Browns remain a question mark until Deshaun Watson returns. Shador played well against the Saints, and Cleveland could receive calls from teams looking for either a backup or starting quarterback.

I am high on the Bengals, but I cannot get too high on them because of Zac Taylor and the defense. Cincinnati tried to change its defensive line by adding Dexter Lawrence and making other adjustments. It has not completely worked, but the defense played well against Michael Penix, Bijan, and the Falcons.

The Bengals are 13-to-1 to win the Super Bowl. I do not hate the bet, although I think there is better value elsewhere. Joe Burrow winning a championship would make sense, but Zac Taylor winning one would feel as improbable to me as Sam Darnold becoming a Super Bowl champion. Burrow would be doing it in spite of his head coach rather than because of him.

Still, Cincinnati has three of the best offensive players in the game. When they are healthy, the Bengals are dangerous every week. Their next matchup is a major one, with Pittsburgh visiting Cincinnati on Sunday night.

Other notable games include the Patriots facing the Lions early in Munich, Houston visiting Cleveland, Jacksonville traveling to Tennessee in a potential trap spot for the Jaguars, and San Francisco playing at Dallas. By comparison, Washington at New York on Thursday and the Chargers at Baltimore on Monday are far less appealing matchups.