Last season, Matthew Stafford snatched the NFL MVP award by the absolute thinnest margin, beating Drake Maye by just one first-place vote and a measly five total points. Now, as we roll into Week 3 of the 2026 season, another quarterback is making an early, undeniable claim for the trophy. Josh Allen’s MVP odds are already getting slashed after a mind-blowing start, showing the rest of the league he’s here to dominate.
Allen’s Absurd Start Is History in the Making
This guy is on another level right now. Remember how Allen won MVP back in 2024, pulling in 27 first-place votes compared to Lamar Jackson’s 22? He’s looking to repeat, big time. In Week 1, he marched right into Houston, faced the league’s best defense from last season, and still dropped 36 points on them! He threw for 334 yards and a touchdown, plus added two rushing scores himself. Then, he followed that up in Week 2 with an absolute clinic against the Lions, leading the Bills to a 41-31 win. He piled up 317 total yards and five touchdowns, carving them up with three passing TDs and two more on the ground. Get this: that’s the fourth time in his career Allen has recorded three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores, which is twice more than any other player in NFL history. He’s got nine total touchdowns without a single turnover through just two games. The only other guys to pull that off in the Super Bowl era? Patrick Mahomes in 2018 and Peyton Manning in 2013, both of whom ended up taking home the MVP trophy. No wonder his odds shortened from +450 to +350 after that Thursday night masterclass!
The Comeback King and the Blowout Boss
Don’t count out the reigning champs, though. Patrick Mahomes, an MVP winner in 2018 and 2022, looks completely back in form after suffering a torn ACL late last season. He had a vintage performance in their overtime win against the Colts, tossing for 382 yards and three touchdowns. That victory also tied him with Tom Brady for the third-most wins in a player’s first 10 seasons since 1950. Seriously, the guy is a legend. His MVP odds were cut in half, going from +1600 all the way to +800. And then there’s Brock Purdy, who’s shot up the odds board from +1400 to +800 himself. He’s tearing it up this season. In their blowout Week 2 win over the Dolphins, Purdy completed 20 of his 22 passes for 287 yards and three total touchdowns. His 90.9% completion percentage on Sunday ranked as the second-highest in a regular-season game in his career. Talk about efficiency!
Lamar’s Legacy and Burrow’s Battle
Lamar Jackson already has two MVP awards under his belt, including a unanimous win in 2019, joining Tom Brady as the only players ever to do that. He won again in 2023 with 49 of 50 first-place votes. After battling injuries last season, he’s looking sharp through the first two weeks of 2026, completing 67.9% of his passes for 559 yards, two touchdowns, and adding 11 rushes for 74 yards and another rushing touchdown. Then we have Joe Burrow, who, believe it or not, has never actually received a first-place MVP vote. Injuries have definitely been a major hurdle for him, as he’s missed six or more games in three of his six professional seasons. But he still threw for 207 yards and two touchdowns in a big Week 2 road win over the Texans.
This early season MVP race is already heating up faster than a hot espresso. Will Allen continue his historic pace, or will Mahomes truly reclaim his spot? Keep those eyes peeled, because these guys are just getting started.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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