Wow what a freaking 3GML Season so far. The Bills are undefeated, charging their way to a
potentially historic and record setting season. The Dolphins and Jets who were supposed to be
rebuilding are playing tremendous football and are in playoff contention with 3 weeks remaining.
The Patriots started the season as the most disappointing team in the NFL and then after
changing quarterbacks have won 8 straight games, the 2nd best run in the NFL. With just 3
weeks to play everything is up for grabs, including MVP races, a perfect season, and 2 more
wildcard spots.
As far as the MVP race goes it seems like this is a Buffalo Bills award it just depends on whose
name is getting etched on the plaque. The front runner was, and may still be, Myles Garrett who
now owns the NFL record for sacks. The question of who votes for him after his alter-ego pulled
a WWE move on a quarterback is maybe the greatest question in end of year voting in the
history of the 3GML. Garrett has been a complete nightmare for everyone who has tried to block
him this year and his impact in the head to heads has been impossible to ignore.
The other defensive player from the Bills with a legit chance to take home the hardware, is the
greatest 3GML player of all time - Geno Atkins. He could end up with the trophy due to a few
interesting factors. Number 1 is this award is almost as much about the story and it would be
fantastic for the best player in league history to end up getting the greatest award in the sport.
The 2nd piece to this is he is having an insane year as well, with over 20 sacks from an interior
line position, which may be even more impactful than Garrett’s numbers off the edge. The 3rd
and maybe most important aspect of this is that there may be some in the league, including his
own GM who won’t cast a vote for Garrett due to the “off the field, but on the field in another
universe” situation, which could propel Atkins to the award.
The 3rd and final Bill with a legit shot to win the award is the signal caller, Aaron Rodgers. If
Rogers continues to take care of the football and move the team up and down the field he could
easily find his way to the trophy. While I feel like the team has truly been led by the defense, its
impossible to deny how impressive Rodgers has been this season. He almost never turns it
over, completes a high percentage of his throws and doesn’t take many sacks. He also has a
ton of weapons around him, including someone who could definitely get some MVP votes in
Brandin Cooks, and the fact his offensive line is arguably the best in the league certainly helps
but damn he’s been impressive. In a game this year where turnovers have been the biggest
factor, his ability to avoid turnovers has been maybe the 2nd biggest factor in this 3GML
iteration.
That segue leads to what has been FAR AND AWAY the most important piece to the 3GML
season which is of course the “Enforcer” impact. While the Dolphins have regressed a bit in the
past few weeks the guy who was the MVP leader for a long time was Jamal Adams whose
enforcer roots have led to him setting and NFL record with 13 forced fumbles through 13
games. A lot of these plays have led directly to points’ and it means that at times this season,
his Dolphins defense had a better chance to score than the Fin’s O. His impact on the game
with a roster that was rated at the bottom of the league simply can’t be ignored. It was easier to
be conservative and play within the confines of the offense when you can sit back and wait for
Adams to make a game changing play, which is precisely what he did in big wins against
Baltimore and throughout his incredible record-setting season. Add in a pick 6 and someone
who could lead the league in tackles and you have a legit MVP candidate.
The other players with legit shots to win the MVP at this point in the season are few and far
between but a handful of guys have really made a push led by the second enforcer in the game
Derwin James. If it weren’t for Adams insane numbers, James would be in consideration for the
award as well. He has forced nearly as many fumbles and the last fumble rumble 6 against the
Chiefs iced the game for the Pats. Julio Jones and Brandin Cooks have been matchup
nightmares and certainly are in the running as well. Leonard Fournette was having a year in
which he was in the conversation before slowing way down the last two weeks. And a resurgent
Jets team who have won 5 straight since a coaching change have been led by really under the
radar play of Sam Darnold who is on pace to set an NFL record for completion percentage and
leads the NFL in that stat currently. The top 3 look secure but the other 7 players who can
receive votes and help in their Hall of Fame candidacy are certainly in play. Linemen could get
votes this year as well, with maybe rookie Eric McCoy, LT Kelvin Beachum who has still yet to
give up a sack, or the most impactful power run blocker in the league Quentin Nelson beginning
his Hall of Fame campaign. This may be the most fun MVP vote ever, with the race still pretty damn wide open with 3 weeks to go. Can’t wait.
