Why the Seahawks Russell Wilson will be the NFL MVP in 2021
By Andy Excell
Those pesky kids!
2018 – Pat Mahomes
In his first season as the Chiefs starting QB, they had a 12-4 record and secured the top seeding for the playoffs, with Mahomes making 383 completions for 5,097 yards and mind-blowing 50 TDs.
Wilson and the Seahawks finished 10-6 and second in their division, once again to the Rams.
So given that a rookie starting QB with the associated lower expectation had come along and blown that perception out of the water and the Seahawks did not win their division it was game over for Wilson in terms of winning the MVP award in 2018.
His stat line read 280 completions for 3448 yards and 35 TDs. Pretty good for most QBs but below expectation/perception levels for Wilson.
2019 – Lamar Jackson
Whilst not the rookie starter that Mahomes was, this was Jackson’s first full season as the Ravens starting QB. In 2018 Jackson took over as the Ravens starting QB with them having a 4-5 record, they ended that season winning the division and a 10-6 record.
So again the perception was preset that he was special.
In 2019 the Ravens record was 14-2, one of the games coming in a game Jackson did not play in. So the perceived momentum triggered by Jackson from 2018 continued into 2019. Stats-wise he had 265 pass completions for 3,127 yards and 36 TDs but added a further 1,206 yards and 7 TDs on the ground.
Again the Seahawks failed to secure the divisional title, the 49ers taking that honor this year with the Seahawks finishing on 11-5. Again these facts alone pretty much ruled out Wilson being considered for the MVP award.
But with Jackson’s incredible performance it certainly did. Statistically, this was one of Wilson’s best years, he had 341 completions for 4,110 yards and 31 touchdowns.