NFL MVP Tracker: Josh Allen breaks back in as Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa slide

The NFL MVP race has been wide open all season - but a clear pack appears to be emerging. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott leads the way, but Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill and Baltimore Ravens superstar Lamar Jackson are hot on his heels.

Week 14 began with the New England Patriots upsetting T.J. Watt’s Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football. On Sunday though, Prescott inspired the Cowboys to a crucial win over the Philadelphia Eagles, immensely boosting his hopes of claiming the coveted award in the process.

Elsewhere, the San Francisco 49ers crushed the Seattle Seahawks, ensuring both Christian McCaffrey and quarterback Brock Purdy maintained their push. It remains an open race at the top - here are the Daily Express US Sports MVP rankings heading into Week 15…

1. Dak Prescott

Riding the momentum built by his Dallas Cowboys, Dak Prescott is playing the best football of his career. His struggles with turnovers appear to be firmly behind him; Prescott possesses the best touchdown-interception ratio in the NFL with 28 scores compared to six picks. Against the Eagles on Sunday night, Prescott excelled with 271 yards and two touchdowns as the Cowboys snatched a crucial win over their NFC East rivals and moved into the three-way tie alongside the Eagles and 49ers for the NFC’s top seed.

2. Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson breathed new life into his MVP claim with a stellar performance in the pouring rain against the Los Angeles Rams. He threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns while also leading the Baltimore Ravens rushing attack with 70 yards on the ground. Jackson can and will do it all for the Ravens, with his key highlight coming in the form of a spectacular 21-yard touchdown to Zay Flowers while Aaron Donald was right in his face on third-and-17.

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3. Tyreek Hill

The Miami Dolphins suffered a brutal loss to the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football - and it was clear to see what the high-flying offense was missing. Hill went off with an ankle injury but returned and made crucial grabs en route to a 61-yard performance. While his box score hardly revolutionized his case for top honors, one thing is clear: Hill, not quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, is Miami’s MVP.

4. Christian McCaffrey

Christian McCaffrey is comfortably the best running back in the NFL at the moment. Two weeks after torching the Seahawks in Seattle on Thanksgiving, McCaffrey crushed the 49ers’ NFC West rivals to the tune of 145 yards on 16 carries - an average of 9.1 yards per carry. He even set the tone for the 49ers’ 28-16 win as he burst away for a 72-yard gain on the opening play of the game. Amid an open MVP race, McCaffrey is looking to become the first running back to win the coveted award since Adrian Peterson in 2012.

5. Brock Purdy

Brock Purdy’s dip in form when the 49ers offense lost several key pieces to injury feels like a lifetime ago. Purdy has returned better than ever, completing 19 of 27 passes for 368 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win over Seattle. Armed with plenty of weapons, Purdy is steadily piloting San Francisco’s offensive juggernaut to pole position in the race for the NFC top seed. He’s come a long way since being named ‘Mr. Irrelevant’.

6. Myles Garrett

Against all odds, the Joe Flacco-led Cleveland Browns defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars to move to 8-5 and keep their playoff hopes alive. While he was quiet on Sunday, Myles Garrett remains perhaps the best defensive end in the NFL. He has tallied 13.5 sacks across 2023 along with four forced fumbles and a blocked field goal.

7. Jalen Hurts

Once again, the Philadelphia Eagles fell in a crucial contest against a conference rival. While Jalen Hurts played well against the 49ers, he struggled in the 33-13 loss to the Cowboys, throwing for 197 yards and no scores. If Hurts wants to win his first MVP award, he’s going to have to inspire the Eagles to a number of big wins down the stretch.

8. Tua Tagovailoa

The injury to Tyreek Hill ended up damaging Tua Tagovailoa’s MVP hopes more than the receiver. Without Hill wreaking havoc in the secondary, Tagovailoa had no home run option as he steadily tallied an efficient - but scoreless - 240 yards. The Dolphins went on to self-destruct, while the injuries along the offensive line were certainly felt as the Titans snatched a dramatic win and perhaps slammed the final nail in Tagovailoa’s MVP case.

9. Josh Allen

There hasn't been an MVP from a non-playoff team since 1973, so Josh Allen - who is quietly moving into contention for the award - needed the win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Allen was excellent, dicing an impressive Chiefs defense for 233 yards and a touchdown, as well as 32 yards and a score rushing. Allen is dragging the Buffalo Bills to the playoffs with his virtuoso performances; Buffalo are now one of six teams sitting on 7-6 in the AFC and will fancy themselves to clinch a postseason berth.

10. Micah Parsons

Against the Eagles’ vaunted offensive line, the Cowboys only tallied a single sack - and it was when Micah Parsons broke through. Parsons is the crown jewel in the glittering Cowboys defense, tallying 12.5 sacks and acting as a constant game-wrecker, forcing his way into AP Defensive Player of the Year conversations.