After 15 weeks, the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens share the best record in the NFL. Both of them have quarterbacks who are performing at the highest level and elite defenses.
Although Lamar Jackson and Brock Purdy have different styles of play, both are expected to perform a lot in intricate offensive designs. Jackson is not only the team’s best rusher, but he’s also turning an offensive line lacking in explosive playmakers into one of the best in the NFL. Put his total yards combined in the league and he’s seventh.
Conversely, Purdy leads the league in total touchdowns and ranks fourth in total yards.
According to the most recent DraftKings odds, Purdy and Jackson are currently 1-2 in the NFL MVP vote. Right now, San Francisco’s quarterback is favored at -200, but is he really?
Is Purdy’s value to the 49ers comparable to that of Jackson to the Ravens?
There is much more to this subject than merely examining the precise figures.
Jackson has started all three of Baltimore’s games as quarterback, although the circumstances of each loss differ from those of San Francisco. In the last minutes of Baltimore’s 22-19 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Jackson attempted a 300-yard pass, but the defenders stopped him.
The only mistakes that don’t necessarily belong on the record of the previous league MVP of the Ravens are a 14-point deficit lost to the Cleveland Browns and five turnovers against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
By season’s end, Baltimore will also without a receiver or runner with 1,000 yards. A distinct turning point in the Ravens’ success that may be attributed to the quarterback’s play.
For Purdy, the same cannot be said.
The second-year quarterback was involved in each of the three losses that San Francisco suffered during their current three-game losing skid. Purdy completed just three touchdown passes with five interceptions, and the 49ers were without Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams.
If a player is considered “most valuable,” it doesn’t help their argument if they can’t perform on offense without the assistance of two outstanding playmakers.
It’s also crucial to remember that, despite Purdy’s current lead as MVP, McCaffrey has the fourth-best odds of any player.
The “most valuable” player on any team shouldn’t be the quarterback if there is another MVP-caliber player on that club.
It’s evident that the quarterback in the Ravens is more valued than the one in San Francisco when context is taken into account. For either quarterback, the game on Monday night will be crucial in helping them get there.
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