Josh Allen, donning his blue Buffalo Bills jersey, made a memorable play on a snowy field as he dove for the pylon to score a touchdown. This moment might just be the standout image of the 2024 NFL MVP race.

In a quick-thinking move, Allen salvaged a short pass intended for Amari Cooper, catching it and racing to the end zone for the touchdown.

This clever play was officially recorded as both a passing and receiving touchdown for Allen, who went on to add a rushing touchdown during Buffalo’s 35-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football.

This performance could very well secure Allen his first-ever NFL MVP award.

Here are YSL News Sports’ NFL MVP rankings following Week 13:

5. Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts

Jalen Hurts stayed in fifth place in our MVP rankings with just 11 completed passes, utilizing a strategic tush push and a steady flow of handoffs to Saquon Barkley.

In Philadelphia’s 24-19 triumph over the Baltimore Ravens last week, Hurts threw for a touchdown and scored on the ground as well. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 118 yards and added 29 rushing yards.

Hurts stands second in the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns, trailing Derrick Henry (13) but just ahead of Saquon Barkley (11). He also ranks in the Top 10 with a 68.4% completion rate, a passer rating of 101.8, and a QBR of 64.5.

Crucially for Hurts’ MVP considerations, the Eagles secured their eighth consecutive victory, placing them at the top of the NFC East and just one game behind the Detroit Lions for the top playoff seed.

4. Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, stock steady

The back-to-back Super Bowl champions continue to find ways to secure tight victories, sometimes needing an opponent’s misstep to prevail.

A crucial play came when Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton recovered a mishandled snap from the Las Vegas Raiders in the final seconds, allowing them to escape with a 19-17 win at home during Black Friday.

Mahomes completed 26 of 46 passes for 306 yards and one touchdown, marking the Chiefs’ 14th consecutive win in one-possession games. With an 11-1 record, they have clinched a playoff spot and remain the top seed in the AFC playoff picture.

Mahomes ranks in the Top 10 for 19 touchdown passes (eighth), 2,979 passing yards (ninth), and a 64.6 QBR (ninth). However, he leads the league with four fourth-quarter comebacks and six game-winning drives, bolstering his case for a third NFL MVP award.

3. Lions Quarterback Jared Goff, stock steady

Similar to the Chiefs, the Lions also claimed victory last week due to their opponent faltering in the final stages of the game.

Goff completed 21 of 34 passes for 221 yards, tossing two touchdown passes as the Lions edged the Bears 23-20, banking on their defense to halt Caleb Williams’ comeback attempt during Thanksgiving.

This marks Detroit’s tenth straight win, keeping them atop the NFC playoff standings as the No. 1 seed. The Eagles (10-2) are trailing closely behind, with the Vikings (10-2) and Packers (9-3) also in contention in the NFC North.

Goff’s impressive performance keeps him among the top quarterbacks, with a second-best passer rating (109.0) and completion percentage (71.8) in the NFL, and he ranks fifth with 22 touchdown passes. Leading the top team in the NFC certainly strengthens Goff’s MVP claims.

2. Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson, stock down

Yet another defeat means another drop in the MVP rankings for Jackson.

He completed 23 out of 36 attempts for a total of 237 yards, throwing two touchdowns and rushing for 79 yards. Despite these efforts, he couldn’t help the Ravens overcome Justin Tucker’s two missed field goals and an extra point against the Eagles last week.

Currently, Jackson holds the top spot in the NFL with a passer rating of 116.3 and ranks second, behind Joe Burrow, with 29 touchdown passes. Despite this, the Ravens are facing their fifth loss of the season.

Baltimore, which lost the AFC North lead to the Steelers two weeks ago, is now ranked sixth in the playoff standings, trailing the Los Angeles Chargers.

With playoffs looming, the Ravens may have to play away games, which is disappointing given Jackson’s impressive performance alongside Derrick Henry this season.

1. Bills QB Josh Allen’s status rises

Following the Bills’ bye week, Allen has regained the top position in our MVP rankings. He currently enjoys a QBR of 73.0, ranking fourth in the NFL, along with 20 touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100.3, the sixth-best in the league. Additionally, he has tied Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels for the highest number of rushing touchdowns by a quarterback this season, with six.

What strengthens Allen’s MVP candidacy is the Bills’ recent performances:

The Bills are only one game behind the Chiefs for the top seed in the AFC playoff race. They secured the AFC East with five games left following their victory over the 49ers on Sunday.

Notably, they have scored over 30 points in six consecutive games and have amassed seven straight wins.

These factors all contribute to Allen’s strong case for him winning his first NFL MVP award.