Lamar Jackson? Saquon Barkley? Josh Allen? The latter left as the NFL MVP favorite after another inspired performance for the Super Bowl-hunting Buffalo Bills, says Jeff Reinbold.
Allen threw for 362 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 68 yards and two scores as the Bills ended the Lions’ 11-game winning streak with a 48-42 win in the highest-scoring game of the NFL season on Sunday.
He has 15 touchdowns in the past four games, including six in last weekend’s 44-42 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
“I would say the last couple of weeks, when you look at the Chiefs game, the Rams game, and then last night, he’s certainly gone off the field,” Reinbold said.
“I haven’t seen him play better. He has that rare ability of an athlete to take over a game and make everyone in the stadium and the crowd part of his show, which is what he did against the Lions.
“It was a masterful performance, and not like we’ve seen Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes play masterfully. It was like in the schoolyard and he’s the best kid and everybody’s running around trying to tag him.”
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Speaking on the Inside The Huddle podcast, Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinbold discuss whether Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is now the favorite to win the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award.
The Bills and Lions combined for 1,080 yards as the NFL’s two most productive offenses in what could still be a Super Bowl experience.
It was Buffalo’s last performance against a Detroit side that has run out of steam for much of the league, with Sean McDermott’s side looking to maximize a Championship window where they have suffered from an agonizing deficit in recent years.
“The Lions’ defense is solid, but you don’t go out and score 48 points on somebody without it being an accomplishment,” Reinbold added.
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Highlights from Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions in Week 15 of the NFL season.
“If you’re a Bills fan, one thing you always worry about is when the game tightens up in the playoffs and the score goes down and everybody’s a little more conservative.
“If they get into a shootout, they can go toe-to-toe with anybody, and that always gives you a chance.
“It’s a whole new day in football because, yes, defense still wins the Championship, but if you can’t watch one of these games and you’re at home next week.”
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Jeff Reinbold tells the Inside The Huddle podcast that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is getting hit too often and that the side needs to find a way to protect him better.
Elsewhere, Jackson threw five touchdowns to lead the Baltimore Ravens to a commanding win against the New York Giants, while Barkley was limited to just 65 rushing yards after amassing 632 yards over the previous four games.
Allen has now thrown for 3,395 yards and 25 touchdowns to just five interceptions this season while rushing for 484 yards and 11 scores.
“He’s absolutely on top of the NFL world,” said Sky Sports NFL host Neil Reynolds.
“It’s wavered a few times. I don’t think Saquon’s going to get it, I think Lamar’s five losses hurt. The way Josh Allen has taken over the games, there’s all the ‘wow’ plays he’s had.” The big touchdown against the Chiefs, I’d say it’s a crowded race, but Josh Allen is still my MVP.
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Highlights of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s five-touchdown game against the New York Giants.
“He was like the kid that was growing ahead of everyone else and knocking little kids into the ground, which is what Allen is right now.
“They’ve scored at least 30 points in eight straight games, so it’s no fluke.”
Can Baker make the Bucs a contender?
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Speaking on the Inside The Huddle podcast, Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinbold praise quarterback Baker Mayfield for the way he drives his Tampa Bay Buccaneers team.
Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continued their run as postseason dark horses with a 40-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers and their No. 1 ranked defense.
Baker Mayfield had another standout showing amid his career renaissance in Tampa, completing 22 of 27 passes for 288 yards, four touchdowns and an interception.
“He’s going to throw his body around, he inspires the players around him, and that’s a great quality for a quarterback,” Reinbold said.
“The other quarterbacks do it in different ways. Jalen Hurts is a little more relaxed, but Baker wants to be one of the guys. I’m sure he’ll go to the local pub with the offensive lineman.”
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Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathon Taylor saw his touchdown scratched after dropping the ball before breaking a plane in the end zone.
Rookie running back Bucky Irving came out of the backfield with 117 rushing yards, while Mike Evans continued his pursuit of an 11th straight 1,000-yard campaign with nine catches for 159 yards and two scores.He now has 749 yards and nine touchdowns on the year.
“I think he’s going to be a Hall of Famer,” Reinbold added. “He’s a guy that guys find too easy, like some guys find it stressful, and you realize how tough they are. in the game.
“He plays a lot, but he’s so silky smooth and it doesn’t seem like he’s even working while playing the game.
“The revelation about the Bucs is the ability to take Rashad White and that young rookie running back Irving by the handful. now you have a running game and mix it with great defense and the throwing ability of Mike Evans.
“They will be a good team in the playoffs.”
