The New York Giants have played a lot of MVP-caliber players this season between Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers, Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins, Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles.
And in a down season, New York has lost to all of them.
But even after playing so many quality opponents, Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale doesn’t believe the debate for MVP should be between any of them.
Instead, Martindale picked Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who his defense will face in Week 16, as his MVP candidates.
“Matt Stafford is playing at a Hall of Fame level,” Martindale said, via SNY’s Connor Hughes.
Wink Martindale with high praise for #Rams’ QB: “Matt Stafford is playing at a Hall of Fame level.”
Says he & Lamar Jackson (#Ravens) should be the ones up for the league’s MVP award pic.twitter.com/W17ZDS0uSJ
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) December 28, 2023
That is a major endorsement considering Stafford is rarely talked about amongst the top contenders this season.
While Jackson is clearly the leading candidate after he took apart the vaunted 49ers defense in Week 16, Stafford isn’t having nearly as good a season as the rest of the favorites.
Stafford ranks eighth in passing yards, 10th in passing touchdowns, and 24th in completion percentage.
The Rams are on a two-game winning streak, though, and have won five of their past six games.
For reference, Tagovailoa ranks first in completion percentage and passing yards, while Prescott and Purdy rank first and second in passing touchdowns, respectively.
Jackson, meanwhile, has 24 combined touchdowns and an NFL-best 12-3 record for Baltimore.
Now, Martindale’s assessment of Stafford’s “Hall of Fame level” could very well be true, but that doesn’t mean he should be one of the top choices for 2023 NFL MVP.
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