A number of Corridor of Famers and NFL greats have been named Tremendous Bowl MVP through the years. Patrick Mahomes has been the MVP of each Tremendous Bowl he has gained. In the meantime, Tom Brady has gained 5 Tremendous Bowl MVP awards.
Concurrently, some lesser-known people stunned all people and had the perfect sport of their lives within the Tremendous Bowl. Former Seattle Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith, who by no means made a Professional Bowl and performed for six completely different groups, was named the MVP of Tremendous Bowl XLVIII after he recorded a pick-six, a fumble restoration, and ten tackles. Defensive again Dexter Jackson, who by no means earned All-Professional or Professional Bowl honors, is one other participant who was named a Tremendous Bowl MVP regardless of not having a stellar profession exterior of the large sport.
Something can occur within the Tremendous Bowl. Whereas Mahomes and Saquon Barkley may find yourself being the sport’s most beneficial participant, there are just a few people on each squads who may stun NFL followers and be named MVP.
Listed here are 4 darkish horse candidates who can win Tremendous Bowl LIX MVP honors.
Dallas Goedert, TE. Eagles
It’s no secret that I’ve been excessive on Dallas Goedert ever since Philly punched its ticket to Tremendous Bowl LIX. He’s fifth within the playoffs in receiving yards (188) and second in receptions (15). These are his numbers amongst all postseason pass-catchers. When taking a look at solely tight ends, he’s second in receptions, second in first downs, and first in receiving yards.
Goedert had a down common season, however that’s as a result of he missed time on account of harm. Although he solely performed in ten regular-season matchups, he nonetheless managed to make 42 catches for 496 receiving yards and two touchdowns, which equates to 49.6 yards per sport. Whereas that doesn’t sound like lots, that ranks sixth amongst all tight ends within the NFL this season. What’s even crazier is that the opposite 5 tight ends who averaged extra yards per sport than him have been all named to the Professional Bowl.
Although Kansas Metropolis did a superb job of containing the Buffalo Payments’ tight ends, that was not the case once they performed the Houston Texans. Houston’s tight ends have been solely focused 5 occasions within the Divisional Spherical, however they caught all 5 of these passes for 65 receiving yards. No disrespect to Dalton Schultz and Irv Smith Jr., however I believe Dallas Goedert is a way more severe receiving menace than both a type of guys.
With two weeks of preparation and a Chiefs protection that’s permitting 20.5% of all passing yards to go to tight ends, I believe Dallas Goedert might be an enormous a part of Philly’s offense in the event that they find yourself profitable this Sunday.
Kareem Hunt, RB. Chiefs
Rookie large receiver Xavier Worthy was my different selection for the Chiefs’ offensive MVP darkish horse, however I don’t truly assume anyone can be all that shocked if Worthy finally ends up being named the sport’s most beneficial participant. He leads KC in receptions this postseason and is second in receiving yards behind solely Travis Kelce.
Contemplating how common he has been this postseason, I believe Kareem Hunt can be a way more shocking MVP winner.
In his eighth yr as a professional, the 2017 NFL speeding yards chief was signed to the Chiefs’ observe squad in September after beginning operating again Isiah Pacheco fractured his fibula in Week Two. Although Pacheco returned to motion in Week 13, he has not seemed the identical since then, averaging simply 29.3 speeding yards per sport over his final seven begins.
With Pacheco struggling, Hunt has been the bell-cow again for Kansas Metropolis. He has averaged 54 yards and a landing per sport within the playoffs. Take into account, he put up these numbers in opposition to the Texans (ranked first in opposition to the run within the playoffs) and the Payments (ranked sixth in opposition to the run within the playoffs).
Because the Eagles are surrendering 4.5 yards per speeding try, I may see Kareem Hunt going for 90+ yards and two speeding touchdowns this weekend. If Patrick Mahomes is held to lower than 220 passing yards and just one landing, then Hunt’s efficiency needs to be ok to earn him MVP honors.
Reed Blankenship, DB. Eagles
The Eagles’ protection is completely stacked. Defensive lineman Jalen Carter has emerged as one of many league’s most dominant gamers with an astounding 20 complete pressures within the playoffs. Linebacker Zack Baun has performed like a Defensive Participant of the Yr candidate with 26 complete tackles, a compelled fumble, an interception, and two fumble recoveries.
I may see both a type of guys probably being named the MVP of Tremendous Bowl LIX. Nonetheless, defensive again Reed Blankenship may come out of nowhere and be named the sport’s most beneficial participant.
Blankenship has 24 complete tackles within the postseason, the fourth-most amongst all gamers and second-most amongst safeties. In response to Professional Soccer Focus, he has additionally solely allowed seven receptions within the playoffs, the third-fewest amongst 49 postseason safeties. To high issues off, he compelled a fumble in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers and made an important fumble restoration within the NFC Championship Sport.
His stat line has been terrific, and he must replicate that sort of efficiency within the Tremendous Bowl if he desires to win MVP.
I totally count on him to rack up a number of tackles. In any case, he’s averaging eight complete tackles per sport within the playoffs. Sadly, making loads of tackles gained’t be sufficient to win him Tremendous Bowl MVP. Blankenship might want to trigger not less than one turnover (both a compelled fumble, fumble restoration, or interception) and document not less than half a sack if he desires to be named the sport’s most beneficial participant.
Nick Bolton, LB. Chiefs
Defensive lineman Chirs Jones has been Kansas Metropolis’s finest defender for a number of years now. He has been named an All-Professional six occasions whereas additionally incomes Professional Bowl honors six occasions. He will get loads of the credit score and a focus for the Chiefs’ success, and rightfully so! However linebacker Nick Bolton has been an unsung hero for KC.
As a rookie, Bolton recorded 112 complete tackles. Then, in 2022 – when the Chiefs started this run of three straight Tremendous Bowl appearances – he upped his deal with output to 180 through the common season (second-most within the NFL). Although he missed a number of video games in 2023, he led all gamers in complete tackles final postseason with 40.
Bolton may not lead the Chiefs in tackles this postseason, however he has performed 135 defensive snaps, which is the seventh-most complete snaps amongst 53 linebackers within the playoffs, in accordance with PFF. The truth that he performs a lot makes him a primary candidate to be MVP.
He’ll must get after the quarterback if he desires to be probably the most helpful participant of Tremendous Bowl LIX. Fortunately, he has proven a capability to hurry the passer. Amongst playoff linebackers, he’s sixth in go rush snaps and fourth in complete pressures.
Bolton will should be higher in go protection, although. Regardless of taking part in the seventh-most protection snaps amongst postseason linebackers, he ranks thirty second in passer ranking allowed.
Equally to Reed Blankenship, Nick Bolton will probably document many tackles. I may see him having six complete tackles on the very least. If he sacks Philly’s quarterback a couple of times and in addition data a few batted passes, then he may have a powerful case to be the Tremendous Bowl MVP.
