Why Bengals Finalists Can Win

Burrow was one of the most dominant quarterbacks in the NFL this season. He led the NFL in passing yards (4,918) and passing touchdowns (43) in 2024, and he became the third quarterback in league history to have at least 4,500 passing yards, 40 passing touchdowns and fewer than 10 interceptions, joining Tom Brady in 2007 and Aaron Rodgers in 2011. Both Brady and Rodgers won MVP in those seasons.

The former first overall pick set an NFL record with eight straight games of at least 250 passing yards and at least three touchdown passes. He also became the second QB in league history to have multiple seasons completing at least 70% of his passes, joining Drew Brees. He tied Cincinnati legend Ken Anderson for the franchise record with his 70.6% completion percentage, and he broke his own franchise records for yards and touchdowns.

Burrow’s co-finalists for MVP are Eagles RB Saquon Barkley, Lions QB Jared Goff, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and Bills QB Josh Allen. Goff finished second in the NFL in passing with 4,629 yards and had 37 touchdowns. Jackson had 4,172 yards through the air (sixth) and had 41 passing touchdowns, while Allen finished 14th in the NFL with 3,731 passing yards and added 28 touchdowns through the air.

Burrow is attempting to become the third Bengal to win MVP: Ken Anderson won in 1981, and Boomer Esiason joined the list in 1988. A quarterback has won MVP each of the last 11 years and 48 total times since it was first given to Cleveland RB Jim Brown in 1957.

The Bengals led the NFL in passing yards, passing yards per game and passing touchdowns in 2024. Pro Football Focus graded the Bengals as the best passing offense in the NFL with a 92.8-passing grade. PFF had Burrow tied with Allen for the league lead in big-time throws, each with 37.

Burrow achieved his best statistical season to date after coming back from a wrist injury that held out the back end of 2023. The other finalists for Comeback Player of the Year include Vikings QB Sam Darnold, Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins, Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez and Bills S Damar Hamlin. Dobbins returned from a torn Achilles to rush for 905 yards on just 195 carries last season. Gonzalez missed most of his rookie rookie with a shoulder injury but came back to be a shutdown corner for New England, while Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-win season in his first year as a full-time starter since 2021.

Burrow would join former Jets and Dolphins QB Chad Pennington as the only players to win Comeback Player of the Year in multiple seasons. Pennington won in 2006 with New York and 2008 with Miami, while Burrow won in 2021 after returning from a torn ACL and MCL in 2020 to lead the Bengals to the Super Bowl.