Who is the MVP?

 

The race for the 2024 NFL MVP is soon to come to a close as the regular season winds down. Currently there are two frontrunners for the award that are in a neck and neck battle. Those two guys include Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen.

Just two quarterbacks from the 2018 NFL Draft and both from fairly under the radar schools as well. Jackson has already won the MVP award twice, including last year, while Allen has yet to secure the hardware. 

Both have their teams in playoff position, while the Bills have secured the AFC East, but the Ravens are still in the mix for their division. Allen and Jackson have both asserted themselves as two of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the game, whether it is on the ground or through the air. 

Statistically, Jackson has the slight edge in passing and rushing yards while also holding a better touchdown to turnover ratio as well. On the other hand, Allen has the better QBR and team success is heavily in his favor as well. 

Forecasting these numbers, it truly is a neck and neck race between the two superstar quarterbacks. Currently Allen is favored to win his first MVP award, but I believe it will come down to these final three weeks to decide who really will take it home. 

With Jackson being just 27 years old, it would be very impressive if he were to lock down his third MVP at such a young age. Allen, on the other hand, has been patiently waiting his turn for the voters to point the finger at him. In my opinion, this is Josh Allen's award to lose, as I believe he will win his first ever MVP. 

Misery At Its Finest

 

For the 14th straight season, the New York Jets have been eliminated from the NFL playoffs. Once again, the Jets will head into the offseason with some tough questions to answer and some key decisions to make. 

After putting all of their marbles into one basket this season, it seems as if Gang Green will go into a full rebuild in 2025. Vacancies at head coach, general manager, and potentially the quarterback position will need to be filled. 

It will be an interesting decision whether the Jets move on from Aaron Rodgers or not. In his first healthy season with the team, his stats weren't the problem, the end results were. Currently the Jets sit at 4-10 in the bottom of the AFC. 

In a year where the Jets were picked by some to win at least 10 games, to win the AFC East, and to represent even the AFC in the Super Bowl, obviously this is not the case. Sure every part of the team had its troubles this season, but the one area in which the Jets had been so high on the past couple of seasons, the defense let everyone down. 

It started from Week 1 in Santa Clara, the Jets couldn't stop the 49ers whatsoever even when they were without Christian McCaffrey. The defense has had two quality performances this season in my opinion, compared to last season when the defense kept the Jets in almost every single game. 

This year the offense improved not greatly but to some extent. It was always expected that once Aaron Rodgers took over that the offense would take a jump. Add the addition of Davante Adams and the help of Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson, this offense should have no problems competing with the best of the best. Yet, the Jets have 4 wins as we approach Week 16. 

So what is the problem? Plain and simple: everything. From ownership to coaching to the players, the recipe that the Jets have right now is obviously not working. Starting with hiring a new and competent general manager who can go out and find a good head coach is the first step. 

The most vital job for the GM and coach once they are settled is deciding what will happen with Aaron Rodgers. Do they test him out for another season, sign a quarterback in free agency, or go to the draft? The last thing the Jets should be doing is going to the draft for a quarterback. Their history with this is pitiful. 

My advice would be to find some proven NFL talent and take a chance on them. I would strongly approve a reunion with Sam Darnold. Seeing how he has taken his role in complete stride this year has convinced me that he deserves another shot with New York. This time with a more experienced offense around him. 

Then a look at the rest of the roster needs to be made. On paper, the Jets have a really good team but have been just unable to put it all together. This year their main weakness has been closing games. In their last seven games, the Jets have had leads in the 4th quarter, yet they are 2-5 in these games. 

This falls on the coaching. After Robert Saleh was fired, an inexperienced Jeff Ulbrich took over and was left with way too much on his plate. His defensive coaching made the defense what it was the past couple seasons, and now he had to worry about every aspect of the team. 

Whatever new head coach who comes in to Florham Park should strongly consider keeping Ulbrich as the defensive coordinator unless he decides to walk. Ulbrich is a top coordinator in the league and it would be a luxury for any other team if they had him. The new coach can bring in their own offensive coordinator, but keep Ulbrich at the same time. 

It seems like a broken record every offseason, but the Jets are once again living through this pain. A lot needs to be done before the Jets can get back to the postseason. An intriguing offseason is on the cusp for Gang Green in 2025. 

The Aftermath: Juan Soto to the Mets

 

In case you missed it, the New York Mets signed Juan Soto to the largest free agent deal in American professional sports history. He signed a 15 year, $765 million deal with the team in Queens as he leaves the team in the Bronx after just one season.

The Yankees were optimistic that Soto would end up re-signing with them, but in the end they were wrong. Ultimately, Soto was after the money and loyalty didn't really matter when this sum of money was on the table. 

While some say Soto was only after the money, others say he wanted his own team. On the Yankees, he would always be outshined or sharing the spotlight with Aaron Judge, but on the Mets, he is the main attraction. Both sides of the story could be true, but we will never truly know the real answer. 

After Steve Cohen bought the Mets in 2020, fans were waiting for him to make a huge splash and four years later, he finally did. Acquiring Soto doesn't solve the puzzle for the Mets however. They still have a lot of holes in their roster. The pitching rotation and bullpen needs serious improvement even after the addition of Clay Holmes. 

First base is still also a huge question as Pete Alonso has yet to re-sign with the Mets. All in all, Soto will be great for the Mets, but he doesn't guarantee them a ring. They still have to go through the Dodgers at the end of the day. And the NL East isn't a walkover either with the Phillies and Braves still top contenders. 

Now let's look at it from the Yankees perspective. For the Yankees, they now have the ability to be more flexible this offseason without the $750+ million burden on one player. They've already went out and signed three all-stars this offseason: Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, and Devin Williams. 

The three salaries of these superstars doesn't even add up to half of what Soto is making over 15 years in Queens. Fried gives the Yankees the nod as one of the best rotations in the MLB. Williams gives the Bronx Bombers a solid and reliable closer to slam the door when the tough gets going. 

And don't forget about Bellinger who already has an MVP on his resume as well. By signing Soto, the Yankees would probably not have had much flexibility to make these blockbuster moves. Now, they are able to go out and get not only these guys, but more to come. 

Like the Mets, the Yanks still have some holes as well. The Yanks have already announced that Bellinger will be taking over in center field, so first base still remains a question. In fact, both corners of the diamond remain lingering questions. Hot names going across the board are Christian Walker, Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, and more. 

Adding another one or two of these guys, and the Yanks are in prime position for another World Series push. Sure, there are definitely some cons to losing an MVP type player in Juan Soto, but as a Yankees fan as I look more and more at the pros and the aftermath of the deal, it really wasn't as catastrophic as some are reporting. 

Slow Start for the Knicks

 

The Knicks have had some tough sledding to open up the season as their 5-6 record dictates. After just one game away from an Eastern Conference Final berth last season, the new look Knicks have struggled to figure it out through their first 11 games. 

New York is working through some growing pains to start the season as they experiment with their newly developed team from this offseason. With the addition of stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, and the subtractions of Julius Randle and others, the team might take a little bit to gel together. 

Despite their 5-6 start, the Knicks still find themselves in the top half of the Eastern Conference standings. Most of the teams around the are also experiencing similar difficulties. Now would be a perfect time to capitalize off of this and build a steady lead in the standings early in the calendar year. 

One of the key flashing concerns the Knicks have is their depth. Outside of their starting five and Miles McBride, no other Knick has really contributed all too much. However, they are experiencing some injuries with Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiwua sidelined. 

Ultimately, once these guys return New York will be in much better shape, but some players need to step up in both of their absences. I think it would really be beneficial to see a more increased role from rookies Tyler Kolek and Pacome Dadiet. 

We have yet to really see what they are capable of and the only way we can see is if their minutes are heightened. The best teams in the NBA not only have a great caliber starting five, but also key guys that come off the bench and play good and meaningful minutes. 

The Knicks will take on the Brooklyn Nets in back to back games coming up and one more home game against the Wizards before heading west. For New York, these games must be taken advantage of. It will go a long way in gaining momentum for their upcoming challenging road trip. 

Yanks Fall Short

 

For the 15th straight year, the Yankees will head into the offseason without a ring. The Yanks fell to the Dodgers in five games in the 2024 World Series and will have a lot on their plate this upcoming offseason. 

The most crucial thing New York must address this offseason is Juan Soto. Soto performed unbelievably this season and will have a huge price tag on his name as a free agent. The Yanks are one of the frontrunners to sign the young phenom, but they have legitimate competition from other suitors such as the Mets and Dodgers as well. 

The one-two punch of Soto and Judge proved to be almost impossible to stop in 2024. It would be an absolute dream for the Yankees if they can lock Soto up for the next decade or more. The asking price from Soto is probably going to be north of $500-600 million. Despite the steep price, he is worth every single penny. 

Getting him back is crucial and getting Gleyber Torres back is also a big priority. Torres has been with the Yankees for some time now and proved to be a reliable leadoff hitter down the stretch of the season. He is sometimes a liability in the field, but his performance at the plate is too good to deny. A great offseason would consist of Torres and Soto being back in pinstripes in 2025. 

The Yanks will need a new first baseman for the upcoming season. Anthony Rizzo's tenure with the Yankees is most likely over as his glory days in the MLB are quickly expiring. The 35 year old will head into free agency and will realistically not be wearing the pinstripes next season. 

One guy that has been high on the Yanks radar has been Pete Alonso. Alonso, an all-star first baseman for the Mets, enters free agency most likely looking for a new team. Alonso will probably have a high asking price that the Yankees should be willing to consider. They are a perfect match for each other as Alonso would fill a huge gap for the Bombers. 

New York will also have some key relievers testing the waters this offseason. Those names include: Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle, and Jonathan Loaisiga. Loaisiga did not pitch in 2024, but when he is at his best he is unstoppable. Kahnle proved to be a threat in the playoffs and Holmes picked up the slack as well. 

The Yanks got the closest they have been to a championship in 15 years this season and will look to break the streak in 2025. Getting Juan Soto back in the Bronx is a must and should be the number one priority of the offseason. It should be an entertaining and quite amusing offseason for the Yankees. 

Feature: Badgers WR Vinny Anthony

 

Vinny Anthony II has begun to take off in his junior year with the Badgers. The big play threat has been all over the field during his first five games of the season. Anthony has proved to be a security blanket for Braedyn Locke. 

Anthony, a junior from Louisville, Kentucky, has rarely been featured on this Badgers offense, throughout his brief career, aside from his special teams role. 

In his first five games, Anthony has already produced more total yards than his previous two seasons with Wisconsin. So far on the season, Anthony has registered 9 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games against USC and Purdue. 

Impressively, Anthony is averaging almost 23 yards per catch in the campaign so far. Anthony currently leads the Big Ten in this category as well. For a wide receiver core predicted to be led by Will Pauling, Anthony is currently carrying the statistical title as the leading receiver thus far for the Badgers. Wisconsin has been looking for that one dynamic receiver for some time. Could Anthony be the one they’ve been looking for? 

Along with his impressive start, Anthony is the first Badger since Jared Abbrederis in 2013 to record multiple 50+ yard catches in a single season. In his previous two games, Anthony has recorded long touchdowns through the air on 63-yard and 52-yard heaves from Braedyn Locke. 

Anthony is embracing offensive coordinator Phil Longo's air raid offense with his big play touchdowns in back to back weeks. Executing big plays down the stretch on offense will be crucial towards the Badgers potential success. 

The air-raid offense has been in question since Longo took the role as the offensive coordinator in Madison. An offense that averaged just over 23 points per game last season, was averaging around 21 points per game this season prior to the Purdue game last Saturday. 

Longo and his air-raid offense came over to the Badgers with Luke Fickell last season. The hype and excitement of the offense was real, but the production was not. We had yet to see its full potential until last Saturday against the Purdue Boilermakers.  

The Badgers dropped 52 points on the Boilermakers operated by Longo's offense. Through the air, Braedyn Locke threw for three touchdowns that were all at least 25 yards. Braedyn Locke registered the most passing yards in a game since Joel Stave in 2015 for the Badgers. 

Wisconsin will head to New Brunswick, New Jersey this weekend to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Rutgers currently ranks as 27th in passing yards allowed per game. The Badgers are currently listed as a 2.5 point underdog going into Shi Stadium. 

Vinny Anthony will have a chance to extend his touchdown streak to three games come Saturday if the Badgers can figure out the Scarlet Knights defense. The game plan is clear for the Badgers: get Vinny Anthony the ball. 

Preview: Jets vs Vikings in London

 

The NFL international slate kicks off tomorrow morning as the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings head to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Sam Darnold will face his old team while getting his Vikings off to an historic start to open the 2024 campaign. 

The Vikings have started off the season with a 4-0 record thanks to magnificent quarterback play from Sam Darnold. Darnold left the Jets after the 2020 season and his since bounced around from Carolina to San Francisco before finding a home in Minnesota. 

New York selected Darnold with the third overall pick back in 2018, but their expectations for him never came true. Since losing Darnold, the Jets had yet another quarterback failure in Zach Wilson and are now onto Aaron Rodgers. So was it the Jets fault for Darnold's miserable three years in the Big Apple?

Gang Green has opened up the season with some big ups and downs to say the least. They will come into this matchup with a 2-2 record after a brutal loss to the Denver Broncos. The defense has been just what everyone envisioned with a dominant start to the season. They combined to allow only 13 points in their last two games, yet the Jets only won 1 of those 2 games. 

The offense was the problem last game. We've seen it year after year, the Jets offense struggles to be any bit effective when there is weather problems. Last week, with the rain being a constant factor, the Jets couldn't get anything going offensively. The fact that they couldn't score more than 10 points against one of the subpar teams in the NFL is not a good sign going forward. 

Now we can blame it all on the offense, but I believe some of the blame has to go to the coaching staff. There needed to be a blip in the game plan, especially with the weather, but there wasn't. This falls directly on Robert Saleh and Nathaniel Hackett. The coaches need to adapt to certain conditions because every game isn't going to have luxurious weather especially come the later months. 

Another thing to point out was the Jets offense not all being on the same page. There were a couple plays late in the game where Aaron Rodgers and Garrett Wilson were visibly not reading the same play book. Breece Hall had the worst game of his career by far didn't help much either. 

The offense needs to quickly get their act together before they fall behind even more. With a win last Sunday, the Jets could have been sitting in the top seed in the AFC East, but luckily they are still in the playoff picture. I know it's early, but it's been 14 years since the Jets last made their fans somewhat happy. 

This is a make or break year for a lot of people in the Jets organization. The players need to start playing more like it. Getting a win against Minnesota in London is the perfect way to start. If the offense and coaching staff can fix their mistakes, I see no reason the Jets aren't smiling on their long flight back to the US.