4 Darkish Horse Candidates Who May Win Tremendous Bowl MVP

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 received. In the meantime, Tom Brady has received 5 Tremendous Bowl MVP awards.

Concurrently, some lesser-known people stunned everyone 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 useful participant, there are a number of people on each squads who may stun NFL followers and be named MVP.

Listed below 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 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 damage. 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 loads, 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 very good 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 critical 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 may very well be an enormous a part of Philly’s offense in the event that they find yourself profitable this Sunday.

Kareem Hunt, RB. Chiefs

Rookie extensive receiver Xavier Worthy was my different alternative for the Chiefs’ offensive MVP darkish horse, however I don’t really suppose anyone could be all that shocked if Worthy finally ends up being named the sport’s most useful 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 could be a way more stunning MVP winner.

In his eighth 12 months as a professional, the 2017 NFL dashing yards chief was signed to the Chiefs’ follow 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 regarded the identical since then, averaging simply 29.3 dashing 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 accout, he put up these numbers towards the Texans (ranked first towards the run within the playoffs) and the Payments (ranked sixth towards the run within the playoffs).

For the reason that Eagles are surrendering 4.5 yards per dashing try, I may see Kareem Hunt going for 90+ yards and two dashing touchdowns this weekend. If Patrick Mahomes is held to lower than 220 passing yards and just one landing, then Hunt’s efficiency ought to be adequate to earn him MVP honors.

Reed Blankenship, DB. Eagles

The Eagles’ protection is totally stacked. Defensive lineman Jalen Carter has emerged as one of many league’s most dominant gamers with an astounding 20 whole pressures within the playoffs. Linebacker Zack Baun has performed like a Defensive Participant of the Yr candidate with 26 whole tackles, a compelled fumble, an interception, and two fumble recoveries.

I may see both a type of guys doubtlessly being named the MVP of Tremendous Bowl LIX. Nevertheless, defensive again Reed Blankenship may come out of nowhere and be named the sport’s most useful participant.

Blankenship has 24 whole tackles within the postseason, the fourth-most amongst all gamers and second-most amongst safeties. Based on 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 towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers and made a vital fumble restoration within the NFC Championship Sport.

His stat line has been terrific, and he should replicate that sort of efficiency within the Tremendous Bowl if he desires to win MVP.

I absolutely count on him to rack up a number of tackles. In any case, he’s averaging eight whole tackles per sport within the playoffs. Sadly, making quite a lot of tackles received’t be sufficient to win him Tremendous Bowl MVP. Blankenship might want to trigger no less than one turnover (both a compelled fumble, fumble restoration, or interception) and report no less than half a sack if he desires to be named the sport’s most useful participant.

Nick Bolton, LB. Chiefs

Defensive lineman Chirs Jones has been Kansas Metropolis’s greatest 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 quite a lot of the credit score and a spotlight for the Chiefs’ success, and rightfully so! However linebacker Nick Bolton has been an unsung hero for KC.

As a rookie, Bolton recorded 112 whole 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 whole tackles final postseason with 40.

Bolton won’t lead the Chiefs in tackles this postseason, however he has performed 135 defensive snaps, which is the seventh-most whole snaps amongst 53 linebackers within the playoffs, in response to PFF. The truth that he performs a lot makes him a major candidate to be MVP.

He’ll must get after the quarterback if he desires to be essentially the most useful participant of Tremendous Bowl LIX. Fortunately, he has proven a capability to hurry the passer. Amongst playoff linebackers, he’s sixth in move rush snaps and fourth in whole pressures.

Bolton will should be higher in move protection, although. Regardless of enjoying the seventh-most protection snaps amongst postseason linebackers, he ranks thirty second in passer score allowed.

Equally to Reed Blankenship, Nick Bolton will probably report many tackles. I may see him having six whole 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 could have a robust case to be the Tremendous Bowl MVP.