Texans HC DeMeco Ryans makes opinion clear on Lamar Jackson vs Josh Allen MVP race

The NFL MVP race has heated up over the last three weeks and we've seen three contenders emerge to take the crown this year - Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Saquon Barkley. Of the three, the popular consensus appears to have named Allen the MVP but two weeks of action are left, which means the other two contenders can still give the Buffalo Bills quarterback a fight.

One aspect that appears to be going against Jackson's favor is that the Baltimore Ravens have Derrick Henry on the roster this year. The running back has already rushed for 1,636 yards and 13 touchdowns in 15 games. While Jackson's numbers are a shade better than Josh Allen's the fact that the Ravens have another marginal MVP contender on their roster appears to be working against Jackson's MVP case.

On Christmas Day, the Ravens will go up against the Houston Texans, whose coach DeMeco Ryans was asked for his thoughts on who should be named MVP. Ryans had a pretty clear-cut answer, taking Jackson's side in the press conference.

“I think Lamar is playing some of the best football he’s played," Ryans said. "He’s definitely jumps off the tape as the best player I’ve seen this year. Talk about the MVP, he’s definitely the MVP in my mind. Just for what he’s doing, not only run-game wise, but throwing the football, the accuracy, the decision-making. He’s playing unbelievable ball right now.”

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Who is currently favored to win the NFL MVP award?

Heading into Week 17's round of games, Josh Allen remains the odds-on favorite to take home the MVP crown. Allen is followed, of course, by Lamar Jackson (+380), Saquon Barkley (+1500), Jared Goff (+2500), Patrick Mahomes (+7500) and Sam Darnold (+10,000).

Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe believes Lamar Jackson has the stronger case to win MVP this year. On the "Nightcap Show" with Chad Ochocinco, Sharpe made it clear that he would vote for Jackson if he still had a vote in this year's campaign.

"I’m basing my vote on play that year," Sharpe said. "Y’all got to look at Lamar’s stats. The man has 37 TDs, 4 picks. Then you throw in his rushing totals, he’s at 40 TDs with six or seven turnovers. You look at his passing numbers, that’s what Aaron Rodgers was doing when he was winning MVP. Right now, if I had a vote, I’m probably voting for Lamar."

Sharpe also noted that Lamar Jackson's numbers are comparable to the year Aaron Rodgers won his last MVP with the Green Bay Packers.

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