Russell Wilson’s MVP Chances Just Got a Huge Boost From the Dallas Cowboys
Despite winning a Super Bowl title and cementing his status as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks, Russell Wilson has never been named NFL MVP. In fact, the man with a $140 million contract has yet to earn a single vote for the prestigious award. However, the Seattle Seahawks star could put an end to that based on his play so far this season. And just days before he tries to lead his team to a win over the Dallas Cowboys, Wilson just gained a huge boost to his MVP chances thanks to another injury to Jerry Jones’ team.
Russell Wilson is the early favorite to win the NFL MVP award
Russell Wilson boasts one of the most impressive resumes of any NFL quarterback. After entering the league as a third-round pick, he has racked up seven Pro Bowl selections and led his team to a Super Bowl title. Yet, despite all of his prolific accomplishments, the 31-year-old has never won the NFL MVP award.
However, Wilson should change that if he maintains his torrid two-game pace. A year removed from one of the most efficient seasons of his career, the ninth-year pro looks better than ever.
In Seattle’s season-opening win over the Atlanta Falcons, Wilson completed 31-of-35 attempts for 322 yards and four touchdowns. He followed up with a sensational performance against the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football. Facing one of the league’s top secondaries, Wilson shredded the unit to the tune of 288 yards and five touchdowns on just 28 attempts.
With a league-leading nine passing touchdowns and a ridiculous 82.5% completion percentage, Wilson is currently the betting favorite to win the NFL MVP award this season. And while it’s still an early race, the Seahawks star just gained a huge boost to his chances of putting an end to his MVP-less streak.
Wilson just gained a huge boost to his MVP chances
The 2020 NFL season has been a painful one for the Cowboys. Heading into the year, Dallas looked like a top contender in the NFC. Yet, injuries have ravaged a roster teeming with talent.
In particular, the defense has suffered critical losses. Starting cornerback Anthony Brown got placed on injured reserve after suffering a rib injury in Week 1. Leighton Vander Esch also landed on IR after breaking his collarbone. Veteran linebacker Sean Lee will also be out for several weeks after getting placed on IR with a sports hernia injury.
To make matters worse, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie hurt his hamstring and has been ruled out for Week 3. Now without their top two corners, the Cowboys’ secondary looks perilously thin as they get set to face Russell Wilson in Seattle.
Awuzie’s injury gives a major boost to the Seahawks star’s MVP chances. Because after ripping through the Patriots’ star-studded secondary last Sunday, Wilson should have no trouble carving up a Cowboys defense that won’t feature its top two corners.
The Cowboys will struggle to keep the Seahawks’ passing game in check
By the time the final whistle blows on Sunday, Russell Wilson should have taken another step closer to winning his first NFL MVP award. On paper, the Cowboys look severely overmatched going up against an offense that features plenty of firepower.
With Awuzie and Brown out, expect the Seahawks to aggressively attack an undermanned secondary. While Dallas will likely start a combo of Trevon Diggs and Brandon Carr, that duo will have to contend with Seattle’s tandem of D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
Metcalf has totaled 187 yards and two touchdowns so far after racking up 58 catches for 900 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. The big-bodied, explosive receiver should have no trouble getting open against either a rookie (Diggs) or a 34-year-old veteran (Carr) who could struggle to stay step-for-step with the 6-foot-4, 229-pound playmaker.
Meanwhile, Lockett presents a matchup problem of his own given his combination of speed, quickness, and route-running. The sixth-year pro has already racked up 15 catches in two games and should feast against a depleted Dallas defense.
Plus, with the Cowboys’ pass-rush struggling, Russell Wilson stands an excellent chance of putting up big numbers Sunday. And if he succeeds in picking apart Mike McCarthy’s defense, he should further cement his status as the favorite to win the NFL MVP award.
All statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference.
