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The new NFL season begins on Thursday night with a matchup between a pair of teams that many consider to be among the favorites to win the Super Bowl this season.

The defending champion Kansas City Chiefs will host the Baltimore Ravens in the season opener in what should be an absolute thriller.

My Analysis

There is a lot to like with both of these teams, but it is their QBs who are the driving force.

That is essentially the case for every team in the league, as it’s almost impossible to win a Super Bowl without an elite QB under center.

Fans will argue about which guys are elite, but the numbers tend to tell the story. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the QBs we expect to shine this season.

Patrick Mahomes

With 3 Super Bowl rings to his name, it’s tough to argue that Mahomes is not the best QB in the league right now.

He had, by his lofty standards, something of a down season in 2023, yet he was still able to take it up a notch when the playoffs rolled around, leading the Chiefs to another championship.

The Chiefs look ready to roll again, and until someone knocks him off, Mahomes is the #1 QB in the league.

He is at +480 to win the MVP.

Josh Allen

Were it not for Mahomes, we might well be talking about the rings that Allen had accumulated.

The Buffalo Bills have been one of the best teams in the NFL over the past few years, but they have been unable to solve Mahomes and the Chiefs in the playoffs.

They are expected to challenge again this season, and you have to say that Allen is a big reason for that.

His current odds of winning the MVP are at +910.

Joe Burrow

Okay, hear me out on this one. It has been a rough couple of years for Burrow, as he has had to deal with more than his fair share of injuries.

The fact that the Bengals have not been competitive without him gives you just some idea of just how important Burrow is to this team.

If he can stay on the field this season, expect the Bengals to get back to their best.

Burrow is listed at +930 to win the MVP.

C.J. Stroud

Starting the season with a rookie QB under center usually goes one of two ways. It’s either a very long season or we get to see a new star on the rise.

Stroud very much falls into the latter category, leading the Texans to a spot in the playoffs in his rookie season.

Expectations are high this year, so it will be interesting to see how he adapts to this new level of pressure.

If you like him to win the MVP, you can get him at odds of +930.

Others to Consider

There are a lot of elite level QBs in the league right now, many of whom you can get at great odds to win the MVP.

Of that group, I would be tempted to roll with Brock Purdy (+1700), as I like the 49ers to win it all this season.

Other QBs you might want to take a look at include Jalen Hurts (+1375), Jordan Love (+1425), and Lamar Jackson (+1575).

8 days ‘til 2024 #NFL season opener (#Ravens at #Chiefs). And # of #Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, 15,887 passing yards, 125 TD passes, 5,258 rushing yards, 29 rush TDs, 3-time Pro Bowler, 2-time All-Pro, 2-time #NFL MVP in 6 seasons @Lj_era8 pic.twitter.com/2iRswXEZGw
— Russell S. Baxter (@BaxFootballGuru) August 28, 2024