Burrow sweeps MVP votes as Giants lead division despite QB rotation

Joe Burrow has secured 11 of 15 votes for the midseason Most Valuable Player award in a survey conducted by CBS Sports. The Bengals quarterback leads the league in completion percentage at 74%, passing touchdowns with 23, and passer rating at 114.8. He has recorded at least four total touchdowns in each of his last four games. Trevor Lawrence received two votes, while Brock Purdy and Jordan Love received one each.

The New York Giants currently lead the NFC East despite starting three different quarterbacks this season. John Harbaugh, who joined New York this year, has seven votes for Coach of the Year. The Giants have a 5-2-1 record under his leadership, a result achieved after losing Jaxson Dart for the season in Week 2. Brian Flores, the Vikings defensive coordinator, won 11 votes for Assistant Coach of the Year. Minnesota ranks first in sack rate, red-zone efficiency, and points allowed per game at 14.5.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks won the Offensive Player of the Year award with six votes. He leads the NFL in receiving yards with 1,036 and receiving touchdowns with 9. He is second in receptions with 71 and is chasing a historic first as a two-time winner in his position. Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions and Kenneth Walker III of the Kansas City Chiefs each received four votes. Gibbs leads the league with 1,132 scrimmage yards.

Will Anderson Jr. of the Houston Texans won the Defensive Player of the Year award with six votes, edging Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers who received five. Anderson leads the NFL with 9.5 sacks and is second in tackles for loss with 12. Warner is tied for the league lead in forced fumbles with five and has 77 tackles.

Denzel Boston of the Cleveland Browns leads the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting with seven votes. He tops all rookies in receiving yards with 507 and receiving touchdowns with 3. His teammate KC Concepcion is tied for the rookie lead in receptions with 37. On defense, Arvell Reese of the Giants has nine votes and David Bailey of the Jets has six. Reese recently became the youngest player with a three-sack game. Bailey leads rookies with 7.5 sacks and 31 pressures.

Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs earned nine votes for Comeback Player of the Year. He returned in Week 1 from a torn ACL and LCL injury sustained in December 2025. Penei Sewell of the Detroit Lions received 12 votes for Protector of the Year. He allowed just one sack and three quarterback hits in 298 pass-blocking snaps after moving from right tackle to left tackle. Luther Burden III of the Chicago Bears won the Most Improved Player award with two votes in a fragmented field.

James Gladstone of the Jacksonville Jaguars won the Executive of the Year award with seven votes over Ryan Poles of the Chicago Bears who had six. Gladstone acquired Jordan Davis and Jessie Bates III at the trade deadline. Poles traded two first-round picks to the Tennessee Titans for Jeffery Simmons. Fernando Mendoza of the Las Vegas Raiders was named a wild card for the Rookie of the Year award after starting the season following the trade of Kirk Cousins to Minnesota.

The Jacksonville Jaguars received the most votes to win the Super Bowl with four selections. The San Francisco 49ers followed with three votes. The Bears, Bengals, and Broncos each received two votes. Five voters predicted the Bears would lose the Super Bowl. The Bills, Bengals, and Jaguars were unanimous picks to win their AFC divisions. The 49ers were the unanimous choice to win the NFC West.

The season has seen major shifts in expectations. The Los Angeles Rams, who entered the year as clear Super Bowl favorites, are now fighting for a playoff spot while dealing with injuries. The Los Angeles Chargers, who won 11 games in the previous two seasons, are the only team in the league without a win as of Week 10.