Joe Burrow had the third-best odds to win MVP, as of Friday. So has a player ever won the award and missed the playoffs?

Only one week of the 2024 NFL regular season remains, which means we've had plenty of time to assess this year's top players, and identify the best candidates to claim MVP honors.

Lamar Jackson, the already two-time MVP, played a key part in an unstoppable backfield thanks to the addition of Derrick Henry this offseason. The two-time MVP has thrown for 39 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions, while racking up 4,807 total yards.

There's much nuance and context to explore beyond the stats as it pertains to the case for Allen or Jackson to be named league MVP.

Joe Burrow has thrown for a league-leading 4,641 yards and 42 touchdowns. But if the Bengals don't make the postseason, he likely won't win MVP.

In some people's eyes, the 2024 NFL league MVP award is a two-man race between quarterbacks Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman feels that another quarterback is more deserving of the award,

There’s no such problem as the 2024 MVP race enters its final stages. Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Saquon Barkley are superstar talents whose conventional and/or advanced stats match historic standards for MVP consideration.

The Bills’ signal-caller is closing in on the honor, while a running back pushes to be the first nonquarterback to take home the hardware since 2012.