NFL: Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons favoured to win MVP and DPOY awards heading into week 14

The NFL regular season is almost over. Five weeks remain, including this week. With only a few weeks left to play, the list of realistic candidates for this year’s MVP is short. Some candidates have fallen out of contention due to injury, like Joe Burrow and Aaron Rodgers. While some have fallen out because of a rough season, like Josh Allen. The list of contenders for the MVP and DPOY awards is short, but a player from the Cowboys is favoured to win each award. Could the Cowboys really win both awards?

Can the Cowboys take home the MVP and DPOY awards?

Dallas Cowboys players are favoured to win this year’s MVP and Defensive Player of the Year award heading into week 14 action. The Cowboys have a 9-3 record, have only lost one game since their bye in week seven, and are tied with the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions for second best record in the NFC. On a recent episode of The Edge With Micah Parsons podcast, Parson chose Dak Prescott, his quarterback, as the current frontrunner for the MVP award. “Dak, he is the best quarterback in the NFL right now. It is a Qb based award,” Parsons said.

Prescott is tied for the best odds to win MVP with 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy on NFL betting sites. Prescott and Purdy have +300 odds on BetMGM. Prescott is leading the league in passing touchdowns, has only six interceptions, and is ranked in the top five for completion percentage and passing yards at the moment. If Prescott plays well the rest of the way and the Cowboys win most of their upcoming games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and Detroit Lions, Prescott will have a strong case for MVP.

Purdy also has a great case for MVP. Purdy leads the league in completion percentage, among players with more than five games played. He has the fourth most passing touchdowns, has only six interceptions, and has the best QBR and passer rating.  The 49ers defeated the Eagles 42-19 last week, so Purdy also has a win against the team with the best record in the NFL under his belt. If the 49ers beat the Baltimore Ravens in week 16, win the rest of their games, and Purdy plays well, he should be in the MVP picture when the season ends. A huge concern for Purdy and Prescott is how much credit their teammates will receive for their success. An argument can be made that neither one of them are the best player on their team.

Micah Parsons ranks his top 5 MVP candidates 👀🏆

(via The Edge with @MicahhParsons11) pic.twitter.com/qS89zdi9fe

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 6, 2023

Players still in the hunt for MVP

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes have the third and fourth best odds to win MVP. Hurts is third at +400. Mahomes is fourth at +650. Hurts and Mahomes have a similar case for MVP. Each is the best player on their team without a doubt. Their teams rely on them heavily to win games and are two of the best in the league. Hurts and Mahomes should be in the mix when the season ends, but one of them will probably win the award if Purdy and Prescott do not play well going forward.

Miami Dolphins Wr Tyreek Hill has the best non-Qb odds to win MVP. At +1200, Hill has the seventh best odds. He is currently leading the NFL in receiving yards with 1,481 yards through 12 games. With 12 touchdown catches, Hill is leading everyone by five touchdowns. He also has 93 receptions. If Hill passes 2,000 receiving yards, catches more than 15 touchdown passes, and the Dolphins continue to win, Hill will be a legitimate contender for this award. The MVP usually goes to a quarterback, but Hill can give the Qbs a run for their money with a historic season. We will learn whether or not the MVP award is truly an award for the quarterback if Hill reaches 2,000 yards and finishes with more than 15 touchdowns.

Tua Tagovailoa, Hill’s teammate and quarterback, is tied with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson for the fifth best odds at +800. 49ers Rb Christian McCaffrey has the second best odds of any non-Qb and the eighth best odds overall at +2000. Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is behind him at +2500. Bills quarterback Josh Allen rounds out the top 10 at +3300.

"MVP right here." - @cheetah to @Tua @MiamiDolphins | #MIAvsWAS pic.twitter.com/UH65r2vJQ3

— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2023

Micah Parsons Leading the Defensive Player of the Year Race

Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is the betting favourite to take home the Defensive Player of the Year award. He has the best odds sitting at -100. Parsons is the leader of the fourth best scoring defence in the NFL. The Cowboys are allowing 18.3 points per game. Parsons has 11.5 sacks so far, tied for sixth. Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has the second best odds. He has +200 odds on BetMGM. Garrett has 13 sacks and has forced four fumbles. The Browns defence has been a big part of their success this year.

Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt has the third best odds at +300. Watt is second in sacks with 14. Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland has the next best odds at +1600. He leads the league in interceptions with eight and has five touchdowns. 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is a long shot thanks to his +4000 odds.