Lamar Jackson is the NFL MVP favorite this season.

With the AFC Championship game just around the corner, Patrick Mahomes made a bold statement, in regard to his counterpart, Lamar Jackson. As the Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback took the high road and claimed, the NFL MVP shall be awarded to Jackson as he deserves it the most.

This season, considering the inconsistent record held by Mahomes and the Chiefs, the 2-time Super Bowl champion has nowhere been mentioned in the MVP conversation. But leading the list is the Baltimore Ravens’ star QB. And as the MVP favorite, Jackson surely has earned up the right to own the title as after a drought of more than a decade, he led his team to the AFC championship game, that too as a top-seeded team.

And so believes his rival, Mahomes, as the two are set to face off against each other on the upcoming Sunday. Despite the apparent comparison between both the quarterbacks ahead of their mega matchup, when the media asked Mahomes about his counterpart, he said nothing but good things about Jackson.

Mahomes claimed as he began answering the media’s questions about his opponents:

They were the best football team throughout the entire season. They got the best defense. They got the MVP on offense.

Patrick Mahomes said

Seeing Mahomes showering praise on the Ravens and bringing up the ‘MVP’ in conversation, the reporters instantly jumped to the question– of whether Mahomes considers Jackson deserving of the title. But as great as Mahomes is as a person, he didn’t hesitate once before admitting:

Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes downplay rivalry

In one such media interaction with Ravens’ star, Jackson, he was asked about his feelings on facing the reigning Super Bowl MVP winner. He instantly replied saying, he doesn’t like facing an elite quarterback such as Mahomes, who’s already in the Hall of Fame conversation.

Lamar Jackson hugging Patrick Mahomes

Lamar Jackson hugging Patrick Mahomes (Via Bleacher Report)
Based on his response, he didn’t seem for once, there is any rivalry between these two quarterbacks. As it’s the sixth straight AFC championship appearance of the Chiefs under Mahomes, it’s the first by Jackson-led Ravens, since 2012.

Whoever wins the game would proceed to the ultimate championship, the Super Bowl LVIII, and therefore, the pressure sure is through the roof on the quarterbacks. Regardless of how it would pan out for the teams, it sure will be thrilling to watch!