Eagles' dominant offensive line worthy of MVP consideration

If a unit could win the Most Valuable Player award, the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive line would be the frontrunner.

QB Jalen Hurts is among the top candidates for AP NFL MVP mainly due to a dominant line that protects him and paves the way for one of the league's best rushing attacks. The Eagles are 11-1 for the fourth time in franchise history thanks to a dynamic offense and stingy defense.

The success on offense starts up front.

Four-time All-Pro center Jason Kelce anchors the offensive line. Kelce is the heart and soul of the team and the city. He's joined by three-time Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson, left tackle Jordan Mailata, right guard Isaac Seumalo and left guard Landon Dickerson.

“This is an unbelievable offensive line,” said Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, whose team takes on the Giants today.

That's an understatement.

The Eagles ran for 363 yards in a 40-33 victory over Green Bay in Week 12. Hurts led the way with 157 yards and Miles Sanders ran for 143. They followed that performance up with 386 yards in the air in a 35-10 rout over Tennessee last week. The 1987 Los Angeles Raiders were the last team to have more than 350 yards passing in a game a week after rushing for more than 350.

“The guys up front are something special,” Sanders said.

They're not looking for accolades, either.

“The five guys, we're all comfortable,” Mailata said. “If we can look at each other and know that we had each other's backs and we gave it everything while everyone else gets the credit, we're cool with that, we're happy with that.”

Mailata was a rugby star in Australia who had never played organized football until the Eagles drafted him in the seventh round in 2018. He's developed into one of the best in the business. The credit goes to offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland.

“He taught me everything from how to sit in a classroom to stand on the sideline,” Mailata said.

Mailata introduced himself on Sunday Night Football game by saying he was from “Jeff Stoutland University.” Kelce and others have worn Stoutland University T-shirts.

“We're all members of Stoutland University,” Kelce said after the victory over the Packers. “I know Philadelphia doesn't take him for granted. He's been a mainstay with the Eagles organization for a long time. There's a reason for that. He's unbelievable at his job.”

Stoutland joined the Eagles in 2013 after two seasons at Alabama. The 60-year-old from Staten Island prefers others get the attention but players and coaches are often quick to give him praise.

“He's demanding,” Sirianni said. “He just leaves no stone unturned. He's very detailed. He gets the best out of those guys, again ... I just love the way he coaches, and the guys clearly respond to that and play well for him.”

Patrick Mahomes, Hurts and Joe Burrow are currently the top three contenders for NFL MVP. There are several non-quarterbacks worthy of consideration, including linebacker Micah Parsons and wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Justin Jefferson.

The AP's updated voting system for all the NFL Awards will allow more players to get recognition. Voters will rank their top five picks for MVP and top three picks for other awards instead of selecting one player for each. Each spot will be weighted to determine winners, second-place finishers and so on.

An offensive lineman isn't going to win MVP but now there's a better possibility to earn a vote.

RAVENS AT STEELERS

Last season when the Ravens were 8-4, Lamar Jackson hurt his ankle and Baltimore didn't win another game all season. This week, Jackson is likely to be out with a sprained posterior cruciate ligament, with Tyler Huntley filling in. Even without Jackson, the Ravens defense is good enough this year to beat the Steelers, who only average 17.8points per game.

BROWNS AT BENGALS

WR Ja'Marr Chase was back in the Bengals lineup and helped lead Cincinnati to its third straight win against Kansas City. Now he should be able to help Joe Burrow get his first career win over the Browns, who somehow put up 27 points on the Texans last week without scoring a single offensive touchdown. Cleveland will have a tougher time winning that way against Cincinnati.

TEXANS AT COWBOYS

The Cowboys led the Colts 21-19at the start of the fourth quarter last weekend and proceeded to score 33unanswered points. That 54-19win boosted Dallas' scoring average to 39.8points per game over the past five games. Make no mistake: They will score a lot against the Texans.

JAGUARS AT TITANS

The Titans fired their general manager, Jon Robinson, after the team lost two games in a row, even though Tennessee is on track to win the AFC South for the third straight season. Derrick Henry is looking for a bounce-back game after being held to just 30rushing yards by Philadelphia last week. The Titans have won five straight against the Jags by an average of 16.8points, and Henry has had big running totals in his past two games against them, with 130and 215yards each. Jacksonville, which will need to beat the Titans twice in its last five games to have any shot at the playoffs, has lost 22of its last 23 games on the road.

VIKINGS AT LIONS

The Lions have won four of five games and are holding opponents to 19.8points per game in that stretch. Compare that to the first seven games, when the Lions defense was giving up an average of 32.1points per game. One of those early season losses was to the Vikings in Week 3, when the Lions choked with a 24-14lead in the fourth quarter. Minnesota's defense gives up the most passing yards per attempt in the league, but the Vikings keep finding ways to win games, despite the growing chorus of doubters each week.

JETS AT BILLS

The Jets had multiple opportunities to win against Minnesota last week and couldn't close out. They settled for five field goals, and they have scored touchdowns on just four of 14trips to the red zone in their last four games. The Bills average a league-high 34points per game at home, and their red zone defense is the third-best in the league. They will look to avenge their Week 9 loss to the Jets, if for no other reason than to help hold onto the top seed and home-field advantage for the playoffs.

EAGLES AT GIANTS

The Eagles' “can't stop the run” defense might have been patched up. Jordan Davis is back in the lineup, and veteran Ndamukong Suh looks to have worked his way into the fold. They held Derrick Henry to 30yards in a rout of the Titans last week. This week, the Eagles visit the Giants, who like to keep games close. In fact, last week they kept it as close as you can get and tied the Commanders, 20-20. The Eagles are 5-0on the road.

CHIEFS AT BRONCOS

This was scheduled as a quarterback duel but the Broncos' defense remains the team's main draw this season. Kansas City owns the league's highestscoring offense (29.2points per game) and Denver has the lowest-scoring offense (13.8), but the difference may come from Kansas City's defense, which gives up an average of 237.3 passing yards per game.

PANTHERS AT SEAHAWKS

The Seahawks are nothing if not efficient. Geno Smith has the best completion percentage in the NFL, the team averages 244.4passing yards per game, and Seattle's 26.5points per game is the fifth-highest in the league. But Seattle's defense struggles against the run, a fault that Panthers running back D'Onta Foreman will surely try to take advantage of. And yet, Carolina hasn't won a game on the road yet this season.

DOLPHINS AT CHARGERS

This is a showdown between two 2020draft classmates, who have been responsible for some of the NFL's most explosive plays. Justin Herbert was one of the top deep passers in the league last season. Tua Tagovailoa gets massive yards after catch from his stellar receivers: He leads the NFL among qualified quarterbacks in yards gained per pass attempt. Tagovailoa looked pedestrian last week against the voracious 49ers' defense, throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble, to say nothing of all the open receivers he missed. Though the Chargers are rallying to make the playoffs (they need to leapfrog the New England Patriots and Jets to get the last wild-card spot), Miami plays Buffalo on the road next week and undoubtedly would like to rebuild momentum heading into Week 15.