The presenters in the ‘Thursday Night Football’ booth for Amazon Prime cast their eye over the candidates for MVP this year, and 2013 Super Bowl champion Richard Sherman couldn’t disguise his reaction when Tony Gonzalez made a bold call for the honor.

While Ryan Fitzpatrick went with Josh Allen, and Andrew Whitworth tipped Jared Goff to claim the prize, Sherman himself vouched for Lamar Jackson.

After nine games so far this season for the Baltimore Ravens, Jackson has passed for 20 touchdowns – and Jackson appears to believe there could be far more to come from the player who has already won MVP in two previous seasons – in 2019 and 2023.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, said Patrick Mahomes is effectively MVP-elect. “I’m going with Ol’, Patricio Mahomes,” he said, as others groaned, due to Gonzalez’s long-running association with the Kansas City Chiefs; the franchise he played for during an 11-year stint from 1997 to 2008.

“Let me tell you why,” Gonzalez continued. “This award, it’s the best player on the best team, 8-0,” he said, referencing the Chiefs’ hot-streak to this season. “The best player — the guy who shows up in the third quarter and fourth quarter, that’s who you want to have the ball in his hands.”

Gonzalez conceded that DeAndre Hopkins and Travis Kelce were “starting to heat up,” yet added: “I know the numbers aren’t sexy, but he is the guy at the end of the season [who’ll be MVP]. Watch out now.”

Patrick Mahomes is 8-0 - but most critics don't believe he's leading the MVP race

Patrick Mahomes is 8-0 – but most critics don’t believe he’s leading the MVP race ( 

Image:

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Sherman, who was visibly shaking his head at Gonzalez’s pick, later explained his reasoning why he was backing Jackson. He said: “At the end of the day, the same thing that made Ravens fans mad last year will make them happy this year.”

Sherman then dived into the data, and presented a compelling case. He added: “It’s the stats. It’s the numbers that have to matter. They gave Lamar Jackson the MVP with 24 touchdowns for the season last year, [and] he has 20 through nine games right now. He’s on pace for 38 touchdowns with only four interceptions. That’s efficient.”

The 36-year-old continued: “This offense can go with anybody. He is a difference-maker. I hear you guys, but Lamar Jackson is going for this third MVP — and it may not even be close.”

After the Ravens completed their game against Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, they take on a critical run of games including a trip to regional rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, November 18 before a November 25 match against Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Southern California.