NFL MVP rankings: How Jayden Daniels' Hail Mary touchdown improves his case

The Washington Commanders’ Hail Mary touchdown is an early contender for NFL play of the year. And it’s going to be hard to top.

Jayden Daniels dropped back with two seconds remaining. He was flushed to his right. He drifted back toward the left hash mark. And he let it fly.

His pass was tipped before the goal line, and fell right into the hands of receiver Noah Brown as time expired for a 52-yard, game-winning touchdown to help the Commanders beat the Chicago Bears.

Was it enough to get Daniels, the Commanders’ rookie sensation at quarterback, back on top of the NFL MVP race?

Here are the USA TODAY Sports NFL rankings after Week 8:

5. Bills QB Josh Allen, stock even

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills went into Seattle and beat the Seahawks 31-10 last week. Allen was 24 of 34 for 283 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, leading four total touchdown drives in the victory.

Allen is fourth in the NFL with 14 touchdowns passes and a 73.7 QBR, while the Bills have the second-most touchdowns scored this season (28), and rank fifth with 28.8 points per game.

The Bills are also atop the AFC East, where the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets have just two wins each through Week 8.

4. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, stock even

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are the only undefeated team in the NFL at 7-0, continuing to boast his MVP case despite the stats. He was 27 of 38 for 262 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception in Kansas City’s 27-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders last week.

Mahomes’ passing success rate of 51.5% is his best statistic, ranking fourth behind Baker Mayfield, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson. And his 67.0 is the seventh best QBR in the league. But he’s the co-leader with nine interceptions this season. His 68.4 completion percentage ranks eighth. His eight touchdown passes are tied for 10^th. His 235.9 yards per game are 13^th. And his 1,651 passing yards rank 16^th.

Still, Mahomes and the Chiefs continue to win and march toward their third consecutive Super Bowl title.

3. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, stock down

Occupying the No. 1 spot for two consecutive weeks, Lamar Jackson’s MVP stock takes a hit in Week 8 after Baltimore’s 29-24 loss to Jameis Winston and the Cleveland Browns.

Jackson threw two touchdown passes, and the Ravens had a 24-23 lead after Derrick Henry’s 2-yard touchdown with 2:36 left. But Jackson was outplayed by a backup quarterback.

The Ravens found themselves with another frustrating loss after winning five consecutive games. And the race with the undefeated Chiefs for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff race is slipping away.

2. Lions QB Jared Goff, stock even

Jared Goff turned in one of the weirdest stat lines in the Detroit Lions’ 52-14 win over the Tennessee Titans last week: He was 12 of 15 for 85 yards with three touchdown passes. He also fueled three other touchdown drives for the Lions, who had a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 72-yard kickoff return in the game.

It was an all-around effort from the Lions to improve to 6-1, and own the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Detroit leads the NFL with 33.4 points per game. Goff retains the No. 2 spot in our rankings this week, but there was one player who one-upped him in Week 8.

1. Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, stock up

Look who’s back atop our MVP rankings: Daniels is in the No. 1 spot again after Week 8. It’s hard to deny Daniels’ case after the Commanders’ Hail Mary victory over the Bears last week.

The value in Daniels’ arrival to Washington can’t be overstated: The No. 2 pick from the 2024 NFL draft earlier this year made the most valuable play of the season to keep Washington in first place in the NFC East and second behind the Lions in the NFC playoff picture.

Daniels may have just seven touchdown passes, but the Commanders rank fifth in the NFL with 24 touchdowns scored this season. He’s leading the third-most potent offense in the NFL, averaging 29.5 points per game. Daniels has the best chance to be the second rookie to win NFL MVP after Jim Brown did in 1957.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL MVP rankings: How Jayden Daniels' Hail Mary improves his case