NFL Roundtable: Long live Minshew Mania

Every week we sit down with BetAmerica Extra columnists Ashley Anderson, James Scully and Scott Shapiro to discuss the latest news from around the NFL. This week they weigh in on Lamar Jackson's MVP campaign, the Saints' struggles against the Falcons and the Gardner Minshew's uncertain future.

Lamar Jackson has become the second player in NFL history to record a perfect passer rating twice in the same season. Are we witnessing the league's next MVP?

Ashley: It’s still Russell Wilson’s award to lose, though he nearly cost his team the win on a fumble and an interception late in Monday night’s matchup with the 49ers. The 2013 Super Bowl champion has piled on 2,737 passing yards, 256 rushing yards, 26 total touchdowns and tossed just two interceptions through 10 games. Lamar is more exciting to watch, in my opinion, but his Ravens have faced an easier schedule and both of his perfect passer ratings came against atrocious defenses. Still, it’s hard to ignore that Jackson is 11th in rushing in the league as a quarterback. I think the MVP is going to come down to these two, but if Seattle scores a better record, it’ll go to Wilson.

James: Lamar Jackson has established himself as the front-runner for MVP honors, leading Baltimore to double-digit wins over Seattle and New England before recording his second perfect passer rating of the season on Sunday. However, Jackson still has more to do with important games remaining against San Francisco, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

Scott: Jackson has taken a huge step forward in his second season and is one of two candidates for the Most Valuable Player award after Week 10. However, I give the nod at this point to Russell Wilson of the Seahawks. Wilson has been a magician all year leading Seattle to an 8-2 record, including a big win on Monday night against the previously unbeaten 49ers.

The Saints lost to the Falcons in the biggest upset of the season. Was it just an anomaly or is New Orleans a fatally flawed team?

Ashley: I predicted a close game, considering the history of this rivalry, but I didn’t think New Orleans would actually lose the game outright at home or look as bad as they did in the process. The Saints O-line let the Falcons sack Drew Brees six times, though Brees is to blame some for holding on to the ball too long at times. The Saints hardly utilized a supposedly healthy Alvin Kamara or Latavius Murray in the run game (they combined for just nine carries), despite facing the No. 20 rushing defense in the league. The Saints left me scratching my head, but I see it as an anomaly and expect New Orleans to bounce back from the embarrassing wakeup call.

James: Anomaly. Atlanta is a division rival and New Orleans remains eligible to rebound. The Saints have only two losses, and with San Francisco coming to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in early December, New Orleans could still gain home-field advantage for the NFC playoffs.

Scott: I think the game at home against Atlanta was just an anomaly. The Saints have one of the most complete rosters in football, are led by one of the best head coaches in the league, and just appeared flat after their bye week. Expect New Orleans to turn the page and get back to their winning ways in Week 11 against Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Minshew Mania is officially over in Jacksonville with the return of Nick Foles. Is the young QB more swagger than substance or does he have a bright future in the league?

Ashley: Gardner Minshew stepped up in a difficult situation and held his own for a rookie, but he’s too turnover-prone to be trusted as a starter. I see him more as a backup in the future or a low-end starter if he continues to make mistakes like he has in the first nine games of his career. Minshew is completing 61.2% of his passes (27th among 33 starters) and has fumbled the ball 11 times, second-most behind Daniel Jones. The substance just isn’t there behind all the hype at the moment.

James: Gardner Minshew remains eligible to keep developing, but I would not say he has a bright future. Forced into action in the season opener, the rookie posted a 4-4 record as a starter and still has much to prove. The sixth-round pick has outperformed expectations so far, though.

Scott: I think rookie QB Gardner Minshew has a bright future in the league. He makes all the throws an NFL quarterback needs to make, has mobility, and is a great leader. Nick Foles will start the remainder of the 2019 campaign for the Jaguars, but I expect Minshew to be the Jacksonville starter in 2020.

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