By this time last NFL season, Matthew Stafford had 25 touchdown passes in nine games with the Rams, seven of which were wins. Drake Maye had 17 passing touchdowns and two more on the ground over nine Patriots games, also with seven wins. The MVP candidates were becoming clear-cut.

It’s only the halfway point of the 2026 campaign, but this year’s MVP race is looking a bit murkier — but not for negative reasons. A collection of names can be considered in the running, from Joe Burrow and Josh Allen to Jahmyr Gibbs and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

With a number of star quarterbacks having strong 2026 seasons, a few undoubtedly boosted their early cases in Week 9.

Here’s a look at four quarterbacks who dominated in Week 9 to add some momentum to early MVP talks.

MORE: Which NFL trade candidates boosted – or hurt – their stocks in Week 9?

4 QBs who boosted their MVP chances in NFL Week 9

Joe Burrow, Bengals

Entering Week 9, Burrow was already tracking for one of the best seasons of his career. Not only has he stayed healthy, but his connection with Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase has been on full display as Cincinnati entered a London matchup with Atlanta on a three-game win streak.

The Bengals added another win to improve to 6-2, contending for the NFC North crown, as Burrow threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to Higgins.

Burrow now has five games already this season with at least three touchdown passes. He leads the NFL in touchdown passes, and among quarterbacks with at least seven starts, his 111.6 rating trails only Trevor Lawrence.

On pace for nearly 50 touchdown passes, Burrow may just be the MVP favorite going into Week 10.

Brock Purdy, 49ers

The 49ers‘ 6-0 start to the season had Brock Purdy earning some early MVP buzz, and rightfully so. The former “Mr. Irrelevant” had 11 touchdown passes in his first four games, but Purdy’s momentum was halted a bit against the Falcons on Oct. 25 with two interceptions in a loss.

On Sunday against Las Vegas, Purdy bounced back. He led San Francisco to a 38-17 win over the Raiders with his 232 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and one rushing score.

Purdy has now thrown for 17 touchdowns vs. five interceptions — and if the 49ers remain at the top of the NFC in the second half, it would be no surprise to see him get MVP consideration.

Jordan Love, Packers

If Jordan Love is going to reach MVP talks, he’d be playing some keep-up; he threw three interceptions over Green Bay’s first four games of the season, two of which were losses. But Love has been heating up over the Packers‘ last few games.

Since losing to the Falcons on “Thursday Night Football” on Sept. 24, the Packers have gone 5-1, with Love throwing 13 touchdown passes vs. four interceptions. That includes three touchdown passes on Sunday against the Patriots, leading Green Bay to a blowout win.

Love didn’t need to play most of the fourth quarter after the Packers’ offense topped 40 points.

Even if its not enough for MVP talks, Love has been heating up at the right time, and the Packers are in the running for an NFC playoff spot.

C.J. Stroud, Texans

Like Love, C.J. Stroud probably won’t wind up with the gaudy numbers of Burrow or Allen by the end of the 2026 season. His Texans team may not even reach 11 wins. But Stroud has been terrific so far this year, which will likely be his best since a breakout rookie campaign in 2023.

Stroud came into Week 9 with his highest rating (100.7) since that 2023 season, throwing just one interception in seven games and on pace for a career-best completion percentage (64.8%).

With his huge outing against the Chargers, Stroud is also on pace to set new career-bests in passing yards and passing touchdowns as well.

He diced up L.A.’s secondary for 384 yards and five touchdown passes, and while he did throw just his second interception of the season, it didn’t matter much as Houston grabbed a 44-22 win.

The Texans are now 3-5, needing a hot stretch to contend for the playoffs, but with the way Stroud’s playing right now, that shouldn’t be too difficult.

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