To my recollection, Russell Wilson has never gotten a vote for league MVP. He had a real case for winning that award in 2015, but his slow start largely took him out of the running. The only time I can recall Wilson even getting feint MVP discussion Despite his heroics in many games in 2017, it was one of his least efficient years of his career and Seattle missed the playoffs anyway. You could not make a good case for him winning that award in any of his other seasons.

Well, what can you say now? The 2019 edition of Russell Wilson is firmly in the race to win league MVP for the first time in his incredible career.

The Seattle Seahawks escaped with a remarkable 30-29 win over the Los Angeles Rams, and Wilson was a major reason. He added to his laundry list of game-winning drives and fourth-quarter comebacks with a go-ahead touchdown throw to Chris Carson on 4th and goal with under three minutes remaining. It was his fourth TD toss of the night on a day when he only threw the ball 23 times.

Wilson has thrown 12 touchdowns to no interceptions, rushed for two more touchdowns, leads the league in completion percentage at north of 73%, and unlike Sam Bradford he’s not Captain Checkdown. Imagine leading the NFL in completion percentage while dropping DIMES like this.

TOUCHDOWN TYLER LOCKETT!!!



Look at the toe tap by Lockett on the sideline. My god. What great body control! #Seahawkspic.twitter.com/jJ97EAVtu4 — Samuel Gold (@SamuelRGold) October 4, 2019

My God the accuracy on this pass... #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/fjGaNeGN0H — Samuel Gold (@SamuelRGold) October 4, 2019

MVP candidates normally make their cases early. Wilson has historically been a slow starter (by his standards), but this is far and away the best opening five games he’s ever had, and the Seahawks sit at 4-1 with a crucial win over a division rival in large part because of the brilliance of #3. If not for Patrick Mahomes, Wilson would be the obvious frontrunner in this race, and that’s with the expectation that Russell will tear it up in the second-half of the season like he usually does.

On the day Russell Wilson didn’t win NFC Offensive Player of September: 268 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT — Field Gulls (@FieldGulls) October 4, 2019

Through #ThursdayNightFootball, @DangeRussWilson has 1,409 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, and 0 interceptions.



He is the first QB in the Super Bowl era with 1,400+ yards, 12+ TDs, and no interceptions through his team's first 5 games.@Seahawks | #GoHawks — NFL Research (@NFLResearch) October 4, 2019

The all-time greats keep finding ways to get better. If there were any lingering doubts about Russell Wilson’s greatness, he is shutting them up one dazzling throw at a time.

No Seahawks player has ever won an official NFL AP award in the Pete Carroll era. Should Wilson maintain this level of performance, that streak may finally come to an end.