Being a sports fan and a foodie feels like a full-time job. When you're not watching a sporting event, you're likely cooking or eating. Then again, maybe that's just all of our vibes during the NFL playoff time.
Upon learning about the NFL MVP finalists, an idea crept into my mind which brought these two worlds together. In looking at all the different gameday foods out there, which foods would we match with these NFL MVP candidate?
From that point on, I knew I had to look at each player and figure out which gameday food best represented them. While some might be a little obvious, I chose to go with traditional gameday foods rather than focus on ones related to their team. That's not to say that some of them won't have a slight team theme to them, but we're not there yet.
Casino.org shared some of America's top gameday foods and honestly, some of these were easy picks to be on my list. You can view the full list and all of the foods that made the cut as it's cool to see which foods are most popular in each state.
See these NFL MVP candidates matched to their gameday food.
Before getting into my picks, I wanted to quickly share the top three most popular gameday foods in the US. Coming in at the top spot is Buffalo Wings which was the pick in 32 states. Over half of America will be enjoying Buffalo Wings which is crazy to think about. Moving to the next highest gameday food, that went to chips in 7 states and then nachos in 5 states. As you can see, America has a clear preference but let's talk about possible MVPs and good eats.
Bills QB Josh Allen: Buffalo Wings
Let's start with one of the major frontrunners for MVP this year. It's neck-and-neck with Allen and another QB. With that being said, I had to go with the obvious pick of Josh Allen. People were rooting for the Bills in the AFC Championship no matter if you were in Buffalo or not. That's why Buffalo Wings were the easiest pick when it comes to gameday foods.
Buffalo Wings are great and so versatile which is exactly how Josh Allen plays. He isn't afraid to make plays and make throws other QBs wouldn't even think about. However, the one thing I have to say is that Josh Allen usually ends up getting sent home before heading to the biggest stage and buffalo wings aren't going to be the only thing you eat during the night. Ultimately, there is something so great about Josh Allen and the same sentiment can be shared about buffalo wings.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson: Loaded Potato Skins
Next up is Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and as someone who isn't new to the MVP race, Jackson is a quarterback most of us recognize and respect. That's why I knew I had to go with a multi-faceted gameday food for him which are loaded potato skins. Similar to his gameday comparison, Jackson can basically do it all and carry the rest of the team on his back when he needs to.
There is something so electric about the way Lamar Jackson plays and you never know what he's going to do from game to game or year to year. Loaded potato skins basically have everything you want on them and allow you to add even more toppings. Similar to Allen though, these are usually an appetizer but not the main course as Lamar has yet to go to the Super Bowl despite plenty of stellar seasons.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow: Nachos
If there's one name I didn't think I'd see on this list, it was Joe Burrow. While Burrow had a good season, it was marred by a lackluster performance by those around him. Sometimes, that's just how the chip crumbles and that's why nachos was relegated to Joe Burrow. Ultimately, a team's quarterback is only one part of the magic that makes a winning team and the rest of the team didn't give the same energy back.
Due to that, nachos fit Burrow as you tend to get a good bite every few chips or so which is basically how the team's season went down. While this can be the main course for some, it's one that doesn't always get the hype it deserves. Ultimately, Burrow had a monster season marred by a mediocre team. Nachos can feel the same due to a lack of toppings, flavor, or general enjoyment especially towards the end. We can only hope the Bengals decide to go all-in on making a better team to surround Burrow this offseason.
Lions QB Jared Goff: Chex Mix
If there's one player I never thought would make this list, it was Jared Goff. While Goff did have a solid season, things quickly fell apart, especially during the playoffs. Ultimately, he was inconsistent when it counted which is why I chose Chex Mix. While Chex Mix is good, it can be a mixed bag and frankly, that tends to be the case when it comes to Jared Goff.
That's not to say that Jared Goff is a bad player because he's not but sometimes, he can tend to get overwhelmed and make costly mistakes. When it comes to big games, that's not what you want and frankly, most people skip over the Chex Mix and want to snack on something else. While Jared Goff and Chex Mix are both good, they're unlikely to be the pick when it comes down to it.
Eagles RB Saquon Barkley: 7-Layer Dip
Last but not least, we have to talk about the man, the myth, the legend: Saquon Barkley. If you've been following Saquon since his college career, you know how dynamic he is. Putting him on the Eagles gave the team the push they needed and Saquon continued to get better and better. He can play running back and receiver and generally improve a team's offense just by being there.
With such a multi-layered player, there was only one gameday food I could think of and that's 7-Layer Dip. There's so much to love about this and it has a little bit of something for everyone. While not everyone loves it, you can always appreciate it which is exactly how most feel about Saquon Barkley and honestly, that's how it goes with a 7-Layer Dip. Frankly, there was no way I couldn't feature such a multifaceted dish to go along with a player like Saquon Barkley.