After An Offseason Of Hate, Tua Tagovailoa Is Improbably A Top 3 MVP Candidate

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Tua Tagovailoa is proving all of his doubters wrong in 2022. The quarterback was the target of mass hate this offseason from both fans and media around the NFL.

Much of that centered around his arm strength and accuracy, among other things. Tagovailoa received backlash after his new teammate, Tyreek Hill, called him the most accurate passer in the league. Others trashed his ability to throw the deep ball, singling out practice passes that fell short of his intended targets.

But through it all, Tua has persevered.

He’s battled more injury issues, most notably a pair of concussions early in the year. He’s also dealt with ankle and back problems, which have sidelined him for multiple games this season.

But when he’s on the field, he’s been lights out. Tagovailoa is completing 71% of his passes, throwing for nearly 2,300 yards and 18 scores. That accuracy has been on full display as he’s limited his interceptions to just three on the year. The success on the field has led to success on the scoreboard.

The Dolphins are 7-1 in games in which Tua has started, helping Miami land the top spot in the AFC East through 10 games. And while the team’s playoff possibilities continue to improve, Tagovailoa is in the thick of some notable personal achievements, too.

Tua’s MVP odds have skyrocketed over the Dolphins’ current four-game winning streak. He’s now tied with Jalen Hurts for the second-best chances to land the prestigious award.

Now, before the season started, Tua’s MVP odds sat around +17500. That number improved markedly after the Dolphins traded for Tyreek Hill. But no one would’ve foreseen his chances jumping into the +400 range.

Only Patrick Mahomes boasts better odds, and if Miami continues its impressive play on the field, Tua could certainly challenge for the honor. An improbable feat given the offseason narrative.