A night that could have served as an MVP coronation for Brock Purdy or Christian McCaffrey instead saw Lamar Jackson become the heavy favorite to win it for a second time.

But even in a chastening 33-19 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers running back McCaffrey saw his hopes of receiving an award at NFL Honors increase further by excelling individually against Baltimore.

McCaffrey finished with 131 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown, his efforts helping him make history on several fronts.

His six receptions took McCaffrey to 505 for his career as he became the fastest running back (90 games) to 500 receptions in NFL history, surpassing the record set by Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (112 games).

McCaffrey also broke franchise records held by the legendary Roger Craig. 

He recorded his eighth successive game with 100 scrimmage yards, beating the previous longest 49ers streak of seven, set by Craig in 1988. In addition, it was McCaffrey's 12th game in total this year with 100 yards, taking him beyond the longest franchise streak of 11 set by Craig in 1985 and 1988.

McCaffrey's 21 touchdowns are two shy of the most scored by a 49ers play in franchise history, Hall of Famer Jerry Rice scoring 23 in 1987.

Rice won Offensive Player of the Year that season, and McCaffrey is in the box seat to do the same. Per betonline.ag, McCaffrey is the favorite for the award at -200, with Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins at +150.

While McCaffrey is just 68 yards away from 2,000 scrimmage yards, Hill looks unlikely to top 2,000 receiving yards, sitting on 1,641 yards with two games remaining.

Injuries have damaged Hill's Offensive Player and MVP bids, the Dolphins proving in Week 15 they can win without him with a 30-0 blowout of the New York Jets that the wideout missed with an ankle issue. 

There's no doubting Hill has been spectacular, however, without a 100-yard game since Week 13, the smart money is clearly on the more consistent and, right now, more durable McCaffrey.

McCaffrey was arguably the 49ers' best offense on Monday against the Ravens, averaging 7.4 yards per carry before game script forced San Francisco to go away from the run.

In his first full season with San Francisco, McCaffrey has made history week after week. Should he get to 2,000 scrimmage yards, break the Rice touchdown record and help the 49ers clinch the one seed in the NFC in the final two weeks of the season, his resume should clearly be enough to net him the Offensive Player award, with the MVP now seeming destined for Jackson.

49ers gift their NFC rivals late-season hope for Christmas

They have no room for error.