NFL MVP stock watch: Patrick Mahomes still the pace-setter
By Dustin Baker
1. Patrick Mahomes, QB (Kansas City Chiefs)
Last Week’s Ranking: 1st
Highest Ranking of Season: 1st
2020 Stats: 3,035 Passing Yards, 27 Passing TDs, 2 INT, 67.9% Comp, 114.3 Passer Rating, 2 Rushing TDs
Mahomes’ passer rating actually dipped on Sunday Night Football. But does anybody actually care about that? No.
This must be what occurs with Russell Wilson year after year in his quest for the MVP trophy. He puts forth a strong case for the awhile, it looks like he’ll snag the thing, and then some player like Mahomes prances by to steal it away.
The NFL watched another example of why Mahomes is worthy of the 2020 NFL MVP in Week 11. The Chiefs overcame an otherwise flawless game from Derek Carr to stun the Raiders in the fourth quarter.
And, here’s the deal: This is now mundane for Mahomes. It’s elementary that he will win the football game given a pressure situation. We’ve entered “foregone conclusion” territory. Tom Brady showed these tendencies in his physical prime with the Patriots. Russell Wilson beats the odds a majority of the time.
Yet, it never feels as effortless as it does for Mahomes. For normal players like Baker Mayfield, Carson Wentz, or Sam Darnold, a game-winning drive like Mahomes authored over the Raiders would be broadcast ad nauseam for a full news cycle. In Kansas City, we call that “Sunday.”
Next up for Mahomes and the Chiefs is Tampa Bay. Quarterbacking immortality past and present will be personified.