NFL MVP stock watch: Derrick Henry is back
By Dustin Baker
1. Patrick Mahomes, QB (Kansas City Chiefs)
Last Week’s Ranking: 1st
Highest Ranking of Season: 1st
2020 Stats: 3,497 Passing Yards, 30 Passing TDs, 2 INT, 68.8% Comp, 115.5 Passer Rating, 2 Rushing TDs
The Chiefs bumped off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12 by a score of 27-24. The win was important for two reasons. Foremost, the Chiefs must keep pace with the Pittsburgh Steelers if they, too, wish to covet a first-round bye. Both teams are vying for the elusive slot in the AFC’s postseason picture and a loss by the Chiefs to Buccaneers — a usually-formidable team — would have dimmed Kanas City’s hopes. But that didn’t occur. Mahomes was Mahomes, and the Chiefs advanced to a 10-1 record.
What’s more, Mahomes remains the frontrunner for the MVP award. It’s unclear if that honor is important to him. If it is, though, his performance in Tampa Bay strengthens his case for the league’s most prestigious individual accolade. The game had a king vs. prince feel between Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. A young king was the result.
It does not get much more daunting for the Chiefs in the next month. On the docket: Denver, Miami, New Orleans, Atlanta, and the Los Angeles Chargers.