NFL MVP stock watch: Aaron Rodgers deserves 3rd MVP
By Dustin Baker
1. Aaron Rodgers, QB (Green Bay Packers)
Last Week’s Ranking: 1st
Highest Ranking of Season: 1st
2020 Stats: 4,299 Passing Yards, 48 Passing TDs, 5 INTs, 70.7% Comp, 121.5 Passer Rating, 3 Rushings TDs
There is a simple way to understand Rodgers’ rightful claim to the 2020 MVP award — he had a better year than Patrick Mahomes.
Just like the Chiefs, the Packers have homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. We’ve mentioned this a few weeks in a row now: Aaron Rodgers bests Patrick Mahomes in every quarterback metric. His passer rating, Pro Football Focus grade, and QBR are higher than those accompanying Patrick Mahomes’ campaign. If voters evaluate this race by the numbers rather than a recency reputational bias, Rodgers cannot be denied the MVP award.
Try to imagine the Packers with a quarterback like Teddy Bridgewater or Daniel Jones. Do they sniff 13 wins? If not, how many? How would Bridgewater or Jones fare in Kansas City with the quarterback-whisperer coach? These are questions to ponder for this extraordinary tight MVP race.
No player has won an MVP and Super Bowl in the same season since Kurt Warner in 1999. If superstition holds, then Mahomes will scoff at the MVP award and just win another Lombardi trophy.
But on regular-season merits — the answer is Aaron Rodgers for MVP.