After the Kansas City Chiefs 31-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders the race for the NFL's Most Valuable Player award is heating up. Patrick Mahomes is seeking his third MVP, a feat that only six players have ever accomplished. Mahomes is certainly having a more pedestrian season than the two in which he won MVP but lesser offensive production across the league has kept him in the conversation.
Let's rank the current MVP candidates and see where Mahomes stands against the field
1. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Last night's win over the Buffalo Bills in overtime felt like a signature MVP moment for Hurts. He was on track to win it last year before missing time due to injury. Hurts has 29 total touchdowns (passing and rushing) and ranks 6th in QBR, 12th in passer rating, and 11th in yards. Hurts has thrown 10 interceptions but has also logged 410 rush yards. Hurts has led the Eagles to the league's best record at 10-1. If he manages to beat the Chiefs, Bills, and 49ers in three straight weeks, it's going to be hard to give the award to someone else.
2. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
The MVP award is almost always tied to team success which hurts Josh Allen's case. After falling to 6-6 on the season, the Bills aren't helping their quarterback but his numbers are MVP caliber. Allen leads the league with 33 total touchdowns and passing touchdowns (24) as well. He's 3rd in QBR, 11th in passer rating, and is 3rd in passing yards. He's rushed for 342 yards and 9 touchdowns as well. The turnovers are another thing holding back his MVP case as he has 16 turnovers on the season. Allen is going to have to have a great 5-week span after the Bills' bye week to win the award.
3. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
Prescott is having one of his best seasons ever with Mike McCarthy calling plays. His numbers are among the best in the league. He ranks second in passing touchdowns, QBR, and passer rating. He's 6th in yards all while only throwing 6 interceptions on the season. His biggest problem? Level of competition. Prescott has logged 17 touchdowns and 2 interceptions against the Jets, Giants, Commanders, Panthers, Patriots, and Rams. Against the rest of his schedule (Eagles, 49ers, Chargers), he has 6 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Prescott has a chance to change this narrative against the Bills, Seahawks, Eagles, Lions, and Dolphins. If he plays well down the stretch there's a definitive path for him to win.
4. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
It hasn't always looked pretty for the Chiefs' offense but Mahomes deserves credit for putting up the numbers he has with a lackluster supporting cast. He ranks 4th in passing touchdowns, 4th in QBR, and 10th in passer rating despite his pass catchers leading the league in drops. Mahomes has also tallied 305 rushing yards which ranks 5th in QB rushing yards this season. With an easier schedule down the stretch and getting the classic penalty of already winning the award (twice), it's hard to see him winning again.
5. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
It's been borderline impossible for a non-QB to win MVP over the last decade. Hill will likely not win MVP but he deserves recognition for what he's done. With awards like MVP, where the word value shows what's important, what Hill does to defenses is incredibly valuable. Hill already has over 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. He could certainly reach 2,000 yards on the year which has never been done in a regular season. (Calvin Johnson once hit 1,964 to set the single-season record.)
Overall
While offense has been down across the league the picture is starting to get clearer for MVP. There are some other names worth mentioning too: Brock Purdy, CJ Stroud, and Lamar Jackson are all knocking on the door. It feels like this season there could be more discussion than ever about who is most deserving of the award. While you can make a case for many players it's hard to argue against an elite quarterback on the best team in the league. For now, Jalen Hurts is the favorite.